tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18991145.post1202493966103834683..comments2023-10-09T09:11:58.065+00:00Comments on Ben's Blog: On abbreviations alone we have a clear winnerBenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02152545728675983286noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18991145.post-61168666196789378692011-05-02T18:13:49.466+00:002011-05-02T18:13:49.466+00:00Agreed that the "sad fact" of AV is an a...Agreed that the "sad fact" of AV is an advantage - but the pro-AV camp aren't the only ones pushing out factual inaccuracies and I have heard this fact denied. I have to agree though with your last point that the FPTP group are fighting very dirty indeed. I generally find that the established, complacent old order is very bad at justifying itself with arguments that actually make sense. (It's a bit like crustacean bishops denouncing women and gay priests: there is a theological case to make, but they tend to ignore it in favour of spluttering "because ... because ... BECAUSE!!")<br /><br />Doesn't invalidate FPTP as a system, though. If something works then it works, however its proponents mis-represent it.<br /><br />Still haven't decided how to vote ...Benhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02152545728675983286noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18991145.post-64652039690293034372011-05-02T08:42:02.988+00:002011-05-02T08:42:02.988+00:00(Please do get round to watching & reviewing D...(Please do get round to watching & reviewing Dr Who, I'd love to hear your take on it!)<br /><br />Regarding your sad fact about AV - personally, I'd view that as an advantage, because as you say, it forces politicians to concentrate on policies more than FPTP. You aren't going to get many second-pref votes with attack ads, so you need to get your manifesto promises out there - and breaking them will have greater consequences.<br /><br />Regarding your strong argument for FPTP - I'm not sure I understand your meaning, here? The part of our current system you're referring to (insufficient MPs elected for any one party to form a majority government, led to a coalition of compromise between two parties) isn't being changed; AV probably doesn't make coalitions more likely, but under either system this situation can and will occur again.<br /><br />I certainly agree with your point in the penultimate paragraph - AV is nothing like a perfect system - but I feel certain that it's better than FPTP.<br /><br />Aside: in the event of a tie, would you consider the shocking behaviour of the 'No' camp in lying and smearing the other side? I haven't seen a single bit of their campaign that wasn't intentionally misleading.Simonnoreply@blogger.com