Democalypse 2017 - The Election Thread

And a party with 0.5 can get one and then represent the backwards party values rather than just the suburb that they're supposed to represent.

Germany has 5%, Bolivia has 3% which I'd vote for if there was a referendum. 

On one hand, I think the MMP threshold should be lowered, but on the other hand, I'm aware that a lower threshold would have let Colin Craig into parliament last time around. Hmmm.

Yeah that's the price you pay for democracy unfortuntely. But we have no idea how people would have voted if targets were more realistic, and also we might have more political parties. For instance Pirate parties are doing well in Europe but I doubt anyone would bother doing a serious push for one here. 

I know quite a few people that would have voted for TOP if they had a chance of getting in so they probably lost a few percent there, same with the Internet Party last election.

...and imagine what a fudgeing trainwreck that would have been.

Those parties under 5% would do a lot better too. Currently there would be a fair few people who don't bother voting for them fearing their vote would be wasted. 

Lowering the 5% would make for a parliament that is more representative of what people would vote. 

true and that's what the electoral commission recommended last year but the government rejected implementing any of their recommedations

I still prefer the STV system where you rank the candidates \ parties to your preference (like the Wellington mayoral election), that way the people who vote for the smaller parties won't have their votes wasted. But whatever we have any form of PR is better than the FPP system we did have

I don't think STV would improve representation in parliament. People voting for smaller parties would likely have a larger party as their 2nd or 3rd option, high likelihood being that those votes for smaller parties being discounted in the first round (if no party is yet to reach 50% of eligible votes) and then their follow up votes going to the bigger parties - resulting in similar results to the current electorate portion of MMP, all but one being held by the two major parties. I like STV and think it could be used for the electorate part of the MMP vote, but still think the party vote, with a much lower threshold, is the more important.

Laila Harre is a competent politician, I didn't vote for them obviously (not many did) but I doubt it would have been the trainwreck that you think.

If she is anything like I remember her in the Te Atatu electorate, she would be a massive train wreck.

What does a competent politician  actually mean?

What do you think it means? It's the same as being competent in any career.

 It means she's good at the job of being a politician.

Able to hold a straight face while telling any or all of the following: Twist the facts. tell half the story, take quotes/facts out of context while not turning them to lies, but have not got the time to compile the full list.

Watch 'yes minister" for political insight.

Heh.

Special results in. Labour gains a seat: Angie Warren-Clark, Greens gain a seat, Gloriz Gaharaman, and National loses Nicola Willis and Maureen Pugh. Winston's hand strengthened.

Does it really change his hand that much? Both sides still need him regardless of today's result so nothing really changes.

There is a slight change, in that a Lab/G/NZF coallition is a more stable option now - previously it would have  been a one seat majority I think, so a loss of one MP would destablilise the whole show.  Having 63 seats gives a bit of a buffer.

rights here we go if my sauce is good...

and what does your sauce say?

So what happens if the Greens jump ship now?

At least I will get more for my $ when I come for a holiday.

Worth a change in Government just to witness Mike Hoskings increasing anger over the result. His female sidekick barely spoke a word(safety sake?), as "mad Mike" pontificated loudly, demanding answers over the cabinet makeup, what about the Greens?, NZ First a fly spec, is this left wing nightmare really happening? Comedy gold...

Really looking forward to Judith Collins and Bennet fighting like feral cats for Bills job.

There will be blood

The right decision for New Zealand was made,  I just hope Winston has mallowed in his old age (I know he hasn't).

Anyway we have a forward thinking government who can guide us through the tough times ahead. In fact with most of the world trying to ignore the inevitable  we may even profit.

[quote=Ryan]

The right decision for New Zealand was made,  I just hope Winston has mallowed in his old age (I know he hasn't).

Anyway we have a forward thinking government who can guide us through the tough times ahead. In fact with most of the world trying to ignore the inevitable  we may even profit.

[/quote

The right decision.  Your opinion. The majority of voters would not agree.

Dollar down. Wait until the markets open tomorrow. Winston only does things for Winston.

I guess Deputy Prime Minister was what he wanted.

Will be interesting to see if the Gov. goes the full term.

The markets will always favour a short term return over the long term.

And you're wrong, most of New Zealand voted for the parties in coalition which is how they formed a government.

This is MMP and the left bloc was only a couple of seats down on the right.

I Party Voted for TOP, which by rights with 2% of the vote should have been entitled to 3 seats. 

Stupid Country. Stupid MMP

The majority of voters voted for NZF, Greens, & Labour, so I guess they disagree with you too.

Winston only does things for Winston.

I guess Deputy Prime Minister was what he wanted.

Will be interesting to see if the Gov. goes the full term.

That I completely agree with.  Although I have no doubts National would have given him DPM aswell, so it was likely other considerations that sent him that way.

The majority of voters voted for a party that are in this government. That's how it works.

Gold Cards for Everyone!!!

Wheeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!

I can't wait until we start voting directly on issues and policies using crypto tokens.

Posted July 22.  Pre Ardern leadership and whilst Turei was still Greens co-leader. Predicted it (sort of): NZ First-Greens-Labour.

The dollar dropped because of uncertainty prior to any announcement which is exactly what the markets always do. The dollar will be just fine within a week of the announcement. The business community were just fine when the Last Labour coalition were in power they will be fine with this one. 

The interesting thing for me is the new prime minister has not been in Parliament long enough to be corrupted by the "Yes Minister" brigade nor got comfortable in the Ministerial "Gravy Train" so if she really wants to try and make a difference, here is her chance. Of course those with their noses experienced in the trough for so long, will try and drag her down with her nievity, but I wish her well. Poor Bill time to pack up the office. Perhaps he could move into cheaper rented accomodation.

As for Peters, time to sort your crap out and stop trying to be the center of attention. You are old and experienced enough to know better. Smart Gold cards is a great idea for starters.

New Prime Minister even made it into USA Today

The majority of voters voted for a party that are in this government. That's how it works.

[/quote

The the Nats got 47% of the vote with 1.1 million and Winston got 8% of the vote with 186000.

A joke.

Winston isn't the government. He's part of a coalition. That's how this works.

This dude has as much grasp on politics as he does on football 

The right bloc in Parliament got 44.9% (national got 44.5% not 47%) of the vote, the left bloc got 43.2% if you add TOP to the left bloc that goes up to 45.6% but obviously TOP didn't get into parliament.