tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8162816964941896969.post3509758782711032927..comments2024-03-23T08:00:26.020+00:00Comments on THE MONARCHIST: Keep our Westminster DemocracyUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8162816964941896969.post-2392904478956449492009-06-11T22:24:44.628+01:002009-06-11T22:24:44.628+01:00I am from Germany where PR is being operated and i...I am from Germany where PR is being operated and it is a bloody awful pest!<br />FPTP means stable majorities and for anyone in power it can be a salutary risk to be flattened at the next election.<br /><br />Under PR the way it is operated here, there are coalitions where the power of smaller parties is disproportionately high. On top of that, just half the seats in parliament are really won by representaives, the other members are voted in through party lists based on the overall performance of their party as opposed to the real share of votes in any individual constituency. So a safe place on that list guarantees a seat, not what you do or don't do. My constituency used to have three MPs - one who got elected and two who were lucky to find themselves on positions on their respective party lists that were covered by the percentage of votes. Doesn't sound too fair to have three MPs in one constituency and one in the next, does it?<br /> <br />This nonsense has been defended by many because FPTP is allegedly discriminatory against small groups. However, for the first time individual Greens and Postcommunists have managed to win constituencies in Germany. I disagree with them politically, but I am delighted nonetheless. The case for PR can be dismissed more easily, viz. if they can win seats directly, everyone can. They just have to work for it and that is why few career politicians will ever return from PR, once established, to FPTP.Stauffenberghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06914523916853945539noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8162816964941896969.post-23090542107632527612009-06-11T08:01:45.116+01:002009-06-11T08:01:45.116+01:00This is the most terrible notice I have read in th...This is the most terrible notice I have read in the last months! I am from a country with a pure PR system, Spain, and you do not know how bad PR can be; yes, even worst than you imagine. It is necessary to get this people out from n10.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8162816964941896969.post-45582391769996937812009-06-11T02:23:10.794+01:002009-06-11T02:23:10.794+01:00I simply could not agree with you more Monarchist....I simply could not agree with you more Monarchist. I would add that a great advance would be to have party leaders chosen by their caucus, as it once was. Another check on the party machine. Empowering the Monarch could make the Crown political, it's a bit dicey there.Kiplinghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04838567321326673782noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8162816964941896969.post-88409399228648186982009-06-10T21:48:15.426+01:002009-06-10T21:48:15.426+01:00I was thinking of PR in its purest form. Hybrid sy...I was thinking of PR in its purest form. Hybrid systems would obviously be better than pure PR, but I wouldn't be pushing a treatment of the matter. Meaningful reform for me would have to include empowering the Monarch - I'm more interested in putting a check on government, than increasing the players who can partake in its spoils.The Monarchisthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10362198840081512460noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8162816964941896969.post-40690811605700007382009-06-10T20:23:04.861+01:002009-06-10T20:23:04.861+01:00Hmmm. Which PR do you discuss? The term as it stan...Hmmm. Which PR do you discuss? The term as it stands is too broad to be useful without qualification - PR may mean various systems. Mixed Member is used in some parts of the UK, some form of PR has been discussed in Canada. If we are to change, perhaps we should not completely abandon FTPT, instead adding Two-Round. Perhaps we could thus be rid of the BNP.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com