MMP is very good, much better than FPP. We've had it since 1996. It's meant a greater diversity of members of parliament, and parties in parliament. Since it went in we've had more female, Maori, Polynesian, Asian, and Muslim members than ever before. Also, the first trasngender member of parliament in the world (I understand).
It's meant smaller parties, on both sides of the spectrum get in, which means that my political views actually get represented. And our government has actually been as stable, if more so, since it came in. We haven't had a snap election in 11 years now. We've also had progressive policies come in such as anti-smacking, legalisation of prostitution, civil unions, the cementing of NZ being nuclear free, and not getting involved in stupid wars in the Middle East.
Your reply contains more information on the MMP system that most Ontarians have received on the issue.
DK and I had to do a fair amount of digging and research on our own to learn more beyond "it involves appointing extra MPPs." I'm afraid it won't pass simply because a lot of people don't really understand how it works and will therefore stick with the devil they know.
Yeah. It wasn't without controversy in NZ when we chose it. To be honest it came in as more of a protest vote against the two major political parties who had been screwing people over, as any sort of positive vote. And we used to have political parties that won up to 20% of the popular vote, but failed to get a single member in parliament.
But people were pretty well-informed, and it won convincingly.
That's one of the more compelling reasons I've heard against MMP. Like you, I didn't think it would pass; although, I was surprised at how decisively the "nay" vote passed.
Ah, like most places, in NZ it's illegal to assault people. There was a defence in law, that basically meant it was legal for parents to smack their kids for the purposes of correction. This got horrendously abused - in the past few years parents have gotten off convictions for beating their kids with riding crops, lumps of wood etc.
Anyway, we now have a new law, removing that exemption. It's not entirely clear cut, as it got mangled in select committee, but as a rule, it's now illegal to smack your kids.
It's meant smaller parties, on both sides of the spectrum get in, which means that my political views actually get represented. And our government has actually been as stable, if more so, since it came in. We haven't had a snap election in 11 years now. We've also had progressive policies come in such as anti-smacking, legalisation of prostitution, civil unions, the cementing of NZ being nuclear free, and not getting involved in stupid wars in the Middle East.
Vote for it!
MMP is originally German.
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DK and I had to do a fair amount of digging and research on our own to learn more beyond "it involves appointing extra MPPs." I'm afraid it won't pass simply because a lot of people don't really understand how it works and will therefore stick with the devil they know.
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But people were pretty well-informed, and it won convincingly.
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I voted for, but was sure it wouldn't pass. :|
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Go MMP!
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Anyway, we now have a new law, removing that exemption. It's not entirely clear cut, as it got mangled in select committee, but as a rule, it's now illegal to smack your kids.
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