Do we want more coalition Governments?

[venator]

AV or PR will probably mean more coalition governments.

I think it would be good, as when Labour or Tory parties have been in sole power for any length of time, they tend to go for their more extreme policies.

A coalition should be more moderate.

Any thoughts?

[McMouse]

<<A coalition should be more moderate.>>
In my view coalition leads to indecisive government that fudges issues.

[venator]

Does nobody care?

100% of Lib Dems will vote Yes, as will the looney Left.

!0 years on, expect a Lib Dem / BNP coalition - stranger things happen in Brussels...

[jackthehat]

I should like to see Individual Issues addressed in a sensible cross-party manner.
NO one party ever pleases the electorate completely...........and we have to trade-off what we think we can put-up with with what we are definite about.

Time for a change.

[venator]

So you want coalitions, jack?

[jackthehat]

I want a Government that reflects what the majority of the electorate wants..........

[Canary42]

A coalition is unrepresentative. Most people voted for Clegg to keep Cameron out (he had promised he would never work with the Tories, then the liar U-turned). That means we get an unelected leader (just like Libya).

[Teddy_boy]

A coalition is formed for a number of reasons. Whether it be apathy of voters not turning out for elections or the inability to decide between parties.I Would suggest that if more voters actually made the effort to vote then there would be less likelihood of a coalition.Sadly there are some very disappointing turnouts in elections in England.People have to realise that if they don't use their vote then they really don't have any right to complain.And i do think more women should be voting , i don't have exact figures , but as they have only had the right to vote for 83 years , and i do think that after all the suffrage women went through to gain the right to vote that its sad that more don't.
And that's not to say women don't , but merely me thinking out loud.

[venator]

So, Canary & Teddy, you don't want coalitions, and you want a properly representative Government?

Simple answer - get more people to care enough to vote.

[venator]

just marked Teddy as best answer...

[jackthehat]

How does that help ?
You'll simply end up with the same old same old only with a slighter larger mandate......

[sandyRoe]

Coalition governments help rein in the more extreme parties, left or right. I'd say they're a good thing.

[Teddy_boy]

I believe that voting should be compulsory as in some other countries.Either that or a policy of if you dont use it you lose it.It would certainly solve the coalition problem.

[smart1]

NO - that is why we all need to vote in favour of AV

[venator]

Jack - no easy answers here - First past the post gives a secure Lab ot Con government, as we've had for yonks.

AV or PR lets in the "losers" - like the Lib Dems who were out in the wilderness until the TV debates.

[jackthehat]

But if the 'third wheel' can provide a brake to the excesses of either of the big two, then that has to be a good thing ?

[Teddy_boy]

Do we need a third wheel?The usa for better or worse has a 2 party system.

[venator]

I agree, jack. AV is a fudge, but this is what coalitions produce...

[jackthehat]

You said it yourself..........."........or worse".
Who knows, perhaps they would benefit far more from a 3 (or more) party system ?

It may stop a Republican Senate stymying a Democratic president......

[sandyRoe]

But in the USA both parties represent much the same thing. Our parties had their roots in class interests

[venator]

Ok teddy, the USA is a special case, where the 2 parties can hardly be told apart, and where the advertising budget makes the government.