Yes or no

[altariel]

OK, f'listers, let rip. In 100 words or less, and without reference to the other case, tell me why I should vote either 'yes' or 'no' to the following question:

"Do you want the United Kingdom to adopt the 'alternative vote' system instead of the current 'first past the post' system for electing Members of Parliament to the House of Commons?"

Non-UK perspectives welcome.

Comments

[matildabj.livejournal.com]

Vote yes. Mainly because it's the first step down the road to full proportional representation. Voting 'no' because it's not 'proper' PR is defeating the object. No government is ever going to be brave enough to make the leap all the way all at once: one step at a time. And this is the first step.

Written without any reference to anything my former employers might have said on the subject...

[altariel.livejournal.com]

the first step down the road to full proportional representation

I confess I struggle to see this happening, at least immediately. Isn't it more likely that this referendum will put electoral reform off the agenda for a generation, regardless of the outcome? Isn't that historically what has happened with electoral reform bills?

[six-old-cars.livejournal.com]

But there's at least a small hope that a "yes" decision will put proper electoral reform on the "deferred" list rather than the "obviously nobody wants it" list that establishment politicians will interpret a "no" decision as justifying.

[altariel.livejournal.com]

I think low turnout is going to scupper that.