One Reason Why YES2AV Lost.

Daniel Hannan writes:

Before the last election, a high-profile Conservative MP rang the Electoral Reform Society to offer his support. He was subjected to a cross-examination by its campaigns director, Carina Trimingham (coincidentally Huhne’s mistress) who took issue with a number of policy statements he had made in the past. Understanding that there was no place for Rightists who might support electoral reform for their own reasons, he dropped the issue. How different the Yes campaign might have been if it had made use of him, and others like him.

I Post Stuff

As I said earlier in the week my internet connection has been down so I've not been able to post stuff. The problem is now sorted. So things I was going to say but didn't include:

1. The strange behaviour of the US authorities regarding the raid that killed Osama Bin Laden and the disposal of his corpse is potentially damaging as it will fuel conspiracy theories and most conspiracy theorists end up hating America.
2. The AV referendum is today. I voted yes despite my contempt for the pathetic campaign YES2AV have run which has seemed designed to alienate rather than convert centre right voters.
3. The Canadian general election confounded my prediction and delivered a seismic shift that saw 2 of the 4 main parties suffer cataclysmic losses. The tantrums by Canadian left wingers are as hilariously over the top as those by their British counterparts following the London mayoral election in 2008. I'm sure the right does this sort of thing as well but I'm probably blind to it.
4. Let's abolish council houses.
5. I don't get what's so great about Pippa Middleton's arse- which has been one of the most searched for subjects this week.

Yes To AV.

I'm going to be voting yes to the referendum on AV not just because all the kool kidz are doing it for the simple reason that a system where the only party on the right that can plausibly win seats- The Conservative Party- is a highly centralised institution that can easily marginalise any views unpopular with the ruling clique is not a desirable situation.

As it is, my only plausible option in a competitive election is to vote Conservative because- despite all their flaws- I find them far preferable to Labour and the Liberal Democrats. Consequently they have zero incentive to care about my opinions.

There is a bit more of an option at the voting booth for those on the left where there are a grand total of two parties- one of which is in coalition with the Conservatives. The general principle is the same though- more options will prevent the Labour party taking left wing voters for granted.

I've also been rather appalled at the tactics of the NO2AV camp which has scaremongered shamelessly (the infamous baby ad springs to mind) and punishing them would be satisfying.