Comments on: In the catbird seat http://larvatusprodeo.net/2007/01/07/in-the-catbird-seat/ Life, Culture and Politics from BrisVegas Tue, 14 Feb 2012 04:16:54 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3 By: Mark http://larvatusprodeo.net/2007/01/07/in-the-catbird-seat/#comment-283575 Mark Mon, 08 Jan 2007 07:20:25 +0000 http://larvatusprodeo.net/2007/01/07/in-the-catbird-seat/#comment-283575 Normally the local member's personality and personal work in a seat is worth somewhere between 1 and 4%. The rest of the vote is a party vote. Normally the local member’s personality and personal work in a seat is worth somewhere between 1 and 4%. The rest of the vote is a party vote.

]]> By: Anna Winter http://larvatusprodeo.net/2007/01/07/in-the-catbird-seat/#comment-283574 Anna Winter Mon, 08 Jan 2007 07:13:15 +0000 http://larvatusprodeo.net/2007/01/07/in-the-catbird-seat/#comment-283574 I wasn't making a blanket statement, only pointing out to Austin that although technically he's right about the way voting works, doesn't mean that voters can't or don't think beyond that to the impact that particular candidate may have on who wins government. But in my experience, most people do vote party rather than candidate, although suz is right that this gets less true the more local the member. I wasn’t making a blanket statement, only pointing out to Austin that although technically he’s right about the way voting works, doesn’t mean that voters can’t or don’t think beyond that to the impact that particular candidate may have on who wins government.

But in my experience, most people do vote party rather than candidate, although suz is right that this gets less true the more local the member.

]]> By: suz http://larvatusprodeo.net/2007/01/07/in-the-catbird-seat/#comment-283573 suz Mon, 08 Jan 2007 05:33:31 +0000 http://larvatusprodeo.net/2007/01/07/in-the-catbird-seat/#comment-283573 "Most people don’t cast a vote with the intention of having this or that local member." I'm not a psephologist by any means but I had the impression that the more local the election, the more influenced people are by the actual candidates rather than the party. In state and council elections I do vote for candidates as well as for parties (or non-parties, in the case of independents). Of course that's dependent to a great extent on who stands in my electorate. In the past I've had a hard time when a local candidate was very sympatico but I didn't want to vote for his party. “Most people don’t cast a vote with the intention of having this or that local member.”

I’m not a psephologist by any means but I had the impression that the more local the election, the more influenced people are by the actual candidates rather than the party. In state and council elections I do vote for candidates as well as for parties (or non-parties, in the case of independents). Of course that’s dependent to a great extent on who stands in my electorate. In the past I’ve had a hard time when a local candidate was very sympatico but I didn’t want to vote for his party.

]]> By: Anna Winter http://larvatusprodeo.net/2007/01/07/in-the-catbird-seat/#comment-283572 Anna Winter Mon, 08 Jan 2007 02:24:06 +0000 http://larvatusprodeo.net/2007/01/07/in-the-catbird-seat/#comment-283572 Perhaps, but your problem is with the reasons people cast their votes. It is a democracy, in theory. When the party that gets the most seats gets to form government, it can't honestly surprise you that the leader does matter. People can think beyond the technicalities of their vote to its further implications. Perhaps, but your problem is with the reasons people cast their votes. It is a democracy, in theory.

When the party that gets the most seats gets to form government, it can’t honestly surprise you that the leader does matter. People can think beyond the technicalities of their vote to its further implications.

]]> By: Austin http://larvatusprodeo.net/2007/01/07/in-the-catbird-seat/#comment-283571 Austin Mon, 08 Jan 2007 02:08:22 +0000 http://larvatusprodeo.net/2007/01/07/in-the-catbird-seat/#comment-283571 <blockquote>Most people don’t cast a vote with the intention of having this or that local member. They cast their vote according to which party they want to help form government. That really isn’t hard to understand.</blockquote> *shakes head* What country do we live in? The USA perhaps? This is the reason parties don't like votes on conscience. They have such lousy candidates, but people still vote for them. I'm not sure this is how a well functioning the Westminster system is meant to be.

Most people don’t cast a vote with the intention of having this or that local member. They cast their vote according to which party they want to help form government. That really isn’t hard to understand.

*shakes head*

What country do we live in? The USA perhaps?

This is the reason parties don’t like votes on conscience. They have such lousy candidates, but people still vote for them. I’m not sure this is how a well functioning the Westminster system is meant to be.

]]> By: Angharad http://larvatusprodeo.net/2007/01/07/in-the-catbird-seat/#comment-283570 Angharad Sun, 07 Jan 2007 21:11:08 +0000 http://larvatusprodeo.net/2007/01/07/in-the-catbird-seat/#comment-283570 No, Mark. If he's that short his little legs would be swinging or he'd have to sit on the edge of the chair. Wouldn't look good. No, Mark. If he’s that short his little legs would be swinging or he’d have to sit on the edge of the chair. Wouldn’t look good.

]]> By: Mark http://larvatusprodeo.net/2007/01/07/in-the-catbird-seat/#comment-283569 Mark Sun, 07 Jan 2007 13:51:01 +0000 http://larvatusprodeo.net/2007/01/07/in-the-catbird-seat/#comment-283569 How about an overstuffed Chesterton armchair for Iemma? How about an overstuffed Chesterton armchair for Iemma?

]]> By: Nabakov http://larvatusprodeo.net/2007/01/07/in-the-catbird-seat/#comment-283568 Nabakov Sun, 07 Jan 2007 12:12:46 +0000 http://larvatusprodeo.net/2007/01/07/in-the-catbird-seat/#comment-283568 Ted Bailleu is five inches taller than Steve Bracks. Didn't stop either of 'em from standing up together at podiums to have a debate so civilised it was fucking boring as shit. But that's Victoria for you. We reserve our excitement not for politics but for major crime wars and fruity arts/society scandals. Ted Bailleu is five inches taller than Steve Bracks. Didn’t stop either of ‘em from standing up together at podiums to have a debate so civilised it was fucking boring as shit.

But that’s Victoria for you. We reserve our excitement not for politics but for major crime wars and fruity arts/society scandals.

]]> By: suz http://larvatusprodeo.net/2007/01/07/in-the-catbird-seat/#comment-283567 suz Sun, 07 Jan 2007 12:03:52 +0000 http://larvatusprodeo.net/2007/01/07/in-the-catbird-seat/#comment-283567 I don't know about "clown". There's nothing remotely funny about him. I don’t know about “clown”. There’s nothing remotely funny about him.

]]> By: SJ http://larvatusprodeo.net/2007/01/07/in-the-catbird-seat/#comment-283566 SJ Sun, 07 Jan 2007 09:44:24 +0000 http://larvatusprodeo.net/2007/01/07/in-the-catbird-seat/#comment-283566 Hawkie was shorter than Fraser, Howard was shorter than Keating. Who gives a rats? Bryn Says:<blockquote>Alex Mitchell’s comment may not be fully accurate, but I’m beginning to sense that Debnam is being taken a bit more seriously by the media, which translates into more consideration of him by the average punter. </blockquote> Rubbish. Debnam was taken quite seriously by the media before his allegations against Debus exploded in his face. The media have stopped reporting this, old news and all that, but for the average punter, Debnam now has "clown" permanently stamped on his forehead. Hawkie was shorter than Fraser, Howard was shorter than Keating. Who gives a rats?

Bryn Says:

Alex Mitchell’s comment may not be fully accurate, but I’m beginning to sense that Debnam is being taken a bit more seriously by the media, which translates into more consideration of him by the average punter.

Rubbish. Debnam was taken quite seriously by the media before his allegations against Debus exploded in his face. The media have stopped reporting this, old news and all that, but for the average punter, Debnam now has “clown” permanently stamped on his forehead.

]]>