http://www.pledgebank.com/votingmatters Comments on 'take part in a public consultation on voters’ experiences of elections' en-gb team@pledgebank.com 1901-01-01T00:00+00:00 2 hourly http://www.pledgebank.com/votingmatters#comment_2446936 On Anthony Crackett's point about the powers of parliament, my understanding is that after the struggles between it and the monarchy in the 17th century, all the powers of the latter were transferred to the former. Consequently, as the historian Norman Davis has put it, we now live “under a legal parliamentary despotism”. That possibly oversimplifies to some extent, insofar as codes of human rights somewhat restrict governmental freedom of action. However we should never forget that such codes – and the loopholes they contain – were drawn up by the political class to suit its purposes. It’s worth recalling, for example, that the Human Rights Act, supposedly enshrining the right to life, was unable to prevent Blair from attacking Iraq, killing innocent people in the process, or even to ensure that he subsequently faced a criminal trial. So we certainly need a written constitution to limit the powers of the British state. Arriving at a clear public account of how state power stands at present would, I agree with Anthony, be a useful stage in that process. A new, written constitution and its related code of human rights need, in my opinion, to arise out of a series of public conventions, open to all and held country-wide, in which proposals can be put forward by any person or organisation. Competing sets of proposals, which I think would do well to include a facility for ordinary citizens to requisition referenda, could subsequently be put to a nationwide vote which, one hopes, would have the effect of decisively curtailing “legal parliamentary despotism”. http://www.pledgebank.com/votingmatters#comment_2434098 The power requested by Michael McCarthy "to requisition binding referenda" is interesting, but I would argue that it is attacking the fundamental problem from the wrong direction. I take the view that it is for Parliament to ask the public to grant it such powers as it considers it needs to function. When it makes this request of the public we can then have a debate about what checks and balances we require in return, including questions such as whether we require the ability to requisition binding referenda. Meanwhile I am still seeking anyone who can show me a definitive statement by Parliament of what powers / rights it considers it has, and why it considers it has them. Even if Parliament considers that it has absolute powers, it should be prepared to state this opinion, and give its reasons. If it cannot or will not produce a coherent argument in public, is it unreasonable to conclude that there is no coherent argument for Parliament having any powers? http://www.pledgebank.com/votingmatters#comment_2432832 Representative democracy is a delusion and has failed us. Citizens can only truly represent themselves, whereas elected "representatives" typically become the creatures of party machines and big business. Instead, we need a direct democracy. We citizens must demand the power to requisition binding referenda (to be held following a full debate in media which are legally bound to give equal space to supporters and opponents of any proposition) on any proposal which we have first persuaded a reasonable number of people to sign up to. http://www.pledgebank.com/votingmatters#comment_2396661 Is it not absurd that with this impending threat of severe Climate Change no Green Party member can be elected to our Parliament; thanks of course to FPTP. http://www.pledgebank.com/votingmatters#comment_2394465 PR must be established to produce democracy. Big business runs the present government and is totally ignoring peoples' views. International businesses are in charge of most governments, hence the poverty and the rise of terrorism. War against Iraq is typical of businesses needs. http://www.pledgebank.com/votingmatters#comment_2305480 Why should we trust people who have all been elected by the "first past the post" system to decide what the system should be? Every one of them has benefitted - at least to the extent of their parliamentary salary. To avoid the suspicion of self-interest, MPs should all support the proposition that the system should be chosen not by them, but by the electorate. This applies whether or not they personally want to see a change. It is a fundamental principle of democracy. http://www.pledgebank.com/votingmatters#comment_2296281 fptp has has created a duopoloy on power between 2 near identical parties who have lost most of their members but none of their power. Parliament is now held in lower esteem than at any time since the era of the rotten boroughs People are crying out for more choice in who they vote for and more say in the way their country is run and PR is the most obvious step to achieve it http://www.pledgebank.com/votingmatters#comment_2291588 I was at the count in my local parliamentary election, we had observers from Albania, and they could not believe we "elected" governments on a FPTP system, they thought it so obviously unfair. http://www.pledgebank.com/votingmatters#comment_2289999 I was "democratically" elected as a Councillor, but the FPTP system is intrinsically unfair, and negates the wishes of many. We MUST find a fairer way of representation. It's my duty to try as a representative of the electorate! Why don't YOU all get elected (school board/Governors/Local Council/MP etc.), and change the system from inside? http://www.pledgebank.com/votingmatters#comment_2288873 They sit there, opposite each other, bawling and jeering, making cheap political points as if in a game in an antiquated time warp. And it's in our names and at our expense. It has to be changed! http://www.pledgebank.com/votingmatters#comment_2287354 The Turkeys need to be forced to vote for Christmas. http://www.pledgebank.com/votingmatters#comment_2281881 Why not have a similar system to that used to elect the scottish parliament, or better still that used to elect Scottish Local authorities? http://www.pledgebank.com/votingmatters#comment_2281212 I have spent a lifetime prssing for Proportional Representation.The present FPTP system is so profoundly unfair that I am seriously considering never voting again until this electoral system is changed. If enough agreed "they" would be bound to take notice. http://www.pledgebank.com/votingmatters#comment_2281178 With an ever smaller percentage bothering to vote the legitimacy of the democratic system is called into question. Clearly changes are required, what those should be is the purpose of the consultation.