Posts by Hans Versluys

Last ←Newer Page 1 2 3 4 5 Older→ First

  • Legal Beagle: Election '11 -…,

    I'd go with Brent Jackson's suggestion. It will do away with the need of an electorate vote as your list nominee gets to be your MP. MMP would then need only one vote. Vote splitting would be a thing of the past as would coat-tail/tea pot MPs. Total list votes determine the MP numbers with the highest tolling on the list getting in. Simple, easy, democratic, local (you choose your MP instead of a party choosing one for you) and proportional.
    How do I add this to the MMP review process?

    Auckland • Since Jul 2011 • 33 posts Report Reply

  • Legal Beagle: Election '11 -…,

    "Put another way, a threshold is A Good Thing."
    Not if you voted Conservative this election. If you did, then despite the party having won enough votes to earn 3 seats in the house, you instead get no representation.

    Put another way, it means that not all votes are of equal value: the Conservative vote is worthless now, while Key and Banks were hoping that Epsom votes would be worth more than anyone else's in the country (i.e. get more MPs than their share indicated). The lower the threshold, the more democracy.

    Auckland • Since Jul 2011 • 33 posts Report Reply

  • Legal Beagle: Election '11 -…,

    Certainly a much better result! And easier to understand: 0.8% of the party vote would get you a seat. We could do away with all that timewasting in electorate campaigning if NZ was one 120 seat electorate. (No separate Maori seats either, as a bonus!)

    Auckland • Since Jul 2011 • 33 posts Report Reply

  • Hard News: The Solemnity of the Day, in reply to thegirlstefan,

    so, what happens if I stroll around the neighbourhood wearing my "I'm a KEY person" T-shirt before going in to the polling booth at the school across the road to vote?

    You'd be better off wearing a t-shirt saying: "I'm a Tool"

    Auckland • Since Jul 2011 • 33 posts Report Reply

  • OnPoint: Brain Drain Et Cetera, in reply to Ben Austin,

    I wouldn't call it "immigrating" or "emigrating" if you're going to a country that has your mother tongue. Real immigrants learn a different language.

    Auckland • Since Jul 2011 • 33 posts Report Reply

  • OnPoint: Brain Drain Et Cetera,

    My entry into NZ in 1990 is invisible in those charts. I came from Europe (not the UK) to steal your land, jobs and men.

    Auckland • Since Jul 2011 • 33 posts Report Reply

  • Hard News: The Solemnity of the Day, in reply to Martin Lindberg,

    "Do any other countries have laws like this?"
    I remember at election time in Belgium the party propaganda (mostly leaflets) were ankle deep around you in the polling booths everywhere. There was nothing solemn about the day (in the 1970s at least). They're still bickering about a Goverment formation 18 months after the balot boxes closed.

    Auckland • Since Jul 2011 • 33 posts Report Reply

  • OnPoint: Fiscal Responsibility is the…,

    And the GST goes to the central Government, not the local council.
    Rates should be abolished anyway and replaced by a transfer from central Govt of a percentage of all income and GST taxes collected in your local body area. Cheaper to run, fairer to implement, more stable revenue and linked to your ability to pay than to the peceived value of what you may own.

    Auckland • Since Jul 2011 • 33 posts Report Reply

  • Legal Beagle: Referendum Fact Check #5:…,

    And again, no indication of the increase in number of Maori seats under all MMP alternatives. Something that could attract Maori voters to their cause (or rednecks to vote MMP). Missed opportunity.

    Auckland • Since Jul 2011 • 33 posts Report Reply

  • Legal Beagle: Infrequently asked questions,

    The alternatives offered to MMP in the referendum all have a provision for more Maori seats than under MMP (from 9 to 12 seats, according to the info website). Won't that lead to (say, in a return to FPP) elections only basically fought in Maori electorates as they will be effectively be the cross-bench seats and they will determine a Labour or National majority?

    Auckland • Since Jul 2011 • 33 posts Report Reply

Last ←Newer Page 1 2 3 4 Older→ First