Democracy, freedom and the right to vote!

[oldrider]

Democracy, freedom and the right to vote!

Tomorrow I shall exercise the privilege of my right to vote.

The current election campaign has sickened me and tempted me to vote negatively but after watching some of the news items about the trouble some other nationalities are enduring just to get that privilege, I have been thinking!

The important political things that I would like to see adopted by this country are not being offered by any one party so I will have split my voting options!

Most commentators would judge my choices as "wasted votes" but I want to express "my" vote positively so tomorrow waste them I will.

Monetary reform (Social Credit) is paramount as far as I am concerned and there is only one party offering to do this and they have a candidate standing in my electorate, so I will vote for their candidate! http://www.democrats.org.nz/

The overall policies that most appeal to my sense of political direction and freedom, the party does not have a candidate in my electorate so I will give them my "party vote". http://www.libertarianz.org.nz/

At least I will have exercised my privilege and cast my vote positively for the things that I think are important rather than casting a negative vote for the two major parties to cancel one in preference to the other as the media suggest that we do!

I shall also vote for change from MMP to STV.

Yes! Tomorrow I shall "waste my votes" the way I believe if they were realised there would be improvements in the way New Zealand operates!

It won't make an iota of difference to the outcome of the (lucky dip) election but it will make a difference to how I feel about myself!

Good luck to everyone else ...... vote positively, the way that "you" want to ... good luck and have a nice day!

[Motu]

There are a couple of standards I work to - never vote a party in,always vote them out...and never vote for a major party. That's why I like MMP.

[short-circuit]

Yes! Tomorrow I shall "waist my votes"

At least you won't be wasting them

[mashman]

Isn't that the point of voting? To vote for whom you feel will be the right candidate, for the reasons you hold dear at that particular point in time.

And as I have the right to vote anyway I would like. I shall file it with the rest of the last 23 votes. Straight into the bin. A positive vote if there ever was one .

[oldrider]

At least you won't be wasting them

Thank you SC didn't even spot that, IOU one!

[Oblivion]

As a wise man once said, You cant trust a person that smiles that often....

[Big Dave]

It only encourages the Bastards.

[FJRider]

The current election campaign has sickened me ....

They just tell you what they want you to believe ... nothing changed there ...

Most commentators would judge my choices as "wasted votes" but I want to express "my" vote positively so tomorrow waste them I will.

It would change the political parties thinking if EVERYBODY did this ..

I shall also vote for change from MMP to STV.

You do realise ... even if EVERYBODY voted for a change AWAY from MMP ... the (elected) Goverment is under NO obligation to actually CHANGE anything ...

Yes! Tomorrow I shall "waste my votes" the way I believe if they were realised there would be improvements in the way New Zealand operates!

It won't make an iota of difference to the outcome of the (lucky dip) election but it will make a difference to how I feel about myself!

That is your right in the current New Zealand political system ...

[F5 Dave]

If it were a true democracy you would vote for major issue decisions, not just for people to (mis)represent you.

In my ideal electoral system you could cast votes against politicians. List ones could be knocked out if they were dickheads. Winne & other fools would never get to hold court.

Instead, all I have is a protest vote. Now I feel dirty.

[Robert Taylor]

if it were a true democracy you would vote for major issue decisions, not just for people to (mis)represent you.

In my ideal electoral system you could cast votes against politicians. List ones could be knocked out if they were dickheads. Winne & other fools would never get to hold court.

Instead, all i have is a protest vote. Now i feel dirty.

well said that man!

[Bytor]

well said that man!

+1 but my protest vote has been to not vote at all - be interesting to see what the turnout will be.

There should be an option to tick a 'None' box so at least the no vote is still a counted vote.

[bluninja]

What a load of cock.

You have the right to vote or not. Unlike some countries where you are obliged to vote, or be fined.

If you don't like your choices then either :-

• put your head above the parapet and stand as a candidate
• get involved in a political party so that the 'right' policies and people can be presented to voters as an option
• vote for those that have the courage, or the desire to take the job.

Doing FA but whinging about the paucity of good candidates and policies, then binning your vote is a cop out in my book. But it is your right, and you have freedom of expression.

I've exercised my right (and moral obligation) to vote; and I have a lovely tasteful sticker.

[pete376403]

The decision to vote (or not) is taken pretty casually here - heard on NatRad that there are about 250,000, mostly aged between 18 - 30, not on the rolls. They will be the ones whining about the next government (of whatever persuasion).

The "Arab Spring" - Egypt, Libya, Syria, Bahrain, etc demonstrates how highly some people rate the right to vote.

[mashman]

The "Arab Spring" - Egypt, Libya, Syria, Bahrain, etc demonstrates how highly some people rate the right to vote.

Is that all it was about. Shit they coulda saved a lot of death and grief if that's all the problem was, who knew .

[davereid]

The right to vote is only part of being free and democratic, and while its important we shouldn't forget the other bits.

Like the fact that ALL our laws are supposed to be debated before select committee and reflect public submissions and opinion.
Like the fact that we have the right to be considered innocent until proven guilty.
Like the fact we have the right to go about our business without being subject to random search and seizure.
Like the fact we are not supposed to be punished unless we are convicted.
Like the fact we have a free uncensored press.
Like the fact we are to be tried by a jury of our peers.

Except, that National have passed laws, without select committee that overturn ALL those principles.

And that they claim 48 percent of the vote is good enough for 60 seats. My maths says 48 percent of the house is 58 seats. And that 48 percent is a mandate to sell someone else's assets worth 37 billion for 5-7 Billion.