Posts by Steve Barnes
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Steve - doesn't quite work like that - the list seats are top-ups:
so. we make the number of electorates X/2 where X is the number of seats and allow X/2 number of list seats
One seat is equal to 2(X/100) and the cut off is 2%.
Does that work? -
I always thought they were supposed to work for us, like employees. We pay them to do a job.
The problem now, of course, is that it all got "corporationy" we are now their clients and we get "serviced" as opposed to service. -
So let's think about the 50% thing. If we have 100 seats, as Ian suggests, but we keep regional/electorate seats 50% of the seats go to list seats, meaning each seat is worth 2% as we have 2 votes, one party and one candidate/local representative. And, TA DAAA we magically have our cut off point @ 2%. Piece of piss, eh?
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Ahh but.
If there were no threshold where is the cut-off point?
If someone gets just one vote they get a seat? of course not, it would be like getting rid of parliament all together and we don't do anything until the majority of the country agrees. There has to be some cut-off point so how do we determine that?As for the danger of a grand coalition being totalitarian, I highly doubt it. They would continue to be centrist or their support would drop and they'd lose power.
Who would they loose power to?
Anyone with an agenda, other than one that fits in with the wishes of the majority, would have to get more than 50% of the vote and to get that, well it is a contradictory situation and it just couldn't happen.
The likely outcome, IMODO (in my own deranged opinion, it's mine, you cane have it ;-)) Is that it would only take about 15% of the population to say , "What about me, it isn't fair, I've had enough and I want my share" and you'd have a revolution on your hands.
I can get my head around it and I think I make a valid point even though I do say so myself. -
Oh and tim Xlunt video ;-)
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As for coalition wrangling, the one partnership that is always ruled out seems to me one of the most natural - Labour and National.
Ahh, Grand Coalition.
I think the problem with this is the population of the country maybe too small for such a thing and then it really would be a case of "why bother voting". It would end up as being a small cabal of "people of influence" running the country with little or no input from society as a whole, let your imagination run riot with that concept.
I have aways held the view that, roughly, half the people in a stable society think "how will this help me?" (Right Wing) and the other half think "how will this help us all?" (Left Wing) It's like the old Good Vs Evil but without the mutual exclusivity.
On one hand it would put an end to the constant bickering and endless accusations of corruption and skulduggery in an effort to bring down the government of the day in order to gain power but how would it prevent cronyism and blatant abuse of power?
Damn it, we would have to have a pretty powerful and independent fourth estate to counter a near totalitarian state and we just don't seem to have that in any shape or form. -
Funny. Looks like occassionally Steve goes a bit overboard with the happy pills.
How dare you Sir. I'll have you know I was totally drunk. After all, it was nearly midday.
As for your speed/velocity habit
Applying lead (pb and perhaps fe is just as effective) to the surface to clean the surface is only good for at high speed/velocity records...which I think are more difficult to lay your hands on these days.
Well of course, you silly man. You have calculate their vector before you attempt to catch them. Even then, have you tried running really fast carrying a big lump of Plumbum now you've reached the ripe old age of 14.75 ?
;-) -
Hey, and look over there, Damian's got BEER
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Ok then Drugs and ponies too.
WooooHoooo :-) -
I actually have some really good stories about customer service, in fact many.
The truth is that if someone gives me their time and understands what I need, we become friends and I will deal with them for the rest of my life. I will always recommend them to those that ask but this is a small country.
So. I wont be telling those stories because I feel that would break the respect of the very special relationship I have with those people.
If, on the other hand I am treated like a number on a form then I feel free to tell all and sundry about their lack of respect for the hands that feed them.
I think that will do. As you were.