Comment Re:If you don't vote... (Score 1) 390
I am also a New Zealander, and in reply to the parent need to point out that if the nation votes to keep MMP then then MMP will be up for review, and one of the issues under the gun will be the rule about if someone wins an electorate seat does the party vote apply when it otherwise will not.
Having had about half my life (ignoring the early bits I can't remember) under the preceding First Past the Post system and about half under MMP, I'd say the major difference is the for fraction of the population to obtain influence under FPP they would gain control of one of the major parties then execute rapid change while they were in control. In MMP the brakes have largely gone on, as to get anything passed it needs to have the support of the parties that a majority of people have actually voted for (though I have to say the present Government have been remarkably effective at governing by decree).
Truth be told MMP is not really more 'Unstable" than FPP, in the early 90s there was the kind of instability people attribute to MMP occurring under FPP (as it had many times previously in history), and MMP has in most sessions been more stable.
If anyone wants details on the New Zealand Referendum on what voting system we use that is taking place this weekend you could start at http://www.referendum.org.nz/votingsystems
I support MMP because it results in governments having less power to push through laws against the wishes of the people. Without it I think we would have had much more pro-multinational-corporation friendly copyright legislation when they recently changed the laws around that.
Having had about half my life (ignoring the early bits I can't remember) under the preceding First Past the Post system and about half under MMP, I'd say the major difference is the for fraction of the population to obtain influence under FPP they would gain control of one of the major parties then execute rapid change while they were in control. In MMP the brakes have largely gone on, as to get anything passed it needs to have the support of the parties that a majority of people have actually voted for (though I have to say the present Government have been remarkably effective at governing by decree).
Truth be told MMP is not really more 'Unstable" than FPP, in the early 90s there was the kind of instability people attribute to MMP occurring under FPP (as it had many times previously in history), and MMP has in most sessions been more stable.
If anyone wants details on the New Zealand Referendum on what voting system we use that is taking place this weekend you could start at http://www.referendum.org.nz/votingsystems
I support MMP because it results in governments having less power to push through laws against the wishes of the people. Without it I think we would have had much more pro-multinational-corporation friendly copyright legislation when they recently changed the laws around that.