SED 7: Polling Day

[lightofdaye]

Still plodding along with this. Today is election day. Some real life stuff and thoughts on it follow.

Well its been a weirdish day. I Went to bed late didn't sleep so well. Woke up early and was in one of those weird semi-sleep states where you're convinced strange things are true. Hard to describe.

We had a team lunch and a meeting today, it was a bit long winded and boring especially after the meal but not the arduous grilling I'd, being somewhat silly, been worried about.

Came had tea. Went to vote, the polling station is just down from the street from me. Of course we have the first past the post system. Wherein we divide the country into areas and then each one gets to vote for an p to represent it in parliement. The good side of this is that you have someone specific from the local area representing you specifically and being from the local area having a vested interest in doing it well.

That's one of few upsides. The main downside is rewards a party not for having support across the country, but only for having people that support them cluster together for a local majority. You could have 20% of the population voting for you and far less representation in parliament.

Why to I mention this? I am in a safe seat of the Conservative Party. This means my vote is worth much much less than if I was in the marginal constituencies that all the politicians visit because they can actually change hands. This saddens me but we did have a voting referendum after the last general election and decided not to change the system.

The other thing I see a lot of is people saying 'oh well it doesn't matter who gets in. They'r all the same. We're only get shafted in slightly different ways' (i paraphrase) While I do empathise, this kind of cynicism strikes me as a kind of self-fulfilling property. The best way to foil change is for everyone not to think change is possible.

So good news. Last day of constant election campaign news coverage! Bad news: Tommorrow is the start of 'who will form the government with who and who will be minister of what News coverage!

Comments

[nutmeg-44.livejournal.com]

I completely forgot that today was election day for you. For weeks I kept telling myself that Britain will give me a non-Tory government as a birthday present then completely forget on the day.

Jamaica has that same election system but unfortunately, it really doesn't matter who we vote for or whether we vote at all. Our Parliament is literally like the US Congress - very few new people get in. The main members there have been there since we got independence in 1962 practically. Or at least since the early '80s.

Part of my no voting thing in the past has been because the process has always been really violent. The last couple years the violence has been minimal so I'm considering registering this time around.

I hate the election campaigns and the crappy jingles and things that get stuck in your head.

Do you mind being in a Tory-safe constituency?

[lightofdaye]

only when I think about it! It's vexing on a couple levels. The basic one of being on the wrong/losing side and the more high minded this system is not very fair.

Day-to-day. Between Election it probably doesn't make that much difference to me. Hmm, maybe I was being too harsh to those cynics.

[nutmeg-44.livejournal.com]

I think you might have been a bit harsh but it's probably because I understand how the cynics feel. I've found that the conservative parties around the world tend to only care about ensuring the 'security' of the wealthy and aren't keen on social services for the general public.

[birdsofshore]

I'm really feeling anxious about the result. I'm almost dreading waking up to another hung parliament and a tense day of waiting to see if we get some kind of bearable coalition, or something hideous.

I hope you sleep better tonight and that there is good news for the UK in the morning.

[lightofdaye]

I'd forgotten I have other brits in my f=-ist now!

Yeah, Looking at the news now, they're predicting an actual Tory majority. Good in one way. Very bad in another (if you don't like tories oc)

Once the actual uncertainty and wheeling and dealing was done I don't think we did so badly last time. The Lib Dems might have been restraining the Conservatives far more than they got credit for.

But definitely time for bed and trying not to worry about it I think.

[birdsofshore]

Stunned by the result. Utter shock and disbelief here.

Hope you got some sleep, anyway.

[luna-plath.livejournal.com]

I agree with you on the change idea, if no one thinks change is possible then yes, with that attitude it isn't.

I've often wondered if the US would be better off with a parliamentary system over a congressional system. If anything only having two parties in a congressional system is what makes it a nightmare.

I don't even wants to think about our elections yet, they don't start until next year but it's already being reported on. My prediction is that, after eight years of a liberal in power we will undoubtedly have a conservative. It sucks because I really do think Hillary deserves it more than any of the other candidates but it's just not going to happen this time.

[tamlane.livejournal.com]

The best way to foil change is for everyone not to think change is possible.

Well said!

I admit most of this post went over my head. But as a center-left liberal living in the American South, I certainly understand the feeling that one's vote doesn't count. :|