Conundrum

[aesmael]

I don't agree with many things the Labor government is doing.

The Liberal / National coalition is pretty consistently worse on those matters.

If I vote Green like usual they will probably lose and the preferences default back to Labor.

If I do not vote I will be fined.

This situation could be more encouraging.

Comments

[lost-angelwings.livejournal.com]

fining ppl for not voting annoys me >_<;; even tho i think ppl should vote, not voting is still an option and their choice...

maybe you shoudl vote green neways if the other choices go against your conscience? but i understand also reality of situation :( do smaller parties (like the greens) benefit from votes even if they don't win? in canada, they get funding based on amount of total votes regardless

[aesmael.livejournal.com]

I'm not sure if they benefit in ways such as funding, will have to look into that. I did think more votes for them even if they don't actually win would help still help how they are regarded publicly, influence public discourse and the actions of others if they perceive a swing toward the Greens. So it possibly would help, but I would still rather them in power than the alternatives.

[cmcmck.livejournal.com]

I lived in Belgium for some years where PR created a disastrously unstable government which fell every three or four months and I've always had doubts about those who'd like to introduce it here in the UK for that reason.

Does your vote HAVE to transfer in your system? I voted Green at the last EU elections but I may have been in two minds if the vote transferred (actually the Green MEP got back in locally so it didn't become an issue).

I think I'm actually in favour of compulsory voting but only because people here are so lazy when it comes to voting- turnout is pathetic at best. Have you noticed how the ones that do the most whining about 'the government' are always the ones who never get out and vote? :o(

Have a pleasant Christmas holiday :o)

[aesmael.livejournal.com]

Either I can nominate the flow of preferences for my vote myself, who is my first choice, my second, etc. or if I only fill out the first preference position, then the votes flow to whoever the party nominates in the event they don't get in. So unless whoever I vote for gets into office the vote does transfer, yes.

I'm unsure about compulsory voting. I wonder if it is of benefit to the population or increases engagement, or if it might be detrimental forcing people who aren't interested in voting to do so anyway. Those who don't care write in throwaway votes anyway.

Have you noticed how the ones that do the most whining about 'the government' are always the ones who never get out and vote? :o(

I haven't, really, because everyone around here votes, and I think the people I talk to overseas who are vocal about politics either vote or refrain on principled grounds.

[valeriekeefe.livejournal.com]

You could always do what I have long said anyone's duty if frustrated by the options: Create another one. Run.

[pazi-ashfeather.livejournal.com]

Which is great advice as long as you have the money (why do poor people need a voice in society anyway?), and people won't discriminate against you at first blush over things you can't control (like being visibly trans or queer or a member of some ethnic or religious minority), and you have the free time (who works for a living anyway?) and the connections and savvy to get into politics in the first place.

For most of humanity, this is stunningly unhelpful.

[valeriekeefe.livejournal.com]

When I ran for council, I spent $330. The most I ever spent of my own money on a campaign was the $1,000 deposit required to make me a candidate for parliament.

If your fundamental complaint is that the people you like won't win, then I'm sorry to tell you that democracy is not your ideal form of government. I don't think I've ever had the good fortune to vote for a winning candidate myself, but my voice is still essential.

And considering you come from a part of the world that elected the first out trans woman to parliament, I'd say being discriminated against is often more of a political asset than an impediment, for you mobilize fair-minded individuals on your behalf.

[pazi-ashfeather.livejournal.com]

I think you're confused. I'm from a country where we tossed out the sanity of parliaments in favor of one of the most self-absorbed and quirky ad-hocracies in the history of Western civilization, then had the gall to make it a hallowed institution.

The fundamental complaint is that we live in societies that appear, to our eyes, to not have much room for or interest in representing us and our views (including where they coincide with important things like "beliefs about reality that are sane, testable, and relevant to our future"), and the ostensible answer to that (get involved in government!) is mostly useless to us, for a variety of reasons.

In any case, one out trans woman gets elected. Sounds great! That'll really counteract the generally anti-trans mentality that prevails in government, policy and culture there, eh?

[aesmael.livejournal.com]

Why is that your opinion of the duty in such situations?

[aesmael.livejournal.com]

Actually, on further thought, that isn't helpful advice. My problem is not dissatisfaction with every party available - I would much rather the Greens in power than either of the two major parties. The problem is that not enough people vote for them to get them into power, at least in my own electorate. So running for the seat myself would make my situation worse, not better.

What I want is for more people to vote Green, and I am trying to make that happen. I don't think they will win in this seat anyway, although in the next election cycle they may take the balance of power in the sentate from winning other seats. Hopefully that will improve the political climate in this country.

[valeriekeefe.livejournal.com]

Well, in that instance, your only option is to somehow help out the greens' campaign. I've never supported a winning candidate in my 9 years' in electoral politics, running, volunteering, and voting, and if I never do, I will be disheartened by the electorate, but I will certainly not be upset by my own efforts.

[aesmael.livejournal.com]

You are trying to encourage us to be more politically involved, more politically active, yes? I think that is being your goal here, but that assessment is more of an inferred guess than an act of mind-reading.

[valeriekeefe.livejournal.com]

Well, yeah, that's pretty much it. Beyond that, there's not a lot of ways to help the party you want to win to win, or to make it continue to reflect your beliefs.

[chaoticset.livejournal.com]

Question: If you think Green can't get it, then why not vote something else, even if it's not what you want?

Statement: I always thought there should be a minor positive incentive for voting, and that it should be a buffet dinner, or at least a cookie. Do your civic duty, get a couple plates of lasagna. Seems a small price for record voter turnout, IMHO.

[aesmael.livejournal.com]

I like your idea. Incentive for voting, not disincentive for not voting.

Fortunately I don't need to make that compromise. If I vote Green and they don't get in, my vote goes to a number of other alternatives I nominate in turn. (if I don't nominate alternatives, it goes to the alternative nominated by the party I voted for) Ultimately my vote probably will end up with the disappointing compromise of Labor, which is better than the alternative but still quite not what I want. And I am grumbling that I will likely only get that compromise, not what I want.

[(Anonymous)]

If you don't nominate alternatives in the House, your vote is informal (ie., it is a valid vote for the purposes of avoiding a fine, but it doesn't count), as is donkey voting. Party preferences only happen in Senate voting.

[aesmael.livejournal.com]

My mistake, then.