Freedom of speech website NZ version?

[Scuba_Steve]

So I actually think the current system where we get to vote against the party we like the least, then that party just gets on with (more or less) fucking up the country for a few years.

made that slightly more accurate for you

But my question is why shouldn't a country be able to rule itself??? Sure we may fuck it up but hey thats nothing that isn't happening now anyways & at-least it'd be the people fucking up their own country not some dictatorship doing it for you getting your money & backhanders while doing so. I actually do think the people would do better at ruling the country then these dictatorship parties I also think Govt's know they would too & will do anything to stop it

[Winston001]

Yes, it's a good idea and I have long thought the government should establish such a forum.

• Non-binding vote
• Careful neutral wording of the questions being voted on
• Background resources to explain the issues
• Lots of scope for discussion
• Would be biased towards those who are comfortable using computers or smart phones

[Hitcher]

It will never work.

1. You can't get rid of politicians. Ever.

2. Most people don't give a fuck and won't vote. That means the fucking tree hugging Trotski-ists end up running the joint in the way that best suits them. Just like student associations but on a bigger scale.

3. Representative democracy, while imperfect and fundamentally flawed, is better than any other form of government.

4. Under a system as outlined above, who writes the questions that people get polled on? Rhetorical question, because the answer is that paid government officials would. They already have too much say in how the country gets run. Please don't create a system that gives them all the say.

[Woodman]

Democracy is just mob rule.

Lowest common denominator gets to decide ?

Yeah right.

If you want a voice get involved in the select committee process, make submissions etc.

Otherwise, the idiots will just vote for the pretty option.

Exactly where it would fail. Just because something is popular, doesn't mean its right.

[Scuba_Steve]

Well this is where my system can help

It will never work.

1. You can't get rid of politicians. Ever.

Wouldn't need to, I'd just make them powerless

2. Most people don't give a fuck and won't vote. That means the fucking tree hugging Trotski-ists end up running the joint in the way that best suits them. Just like student associations but on a bigger scale.

People don't give a fuck because of the system, make their vote actually count & people will care

3. Representative democracy, while imperfect and fundamentally flawed, is better than any other form of government.

Nope

4. Under a system as outlined above, who writes the questions that people get polled on? Rhetorical question, because the answer is that paid government officials would. They already have too much say in how the country gets run. Please don't create a system that gives them all the say.

under my system the people decide, the Govt would just be powerless figureheads they would have the same say as everyone else no more no less

[Hitcher]

under my system the people decide, the Govt would just be powerless figureheads they would have the same say as everyone else no more no less

No they wouldn't. This would only work if the Parliament mandated it. I can't see any responsible government allowing a country to be run by Stuff polls.

[Scuba_Steve]

No they wouldn't. This would only work if the Parliament mandated it. I can't see any responsible government allowing a country to be run by Stuff polls.

my system does rely on me getting my A into G starting a party, gaining control & making myself powerless. I'm not talking about the current bunch of useless twats implementing it

[Hitcher]

my system does rely on me getting my A into G starting a party, gaining control & making myself powerless.

Good luck with that. I can't for a moment envisage you or any other elected politician giving up your taxpayer funded salary and perks package to let a rabble decide things for themselves.

[Big Dave]

let a rabble decide things

AKA Parliament.

[Hitcher]

AKA Parliament.

A democratically elected rabble. By people who think they favour a mixed member proportional system of representation made up of a whole bunch of people that they, the electors, don't even get a chance to pick.

[mashman]

You'd need a sympathetic government. Smacking Vote?

[jazfender]

Top idea, but never going to fly

A lot of folks don't use the internet.

It will never work.

Fuck these haters. Do it anyway, bro.

[Hitcher]

Fuck these haters. Do it anyway, bro.

Indeed. Go ahead. If largely unmoderated discourse on Kiwi Biker is any guide, it will only end in tears. The Pointless Drivel section will be an entertaining read.

[mashman]

It could work if the political party leaders backed it.

As for the internet. Not everyone votes, computer or ney.

Perhaps you could publish peoples votes. Why do we feel the need to hide them? You can check your own.

[slowpoke]

No farkin' way! I don't trust politicians to always make the right decisions but I trust lazy, ignorant, self serving Joe Public even less....and the media, who write sensationalist crap which Joe Public falls for every time, even less than that.

Our current system isn't perfect but until I see something better, which this definitely isn't, it'll have to do.