Referendum a.k.a. I hate the voting system you like!
 

I'm wondering what the masses think about the referendum and the voting systems in question...

MMP
FPP
Preferential Voting
STV
Supplementary Member

As far as I am concerned relying on coalition governments is bad and governments that have no room for other opinions is bad, but there is no perfect balance either. It seems to me like Supplementary Member would be a better system - what do you think?

MMP+tweak.

My only preference is for an actual [e-]democracy, so that we can all vote on individual issues.

I don't trust anyone to make decisions on my behalf for every issue that arises (cannabis reform immediately springs to mind), but I wouldn't mind if someone made decisions on my behalf for issues I don't care about.

Voting someone in is just the illusion of choice, since there are many things which contribute to the decision that the MP makes - I don't think that "democratically representing my electorate" comes to mind. When was the last time your MP asked you personally about a particular issue and told you he'd vote based on the replies he/she received? A token letter around election time asking what issues you consider important doesn't count...

I think that having a cutoff for MMP defeats the purpose of it being "representative", since 5% is more than a single seat in parliament, but you need to cross the threshold to be included. If 4% of people want a particular party, shouldn't 4% of the seats go to that party? I can understand if you don't even achieve 1 seat, but 5% seems to be slightly unfair.

I haven't given much consideration to the other systems, but if someone wants to sum them up it would be appreciated.

Elections have a page here with descriptions but it might not be the best summary going.

Supplementary seems better I guess, it reduces the seat threshold to 3.33% (being 1/30). Still doesn't address the issue of how these people vote within Parliament once they become MPs, however.

Does anyone else think a direct democracy would be worthwhile/effective, or am I putting too much faith in people's ability to govern themselves (which is usually a contentious point)?

I don't like the idea of a direct democracy. Frankly most people are not sufficiently smart to make actual decisions on all but the most trivial of matters. Fortunately there is identically no chance one will arise in my lifetime.

As far as the referendum goes is anyone motivated to pick one of the other options on offer?

STV

MMP with a lower threshold (3%?) and without the Maori seats.

STV here.

STV but won't be holding my breath.

Benevolent Dictatorship

This. See California if you disagree.

I'm prepared to take the lead role. It will be benevolent for all but more so for some.

^^ and yet again.
what a douchbag who isnt as smart as he thinks he is sounds like.

keep them coming lolmeister.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Zea...2011#Questions

A - I vote to keep the MMP voting system.
B - I would choose the Single Transferable Vote system (STV)

MMP/STV

A police state that I'm in charge of.

STV here

Agreed. Politicians can vote and decide on certain issues, but the majority are done on a quarterly basis. Online being the predominant source of voting, with a small number of physical locations that can be voted at.

You keep setting the bar lower and lower with every post.

youve been doing pretty well though.

Its a pity you can't be required to have some form of qualification to vote for certain issues.

Ran thru the tool and tells me I really don't like MMP (and second least favourable is FPP).... but gets bit hazy from there: either STV or SM

I'm standing on the bar and my enormous intellect just weighs it down. You sound mad though. Do you even lift?

why isn't there a system where you only get one vote for the party and a parties total percentage = their number of seats in parliament? ie: get rid of the electorate seats.

Or am I naive? Being able to influence a parties list would be good but we can't do that under MMP either

But why would you want to vote for a party where you can not "choose" who gets in? and has no care for your electorate?

Yeah, I mean we're all Kiwis. Even if no-one in Parliament is actually from my local area, we all have so much in common that I'm virtually represented by the people who are in Parliament.

Virtual representation. That has a nice ring to it. Winning concept.

Russel Norman's an aussie mate, vote green!

I don't see what benefit my local mp gives me at the moment? Admitidly I live in Wellington but lets say you're in the Otaki region (is that darren hughes?). If his party was in government how much can he really influence his party to benefit otaki?
I see where your coming from but to me the local MP is like the city council

Not really, but on the other hand you didn't ask why we can't have a parliament with just one person from each party with voting power relative to popularity. Or to go further and have just one person applying the votes according to mechanical rules (as happens today anyway).

He's a rabid communist and green for nearly two centuries has been the colour of choice for communists (except where red has cultural significance).

i see the quote... but you know that could really easily be seen as taking the piss out've your boys.

hey.. pxpx. take for granted that by mocking this fuckhead im making a fool of myself.

I was making an electoral-systems joke. You seem to have missed it.

too much time here being angry with oil.
kills the last traces of humour i have left.

Actually I'm with you on the angry with oil bit. Still so furious I can hardly bear to think about it.

hahahaah: http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/poli...-to-oppose-MMP

Ab can we have a poll on the referendum as well? Pretty please?

perfect