UK General Election: Support Electoral Reform

We'll go across the globe to fight for democracy, but won't go across the street to vote for our own democracy! So, help to make a difference, make your views count, and go out and vote!

But for whom? My mind is clear on this for one pretty simple reason: Liberal Democrat! Why on earth would I want to vote for them?! Well, they are the only party which actively support a change in the UK's presently abysmal voting system, to some more representative form of proportional representation. Labour have had 13 years to do this and have shown no inclination to do this (until very recently, when they could see their own electoral slaughter coming)! The Tories still oppose it, mainly because they still hope to be able to form a Parliamentary majority with a small minority of the actual votes cast (like every other British government in recent history). If they can do this, then just like before (whether Labour or Tory), they can do what they want and continue to ignore the views of the majority in Britain. THAT'S NOT GOOD ENOUGH AND WE DESERVE BETTER!

Why does electoral reform matter? Because the present system effectively disenfranchises about two thirds of the electorate, resulting in an elected dictatorship. Not only does this result in a dangerous level of frustration by many who feel that they are powerless to make any difference, but it also results in political animosity and division, and (as recent years have so clearly demonstrated), poorly thought-through policies and legislation. The party in power is under no real pressure to consider the views of the (disenfranchised) majority, nor to listen to valid arguments that it doesn't like. And it only exacerbates the divisions in British society. None of this serves Britain very well.

Are coalitions so bad? Of course not: plenty of other mature democracies function perfectly well with coalition governments, so why can't the "mother of all Parliaments"? Probably only because the present bunch of politicians in Britain are too immature and inflexible to know how to genuinely cooperate and communicate with others, whose views they do not share 100%. Well, if a proper democratic system forces them to grow up and think of others instead of just their own minority constituency, then bring it on - and soon!

So, that's why I must vote Liberal Democrat today. Not because I support all their policies (I don't), but because the system we use to elect politicians badly needs reform and they are the only party who offers this hope. This change alone would result in a complete and radical change to the existing stinking, undemocratic system. Then at least our society's views might be better represented in our national Parliament than it is now, whatever these views are.

So, please vote for real, meaningful and permanent change and vote Liberal Democrat today!