Help abolish tactical voting: vote tactically tomorrow to keep the Tories out

[ciphergoth]

Please vote tactically to keep the Tories out.

This is what I want to say to everyone before you vote tomorrow, but it's aimed especially at Liberal Democrat supporters in Lab/Con marginal seats. I'm not a Liberal Democrat but I would like you to do as well as possible tomorrow because there's an awful lot of your agenda I want heard - especially voting reform.

Looking at the betting odds, it's pretty clear that the only plausible outcomes are a hung parliament or a Tory majority; there's no chance of a Labour majority.

In the event of a hung parliament, the Liberal Democrats will likely wield many votes and have considerable power to advance their agenda, power they've never had before. In particular, there's every chance they'll finally be able to force through the voting reform we've all waited for for so long; voting reform that will mean that the party finally gets the voice that its popular support would warrant. What we're calling a Liberal Democrat "moment" could be a lasting Liberal Democrat revolution.

In the event of a Tory majority, even a slim one, exactly the opposite will happen. Just like George W Bush in 2000, they're singing a centrist song now, but will rule to their own agenda once they have power. They won't reform voting - their 10% seat cut is no reform and could unbalance things further.

There hasn't been a hung parliament for (ISTR) 35 years, so opportunities like this don't come often. Of course plugging hard at length is an important part of winning, but so is seizing opportunities to break barriers that you might not get another chance to break for a very long time. And that means voting Labour where they are the only candidate who can beat the Tory.

I'm talking here about the consequences of your vote. There's a temptation to choose your vote based on whether you'll enjoy telling people about it. I know not everyone feels this way, but to me one action is better than another if it brings about better consequences. I'm asking you to choose yours on the basis of what might actually happen as a result. We can do away with the ridiculous problem with our voting system that means I have to ask you this. But it means voting whatever way you need to vote tomorrow to prevent a Tory majority.

Guardian guide to tactical voting

Comments

[http://users.livejournal.com/_lj_sucks_/]

This.

If the Tories get in, it'll be because of the broken electoral system. The only way to fix the problem, is to fix the broken electoral system. The same broken electoral system that kept the Tories in power for decades even as their vote dwindled.

Labour would rather see 20 years of Tory misrule than fix the electoral system and consequently not get as much power themselves when it's "their turn". Fuck them. The only solution is electoral reform, and there's only one way to vote that will get that to happen.

[friend-of-tofu.livejournal.com]

*sigh*

That's very true. The fact is, there's so much incentive for any party in power not to change the system, because once one gets into power, one is more likely to get into power again. Self-interest triumphs.

[http://users.livejournal.com/_lj_sucks_/]

However, I think the LibDems must realize that if they got in and didn't in fact enact electoral reform, it would finish them forever as a party.

[friend-of-tofu.livejournal.com]

I seriously hope so, although as part of a coalition government, they may lack the power to push too hard. Wait and see, I guess *crosses all available digits*

[ciphergoth.livejournal.com]

As you say, when they're in power, Labour want electoral reform later, just not yet. They'll only do it when they're forced to, for example as a condition of an alliance with the LDs. I don't see it coming about in this country any other way.