NationStates Jolt Archive

Today it was the local council elections in merry old england. I havn't to live in a small quaint village (but i wouldn't recomend it, the most exciting thing of late was the emancipation of women a couple of years back). As its a small village, only three candidates were standing, a liberal democrat and two conservetives. However there were two seats up for election, so could vote for two candidates.

I myself am a moral leftwinger, who likes rightwing economics. But for my local elections, were the main issue is how often Bins should be empty, i was a proud libdem, although labour would of done at a pinch. (The lib dems were offering to empty bins every week, the conservetives every two weeks).

The smarter of you will of realised that this put me in a position, as only one condidate represented me and I could vote for two. I decided only to use my one vote, for the lib dem, rather than make the conservetives look more popular. But should I of done my research and chosen which conservetive candidate would of made a better counciller, and also voted for him, as one conservetive would of been elected anyway.

Of course again the smarter of you may of suggested why didn't i stand for canditure instead, to offer everyone another choice. However I am off to univeristy in six months, so it would be rather irresponsible of me. This issue also applys to national elections, what happens if none of the main partys represent your intrests? Do you vote for the lesser of two evils? Form you own party/ go independent? It's expensive. Or vote for a small party thats not going to do much? Or the Monster Raving Loonie Party?

Just interested to hear peoples thoughts, I've already voted so can't influence me :)

Firstly... what kind of electoral system are you using where you get two votes in a local election (municipal?)

Secondly, I find myself having to vote strategically all the time. With only three parties with any real 'chance' to win in a seat in my riding (federally), often times I am voting to punish one party, even though I don't particularly like the party I am voting for (the third party being non-electable in my riding.)

This is a large part in why I try to push for democratic reform. I like options.

does "empty the bins" mean "trash collection"?

how many people LIKE the idea of trash collection every 2 weeks? *shudder*

i vote for the lesser of 2 evils if the larger evil is bad enough and likely to win. even if there is someone i like on the ballot who has no chance to win. if its not going to be close, i vote for the guy i like the best.

the lesser of two evils is still evil *nod*

I assume its municipal, you nominate candidates for seats. Therefore the number of votes you have is eqaul to the number of seats. And one candidate can only stand per one seat. One of the points i was also trying to make, perhaps not quite clearly enough, that the two over candidates were both conservetive, and hence campaigning together (same policy) i would of had to of done some disquinshed reserach into them as individuals to form an opinion of which was supirior.

Firstly... what kind of electoral system are you using where you get two votes in a local election (municipal?)

It's a very common system: When you have X number of open seats, you get X votes, and the top X vote-getters win. We use it all the time for city council elections where I live.

And while the lesser of two evils is still evil, this is politics we're talking about. The choices are usually "evil", "more evil", and "batshit insane". The "Non-Evil Party" has been banned from participating in elections in almost every nation in the world. :D

i voted for SNP in my local elections because they are second to labour and no other party comes close. also because the party i wanted to vote for (the Greens) didn't have a candidate in my constituancy. the fact i have just voted for a nationalist party bothers me a lot. but at least they aren't labour, the labour leadership is quite a lot more repellent to me than scottish nationalists at the moment.

Might as well exercise your power to the full, less evil is at least less evil.

I havn't to live in a small quaint village (but i wouldn't recomend it, the most exciting thing of late was the emancipation of women a couple of years back).

You've made 8 posts, you're a Liberal Democrat, and you can't spell, but for this I already like you. I hope you stick around. :)

It's a very common system: When you have X number of open seats, you get X votes, and the top X vote-getters win. We use it all the time for city council elections where I live.

And while the lesser of two evils is still evil, this is politics we're talking about. The choices are usually "evil", "more evil", and "batshit insane". The "Non-Evil Party" has been banned from participating in elections in almost every nation in the world. :D

All of our municipal elections are one vote, winner takes all, for each seat. Actually, that's the way all of our elections work, from municipal, to provincial, to federal. Actually, there may be a difference in Nunavut, with it being a newer territory based on Inuit ideas, but for most of us, we're stuck with the traditional methods.

how many people LIKE the idea of trash collection every 2 weeks? *shudder*

Annoyingly, a lot of people do. The idea is that you have rubbish collection one week, and a recycling collection the next.

They say it makes people recycle more. I say they should try fitting two weeks of rubbish into one bin.

Annoyingly, a lot of people do. The idea is that you have rubbish collection one week, and a recycling collection the next.

They say it makes people recycle more. I say they should try fitting two weeks of rubbish into one bin.

*shrugs* My family have always managed it.

*shrugs* My family have always managed it.

Into a single wheelie bin? How big is your family?

Into a single wheelie bin? How big is your family?

4 people (2 Younger brothers, Mother, and Moi)

4 people (2 Younger brothers, Mother, and Moi)

Then you must eat very small things. :p

You've made 8 posts, you're a Liberal Democrat, and you can't spell, but for this I already like you. I hope you stick around.

I'm probably actually more labour for the nationals at the mo, but I belive in voting for whoever will do the best job of running the country, even if they did go to Eaton and complained when daddy couldn't get them elected. The spelling i blame on Dyslexia, and frankly can never be arsed to look through my posts. Have been doing NS for over a year now, but frankly you forum people scare me. Oh and we do have a recycling once a week, the libdems are proposing to keep that and do garbage collection every week as well.

Then you must eat very small things. :p

We just eat all of them. We do recycle a lot more than we put in the rubbish. After recycling metal, plastic, glass, cardboard, paper, and garden waste, there isn't really that much left to bin.

Annoyingly, a lot of people do. The idea is that you have rubbish collection one week, and a recycling collection the next.

They say it makes people recycle more. I say they should try fitting two weeks of rubbish into one bin.

i suppose y'all do live in a cooler climate than i do but after ONE week my trash bin smells like the source of all disease. 2 weeks would be too much.

and it would be hard to fit 2 weeks worth in

our recycling is done with different equipment than the trash collection.

All of our municipal elections are one vote, winner takes all, for each seat. Actually, that's the way all of our elections work, from municipal, to provincial, to federal. Actually, there may be a difference in Nunavut, with it being a newer territory based on Inuit ideas, but for most of us, we're stuck with the traditional methods.

Unless the new measure gets passed when we have our next provincial election, which would reform our system.

Have been doing NS for over a year now, but frankly you forum people scare me.

Pfft, we're not scary.

Certified, perhaps, but in a nice way.

i suppose y'all do live in a cooler climate than i do but after ONE week my trash bin smells like the source of all disease. 2 weeks would be too much.

and it would be hard to fit 2 weeks worth in

our recycling is done with different equipment than the trash collection.

They just recently changed to a 2 week trash collection in my area as well. However, they also have a green/compost collection as well, so the idea is that anything that is going to rot and smell bad, is inside sealed green containers (which are collected every week... I think.)

It's a work in progress I guess.

Unless the new measure gets passed when we have our next provincial election, which would reform our system.

I'm trying to convince as many people as I can. Not a single one of the major Toronto papers endorse the change.