Author Topic: Here's how First Past The Post "works":  (Read 9294 times)

DLPB_

  • Banned
  • *
  • Posts: 11006
    • View Profile
Here's how First Past The Post "works":
« on: 2015-05-08 17:04:42 »
Here's how First Past The Post "works":

Con (36.9%) Seats: 331
Lab (30.4%) Seats: 232
Ukip (12.6%) Seats: 1
LD (7.9%) Seats: 8
SNP (4.7%) Seats: 56

Use your brain for half a second and work out why this is a pathetic sham we (UK) live in.

Covarr

  • Covarr-Let
  • Administrator
  • *
  • Posts: 3941
  • Just Covarr. No "n".
    • View Profile
Re: Here's how First Past The Post "works":
« Reply #1 on: 2015-05-08 17:48:22 »
CGP Grey certainly has some harsh criticisms of this method. His recommended method is Single Transferable Vote, which is much better than FPTP.

DLPB_

  • Banned
  • *
  • Posts: 11006
    • View Profile
Re: Here's how First Past The Post "works":
« Reply #2 on: 2015-05-08 18:05:42 »
The problem is, the 2 parties that hve the most mps have them because of this system... so they won't change it.  Only a massive rally would do that and people are too bone idle and fickle for that.  Most don't even understand what I posted.

KnifeTheSky77

  • *
  • Posts: 548
  • Somnambulistic Paraphile
    • View Profile
Re: Here's how First Past The Post "works":
« Reply #3 on: 2015-05-08 18:25:07 »
Yea man I didn't really understand any of that, I need to brush up on my British

Ragna

  • *
  • Posts: 266
    • View Profile
Re: Here's how First Past The Post "works":
« Reply #4 on: 2015-05-08 19:05:45 »
Here's how First Past The Post "works":

Con (36.9%) Seats: 331
Lab (30.4%) Seats: 232
Ukip (12.6%) Seats: 1
LD (7.9%) Seats: 8
SNP (4.7%) Seats: 56

Use your brain for half a second and work out why this is a pathetic sham we (UK) live in.
So, are you against the result or against the method?

What do you think the result should have been?
Would the result change if the method you preferred was used?

I'm not from the UK but, I'm curious about this.
Also, isn't there too many seats in total? If I were from the UK I would prefer reducing total seats.

Vgr

  • Global moderator
  • *
  • Posts: 2163
  • If it quacks like a duck, it must be a duck
    • View Profile
Re: Here's how First Past The Post "works":
« Reply #5 on: 2015-05-08 19:48:54 »


Relevant

Covarr

  • Covarr-Let
  • Administrator
  • *
  • Posts: 3941
  • Just Covarr. No "n".
    • View Profile
Re: Here's how First Past The Post "works":
« Reply #6 on: 2015-05-08 20:15:18 »
Yea man I didn't really understand any of that, I need to brush up on my British
In simpler terms, the division of seats for each party doesn't match the percentage of votes each party got. I whipped up a quick graphic that should help visualize the problem:



As this chart shows, the percentage of votes each party got does not adequately correspond to the percentage of available seats that party took. This is especially noticeable with the UK Independence Party (Ukip), who got more votes than either the Liberal Democrats (LD) or the Scottish National Party (SNP), and yet received only one seat. This usually happens when there's a decent number of people who support a particular party, but they are too divided geographically and cannot form the majority in any one area needed to get their candidate in. This is often made much worse through gerrymandering, especially in the US, though I don't know how much that comes into play in the UK.

DLPB_

  • Banned
  • *
  • Posts: 11006
    • View Profile
Re: Here's how First Past The Post "works":
« Reply #7 on: 2015-05-08 21:24:53 »
Basically, it's THIS stupid:

Imagine that there are 4 parties standing for Manchester.

Party 1: Votes: 67424
Party 2: 67425
Party 3: 67426
Party 4: 67427

This is an extreme example, but it's just to illustrate what goes on in the wider scheme of things.  If the above happened, Party 4 would gain a seat.  The MP would be elected to the House. ALL OTHER VOTES WOULD BE DISCARDED.  They would be meaningless. All that would count in the above scenario is that Party 4 = +1

The Scottish National party now have UNPRECEDENTED POWER with around 4% of the vote, compared to UKIP who have no power at all with 12%.
« Last Edit: 2015-05-08 21:26:38 by DLPB »

Ragna

  • *
  • Posts: 266
    • View Profile
Re: Here's how First Past The Post "works":
« Reply #8 on: 2015-05-08 22:10:28 »
DLPB, would you please answer my previous questions? I'm curious. ??? Everyone else can do it too! ;)

KnifeTheSky77

  • *
  • Posts: 548
  • Somnambulistic Paraphile
    • View Profile
Re: Here's how First Past The Post "works":
« Reply #9 on: 2015-05-08 22:25:14 »
Why is it set up this way? The US definitely has some wanky laws that made a lot of sense a long time ago but make no sense now. Tesla selling cars direct to consumers and the war on drugs come to mind

DLPB_

  • Banned
  • *
  • Posts: 11006
    • View Profile
Re: Here's how First Past The Post "works":
« Reply #10 on: 2015-05-08 23:56:30 »
DLPB, would you please answer my previous questions? I'm curious. ??? Everyone else can do it too! ;)

I'm against it because it is undemocratic...  the figures stand for themselves.

DLPB_

  • Banned
  • *
  • Posts: 11006
    • View Profile
Re: Here's how First Past The Post "works":
« Reply #11 on: 2015-05-09 06:02:05 »
Why is it set up this way?

Because it favours the elite.  It favours the rich public schoolboys who are running the show here and who want to keep their power. And the electorate have been subdued by years of socialist brainwashing and dumbing down of education.  They don't even know how the system works.  My own grandma thinks that "every vote counts" despite me telling her repeatedly why it doesn't.  She, like most, doesn't want to listen.  And the elite count on that.  They count on stupidity.  See the George Carlin quote I posted. The United States isn't any better.... it's basically a stage show.  Two rich parties who are also in the back pocket of big business. Democracy used to mean something, but it hasn't for a long time.  All you have is the illusion of freedom... but it's better to be half free than live in some of those Middle Eastern countries.
« Last Edit: 2015-05-09 06:04:56 by DLPB »

Tekkie.X

  • *
  • Posts: 896
  • Formerly known as DragonNinja
    • View Profile
Re: Here's how First Past The Post "works":
« Reply #12 on: 2015-05-09 10:13:20 »
Scotland votes against independence, still votes for SNP who championed it anyway.

JBedford128

  • *
  • Posts: 113
    • View Profile
Re: Here's how First Past The Post "works":
« Reply #13 on: 2015-05-09 13:55:10 »
45% voted for independence. If we assume those same 45% voted SNP, and the remaining 55% voted other parties, SNP would still be getting more votes because that 55% is being split. And that's ignoring other reasons people might have changed attitude since the referendum.

The actual figures:
-1617989 people voted YES in the Scottish independence referendum
-1454436 people voted SNP in the general election

Jenova's Witness

  • Right Wing Safety Squads
  • *
  • Posts: 471
  • I ♥ SCIENCE
    • View Profile
.
« Reply #14 on: 2015-05-15 07:56:35 »
.
« Last Edit: 2015-11-16 07:46:41 by Jenova's Witness »