I'd say the most important issue this election can change is Electoral Reform... our current system just doesn't make sense to me.
If you go on the BBC's
Election Calculator and give the three major parties 30% of the vote, and "other" just 10%, Labour come out on top with 315 seats (still no majority), the Tories quite far behind (206), but the Lib Dems are back in 3rd place with only 100 seats, and "other" just accounts for 29 seats.
Especially if things go as they look like they might, with a Hung Parliament and a Lib Dem - Labour coalition Government, the strong possibility is that Labour will receive fewer votes than the other two parties nationwide, but still retain Government, with the Prime Minister a Labour man.
In what system does it make sense for the third most popular Party to "win"?
Also, the Lib Dem's policy on canceling the like-for-like replacement of our Trident Nukes will pay for a lot of their Tax reforms... the nuke thing will be around £100 Billion, to pay for a system that the Russians, Chinese and U.S. would simply laugh at. It's not any kind of deterrent against anyone who is a real threat. We don't need to increase nuclear spending to scare countries like Iran away, they have single-figures nukes at most.
The other two leaders are playing on this ridiculously, saying Clegg would leave us weak. But they are simply mistaken, in my opinion. Britain is constantly punching above its weight militarily speaking, when we should focus on making stuff better here.
Also cancelling our new Eurofighter development makes sense... we were hit hardest by the recession in Europe, why should we be paying for Nato military stuff now? Why all this defence spending during a recession? Makes no sense.
Also, if you read the manifestos, the Lib Dems are the most likely party to maintain civil liberties. They were the only ones with the sense to stand against the Digital Economy Bill and are known for their record defending social rights. Brown and Cameron and their authoritarianism will lead to more things being infringed... expect us to go the route of Germany and Australia games-wise soon if the reds and blues decide these issues.
Bah, silly politics. And forums. Making me rant. Ah well, rant over.
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