NZ is being offered compelling advice on how to vote for the forthcoming election - Nov 2011.
The problem with any such advice is that it typically entails some form of moral relativism. Notwithstanding that some voting systems are better than others, if they entail voters choosing some representative, and not having the discretion to remove them; or if their representation entails them having the legal sanction to impose some arbitrary law upon you, then you live in a tyranny of the majority. The founding fathers were concerned about it; their concerns were well-founded; their counter-measures proved inadequate. The greatest threat of tyranny comes from the systematic arbitrary actions of government; most often sanctioned by some passive, uneducated, repressed majority.
Just like the Australian referendum entailed the govt deciding what voting options you should be given; the NZ parliament will decide which system is right for you. Rest assured, all possible options it offers will retain their entrenched majority. i.e. There will be no option for any meritocracy or meritocratic democracy, whereby reason is the standard of value. Why? Because principles held in context are antithetical to the major parties desire to extort wealth and legitimacy from an adversarial framework that ensures neither side gets what they want. Its all a soap opera to keep the two main parties in power. Never mind that their centralisation of power, their arbitrary laws shackle the productive capacity of the economy and keep a great many people at a subsistence living standard.
My choice is not to participate in a system of extortion. I have only voted once in my life in Australia, and the reason was:
1. Coercion: Because an electoral officer came to my door and threatened me with an ultimatum. In Australia, there is a $50 fine for not voting; but I've never had a payment demand. I guess we have a benevolent dictatorship in Australia. Can you think of worse punishments? Yes, taxation and the programs it finances, which actually perpetrate systematic injustice.
2. Education: Accepted that I should actually vote once so that I could see the process close up. i.e. Stare a ballot paper in the face. I actually participated in the illusionary process of supporting a local libertarian in election, knowing full well that voters I attempted to convince were not accountable for their views.
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