Now that the Rugby World Cup is over (and we are rulers of the world!) it's time to think about the election. Very soon, New Zealand will be voting for a new Government, which will most likely be a National Government, because when it comes down to it, we are team players. Right now it's still National's turn, and it will cease to be National's turn only when National annoy everyone too much and we've forgotten just how bad Labour was the last time we let them be our Government.
Along side voting for our Government, we will be asked whether we want to keep MMP or not. Personally, I see no reason to dump it. Going back to First Past the Post will mean that NZ will never get out of the National/Labour with Maori seats tacked on cycle. Never. No alternative party will ever gain enough traction in order to seriously challenge the status quo.
I'm not keen on STV, either. STV gave Kapiti our mayor and the rest of the councillors, who are hell bent on introducing water meters despite huge opposition from the ratepayers. STV means that you are tempted to vote for people that are completely unknown to you in some sort of sub-conscious urge to complete the voting form. Every person does not need a number, yet the urge to give them one is irresistible. Hence unpredictable results.
No, MMP works. Over the long term it may allow an alternative political party to emerge from the background. And for that reason, I'm voting to keep it.
Along side voting for our Government, we will be asked whether we want to keep MMP or not. Personally, I see no reason to dump it. Going back to First Past the Post will mean that NZ will never get out of the National/Labour with Maori seats tacked on cycle. Never. No alternative party will ever gain enough traction in order to seriously challenge the status quo.
I'm not keen on STV, either. STV gave Kapiti our mayor and the rest of the councillors, who are hell bent on introducing water meters despite huge opposition from the ratepayers. STV means that you are tempted to vote for people that are completely unknown to you in some sort of sub-conscious urge to complete the voting form. Every person does not need a number, yet the urge to give them one is irresistible. Hence unpredictable results.
No, MMP works. Over the long term it may allow an alternative political party to emerge from the background. And for that reason, I'm voting to keep it.