tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14115431.post9113359912294794613..comments2023-10-16T15:59:02.445+01:00Comments on NEIL HARDING: Imagine a referendum like this.Neil Hardinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01333739272733802133noreply@blogger.comBlogger10125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14115431.post-55217043810848548762007-04-04T17:59:00.000+01:002007-04-04T17:59:00.000+01:00Snafu: Why do the Tories hide their tax cuts? It s...Snafu: Why do the Tories hide their tax cuts? It seems to be their dirty little secret as well. The truth is all parties try to be as vague about their policies as possible if it offends a large group of people. It is one of the ways our electoral system distorts debate.Neil Hardinghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01333739272733802133noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14115431.post-33543598121554932532007-04-04T08:35:00.000+01:002007-04-04T08:35:00.000+01:00Neil, why aren't they more explicit in these claim...Neil, why aren't they more explicit in these claims!?! It seems to be another one of Labour's dirty little secrets!Snafuhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16069053283344578792noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14115431.post-7690677922587827922007-04-04T00:07:00.000+01:002007-04-04T00:07:00.000+01:0057% or more regularly vote at general elections fo...57% or more regularly vote at general elections for parties with manifestos advocating redistribution.Neil Hardinghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01333739272733802133noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14115431.post-21621658629673200232007-04-03T13:01:00.000+01:002007-04-03T13:01:00.000+01:00Neil, as the majority of the country support capit...Neil, as the majority of the country support capital punishment and far tougher immigration controls, maybe PR isn't so bad afterall.<BR/><BR/>As for your comments about redistribution of wealth is favoured by the 'majority', where is the evidence? I can't recall the last time any Government was elected with such a mandate!Snafuhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16069053283344578792noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14115431.post-86440653158484878042007-04-02T19:11:00.000+01:002007-04-02T19:11:00.000+01:00It would be close, the present scheme is flawed, b...It would be close, the present scheme is flawed, but in principle the majority support ID cards.Neil Hardinghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01333739272733802133noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14115431.post-44795833233819257582007-04-02T13:41:00.000+01:002007-04-02T13:41:00.000+01:00Thanks Neil - sorry I see what you mean now (and I...Thanks Neil - sorry I see what you mean now (and I agree about tax - including, but not limited to, the latest budget), and please forgive me a little observation on my own pet subject - PR would (with any luck) be the death of ID cards :-)John Eckersleyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12874387296463362537noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14115431.post-51225259699341735302007-04-01T23:14:00.000+01:002007-04-01T23:14:00.000+01:00urko: The point I was making was that any decision...urko: The point I was making was that any decision on any subject can be effectively rigged under this method (including the Iraq War referendum). <BR/><BR/>There has always been a majority who vote for parties that advocate a more redistributive tax system yet we have had regressive tax Tories in power most of the time under 'first past the post'. This is because the parties that advocate redistribution, their vote is more split. <BR/><BR/>Specifically about the Iraq War, I have always agreed that the War was wrong, but people forget that Blair, the UK, the Labour party could not have prevented the war from going ahead.<BR/><BR/>It comes down to a decision about backing Bush's American adminstration, which is an entirely different question with all sorts of factors to consider. <BR/><BR/>Once you accept that the Iraq war (and consequent loss of life) is going to happen whatever decision you make, then it comes down to how much you can ameliorate the effects of the invasion and aftermath and how much influence it gives you over US policy in other areas. At the moment it doesn't look like a good decision, but I am under the impression that Blair might be vindicated in the long run with information we have yet to hear.Neil Hardinghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01333739272733802133noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14115431.post-21368324307639140432007-03-29T15:30:00.000+01:002007-03-29T15:30:00.000+01:00Neil - I agree with you on the issue of PR. It's o...Neil - I agree with you on the issue of PR. It's one of my major dissapointments of this government that all the promises made on this and on a new style of less personally abusive politics and ending sleaze and dodgy funding have all been totally abandoned at the altar of clinging on to power. <BR/><BR/>I spent the 80s and 90s voting Labour and getting Tories because I happened to live in the kind of seats where a donkey with blue rosette would get elected. <BR/><BR/>I don't share your opinion on the outcome of the theoretical referenda however. People probably supported the Iraq war on the basis that they felt they could trust the PM and that if he said "there are things I know that I can't tell you that mean we need to do this, trust me", that was fair enough. Since then the media (and before you cry right wing conspiracy that includes the BBC, Grauniad et al) have caught him out in web of deceit, sexed up dossiers and non-existent WMDs so the answer today would probably be different. However, I think you are right about PR and that's one reason I don't want an overall majority for either main party at the next election.John Eckersleyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12874387296463362537noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14115431.post-51938839591551512102007-03-29T13:16:00.000+01:002007-03-29T13:16:00.000+01:00Yes the 39% or so (depending on registration level...Yes the 39% or so (depending on registration levels it could be as high as 50%) who don't vote matter to. And PR is proven to increase turnout (or at least stem the trend decrease in turnout). <BR/><BR/>For example in New Zealand, Labour has won 3 consecutive elections and increased the number of people who vote for them on every occasion. Overall turnout is well up and especially amongst the DE socio-economic groups that vote least.Neil Hardinghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01333739272733802133noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14115431.post-28338847329694812122007-03-29T13:00:00.000+01:002007-03-29T13:00:00.000+01:00What about the 40% who can't be bothered to answer...What about the 40% who can't be bothered to answer the question or don't agree with any of the answers proffered!Snafuhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16069053283344578792noreply@blogger.com