Fairer Votes
If the Scottish Parliament had a 'first past the post' (FPTP) voting system - the famously independent Margo MacDonald would fail to win a seat - and so would the Scottish Greens.
Now Margo is something of a national treasure these days - and while the same can't be said for the Green Party they do represent a fair slice of Scottish public opinion.
But the point is that without a fairer voting system their voices would never be heard.
Now that suits the old, established parties - who would like to keep things as they are - with the Tories and Labour taking turns to form the government of the day.
Tomorrow's referendum on AV can help to change things for the better - and of the mainstream parties only the Tories and Labour are in two minds - split on the issue for reasons of naked self-interest.
As ever the unions are committed to preserving the status quo - defending the present order of things - instead of representing the mixed views of their members.
The Scottish Parliament has been a success because its MSPs reflect and represent - more or less accurately - the views of the people they have been elected to serve.
Likewise AV would help to make the Westminster Parliament more representative - and that's why people should say YES to AV in tomorrow's referendum.
Now Margo is something of a national treasure these days - and while the same can't be said for the Green Party they do represent a fair slice of Scottish public opinion.
But the point is that without a fairer voting system their voices would never be heard.
Now that suits the old, established parties - who would like to keep things as they are - with the Tories and Labour taking turns to form the government of the day.
Tomorrow's referendum on AV can help to change things for the better - and of the mainstream parties only the Tories and Labour are in two minds - split on the issue for reasons of naked self-interest.
As ever the unions are committed to preserving the status quo - defending the present order of things - instead of representing the mixed views of their members.
The Scottish Parliament has been a success because its MSPs reflect and represent - more or less accurately - the views of the people they have been elected to serve.
Likewise AV would help to make the Westminster Parliament more representative - and that's why people should say YES to AV in tomorrow's referendum.
