Motoring ahead - over 20,000 votes in under a week

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Motoring ahead - over 20,000 votes in under a week

22.01.2010 // by Guy Aitchison

The POWER2010 vote to find out the public's top ideas for reforming politics has had an amazing response so far with over 20,000 votes cast in under a week.

Proportional representation has stolen an early lead with over 3,200 votes, followed by scrapping ID cards and rolling back the database state, with a written constitution and fixed term parliaments bunched at 3rd and 4th place with around 1,600 votes each. English votes on English Laws is putting in a strong performance in 5th place, meanwhile, with a solid 1,400 votes.

There's a vigorous exchange of views taking place in the discussion threads as democrats trade arguments on the pros and cons of different ideas.

In support of Fixed Term Parliaments, John Hamilton writes :

"A four year term as standard is long enough and would perhaps encourage a more dynamic form of government. Also. the Prime Minister should only be able to stand for two terms. The ruling party would not then have the advantage (or disadvantage!) of an incumbent Prime Minister."

John Duckett, meanwhile, raises a possible downside:

"The one problem I can see with this is that electioneering would begin in the third year and bore every one rigid. A three week campaign as now is more than long enough."

On the ID cards thread, Steven Auld makes an interesting point:

"Too many government IT projects in the last 30years have gone over-due and over-budget, they have failed to earn widespread support from it's service users, and are still regarded "unfit for purpose".

Yet the perpetrators (contractors) responsible for these failures have not been penalised or sacked from their jobs. Instead, they have been awarded knighthoods and given the roles of privy adviser to the government on this very project - while still employed by their company."

Take a look, vote and join in the discussion. And if your favourite reform's nowhere near the top of the list, don't worry, as there's still over 31 days to go until voting closes and a lot could change between now and then - keep voting for the reforms you want to see and encourage your family, friends and colleagues to do the same

The 5 ideas with most support in a month's time will form an authentically democratic agenda for reforming politics drawn up by the people, for the people. Be sure to have your say!