#independent politics

[axvoter]

Index to the Blatantly Partisan Party Reviews, 2023 NSW state edition

Saturday 25 March is election day in NSW, and it's going to be a fascinating and most likely close contest. As well as the major parties, there is a veritable constellation of micro-parties, independent groups, and solo independents running in the election.

I’ve written my blog entries to demystify these micro-parties and indies. I'm sorry I did not post these until the final days of the election; life got in the way. I do not review Labor, Liberal/National, Greens, or One Nation, as I assume anyone reading this blog already has views on them. All entries are written from a left-wing perspective sympathetic to democratic socialism and green politics, so calibrate according to your own predilections. I make no pretension to false objectivity—that’s why these are blatantly partisan party reviews.

When you go to vote, you will receive two ballot papers. One will be a very large ballot for the Legislative Council (the upper house). This is elected at large by the entire state: a candidate requires ~4.55% to win a seat. But the Legislative Council is the house of review; government is formed in the Legislative Assembly (the lower house). It contains 93 seats, and the number of candidates—both party-affiliated and independent—varies significantly between electorates.

On the small ballot for the Legislative Assembly, you must vote 1 for your preferred candidate and then distribute as many or as few additional preferences as you want. Your vote will be more powerful if you distribute as many preferences as possible. Do not skip or repeat a number. If your preferred candidate is not elected, your vote transfers at full value to your second preference, and so on. You might receive a how-to-vote card from party campaigners: this is a suggestion only and you can fill out your preferences in any order you like.

On the large ballot for the Legislative Council, you can either vote above the line or below the line. Whichever way you vote, you control your preferences—NSW does not have a dodgy system to harvest voter preferences like in Victoria.

Every grouping that has registered at least 15 candidates receives a square above the line; if the square is unlabelled, it is because the group does not have formal party registration. Groups with 2–14 candidates receive their own column but no square above the line; you can only vote for them below the line. Solo independents appear in the furthest right column and can only be voted for below the line.

For most voters, voting above the line will suffice: after you vote 1 for your preferred group, you can distribute as many or as few preferences as you like. You accept the order of candidates registered within each individual group, but you control the order of the groups. You will be able to express preferences for any party/grouping likely to win a seat; it is well nigh impossible for candidates who can only be voted for below the line to win a seat.

You should vote below the line if the following apply to you: a) you want to reorder candidates within a group and/or mix and match candidates across groups, b) you want to vote for ungrouped independents or a group of independents without enough candidates to receive a square above the line, or c) you are a completist like me who wants to indicate a preference for everyone. You MUST give at least 15 preference. Be warned that if you want to preference all the way, it will take a while—it took me over 20 minutes at the 2019 election.

In both cases, the further you preference, the more powerful your vote will be. Distribute as many preferences as you feel you can distribute in an informed manner.

This entry includes links to my reviews of each micro-party. There are 8 groups of independents or unregistered parties. These are noted below by their group letter on the ballot. The format is "party name (rough ideology / recommended preference)". A good preference is a party with few or no significant flaws for the left-wing voter; a decent preference indicates a generally positive platform or a single-issue party with a good but limited objective; a middling preference is a mix of positive and negative qualities; a weak or no preference is mainly negative and either you should give them a poor preference or let your vote exhaust—as noted above, your vote is most powerful if you preference as far as possible.

Animal Justice Party (animal rights / middling to decent preference)

Australia One / Riccardo Bosi—Group U (conspiracy theorists who are a threat to public safety / lowest possible preference)

Call to Freedom / Milan Maksimovic—Group E (Christian fundamentalism / weak or no preference)

Christians for Community / Milton Caine—Group T (Christian fundamentalism / weak or no preference)

Elizabeth Farrelly Independents (centre-left NIMBY / middling preference)

Family First / Lyle Shelton—Group A (Christian fundamentalism and conspiracism / weak or no preference)

Group P—Danny Lim (anti-racism personality / middling to decent preference)

Indigenous–Aboriginal Party of Australia (Indigenous rights / good preference)

Informed Medical Options Party (uninformed anti-vaxxers / weak or no preference)

Legalise Cannabis Party (single issue / decent preference)

Liberal Democratic Party (far-right libertarian cookers / weak or no preference)

Public Education Party (single issue / decent preference)

Revive Australia Party / Silvana Nile—Group G (Christian fundamentalism / weak or no preference)

Shooters, Fishers and Farmers Party (fans of gun violence / weak or no preference)

Socialist Alliance (socialism / good preference)

Socialist Equality Party / Oscar Grenfell—Group K (socialism but for crackpots / weak or no preference)

Sustainable Australia—Stop Overdevelopment/Corruption (anti-immigration NIMBYs / weak or no preference)

United Australia Party / Craig Kelly—Group B (covid conspiracists in a policy-free space of grievance / weak or no preference)

Ungrouped independents (mix of ideologies and recommendations)

Happy voting and enjoy your democracy sausage!

#auspol #NSWvotes #NSWvotes2023 #NSW #Election 2023 #NSW election #politics #political parties #independent politics #political candidates #election candidates #independent candidates #elections are great #shame most candidates aren't great #weak or no preference #middling preference #decent preference #good preference

[ivygorgon]

AN OPEN LETTER to THE PRESIDENT & U.S. CONGRESS; STATE GOVERNORS & LEGISLATURES

Implement Ranked-Choice Voting & Election Reforms For Vote Integrity

3 so far! Help us get to 5 signers!

I am writing to urge your immediate action on introducing and passing ranked-choice voting (RCV) and other vital election reforms at both the federal and state levels. As a concerned constituent and advocate for democratic principles, I believe that these reforms are essential to improving our electoral processes and ensuring fair and representative governance.

Ranked-choice voting has proven effective in promoting democratic outcomes by enabling voters to express their preferences more fully and ensuring that elected candidates enjoy broad support from the electorate. RCV mitigates wasted votes, reduces the spoiler effect, and fosters more inclusive and issue-focused campaigns.

In addition to advocating for ranked-choice voting, I strongly support comprehensive election reforms, including campaign finance reform, gerrymandering reform, and initiatives to enhance voter access and participation. These reforms are critical to strengthening our democracy and restoring trust in our electoral system.

The implementation of Ranked-Choice Voting is a crucial step towards enhancing our democratic process. RCV, which allows voters to rank candidates in order of preference, ensures that elected officials have majority support, eliminates the spoiler effect, and encourages positive campaigning. This system is already in use in several U.S. cities and countries like Australia, Ireland, and New Zealand. Alaska recently became the second state to adopt RCV for statewide offices, following Maine's lead. It is time to consider this reform at both federal and state levels to ensure our electoral systems reflect the diversity of our nation and empower all voices. Therefore, I urge you to introduce and support legislation that promotes RCV and other election reforms.

We must recognize that Americans are more than a two-party system. Let's take meaningful steps to ensure our electoral systems reflect the diversity of our nation and empower all voices.

Thank you for considering my perspective and taking decisive action to improve our electoral processes. I stand ready to support your efforts in advancing these important reforms.

📱 Text SIGN PMZPRT to 50409

🤯 Liked it? Text FOLLOW IVYPETITIONS to 50409

#tell your representatives you want Ranked Choice Voting now! #no vote is wasted if you use rank voting #democratic party 2024 #democratic party #democrats #third party #third party politics #green party #libertarian #libertarian party #undeclared #undecided #independent #independent politics #vote #vote the whole ballot #vote every time #voter suppression is violence #voter drive #voter education #register to vote #your vote matters #intersectional social justice #us politics #politics #queer voters #lgbtq voters #black voters #bipoc voters #latine voters

[ayeforscotland]

#ayeforscotland #scottish politics #british politics #uk politics #scottish independence

[happyroadkillart]

🇺🇸 🦅 🦅🦅

#4th of july #independence day #🦅 #🇺🇸 #comic #art #cartoon #politics #artists on tumblr #fourth of july #merica

[jess-emurphy]

Trans people might be the reason the UK breaks up finally

#scotland #scottish politics #uk politics #transgender #rooting for that independence #scottish independence

[lavenderlyncis]

Now that the anger has calmed down, the desperation and sadness is creeping in. Imagine being so despised as a group of people that a simple law meant to make your life easier gets people so angry that an entire nation might break up over it. That's how hated we are. The English government would rather risk losing Scotland than allowing us our deserved rights. I feel like screaming and I'm sure you do too

But there is a good side to this. Look at how many people, not just in Scotland but all over the world, stand in solidarity with us. Look how many scots are ready to abandon the UK, partly for us. Look at how angry people are over this, not at us but for us

I don't think I've ever felt this desperate and hopeful at the same time

#scotland #scottish politics #trans rights #trans #lgbtq #uk politics #scottish independence #transgender

[buzz-cow-man]

everyday i hate england more and more

#im scottish and i dont like this #plz i just want #scottish independence #is that so much to ask for #let trans people feel comfortable wtf #uk politics #is awful #LET SCOTLAND BE INDEPENDENT #why do we need ENGLANDS permission tf???

[thatrandomblogsays]

So England believes a child (16) is mature enough to have sex with an adult (gross) but that child can’t decide their gender identity at 16?

#scottish independence #trans rights #uk politics #scottish #scottish politics #mine #trans

[axvoter]

Index to the Blatantly Partisan Party Reviews, 2022 Victorian state edition

This Saturday is election day in Victoria and a record number of candidates are standing. You could find yourself a little bewildered by the plethora of micro-parties on the ballot. You might have also heard about the controversies surrounding Group Ticket Voting, where Victoria is the last state to retain this anti-democratic system that allows parties to control some preferences.

I’ve written my blog entries to demystify these micro-parties and to explain how to ensure you stay in control of your own preferences. All entries are written from a left-wing perspective sympathetic to democratic socialism and green politics, so calibrate according to your own predilections. I make no pretension to false objectivity—that’s why these are blatantly partisan party reviews.

When you go to vote, you will receive two ballot papers. One will be a very large ballot for the Legislative Council (the upper house). The state is divided into eight regions that each elect five members of the Legislative Council. Every registered party is contesting every region. But the Legislative Council is the house of review; government is formed in the Legislative Assembly (the lower house). It contains 88 seats, and the number of candidates—both party-affiliated and independent—varies significantly between electorates.

On the small ballot for the Legislative Assembly, you must number every square. Do not skip or repeat a number. You are in full control of your preferences on this ballot: if your preferred candidate is not elected, your vote transfers at full value to your second preference, and so on. You might receive a How To Vote card from party campaigners: this is a suggestion only and you can fill out your preferences in any order you like.

On the large ballot for the Legislative Council, you can either vote above the line or below the line and I CANNOT EMPHASISE ENOUGH THAT YOU SHOULD VOTE BELOW THE LINE. If you vote above the line, you will receive the preferences lodged on a group ticket by the party for whom you vote 1. Any other preferences you mark will be ignored. Many of these group tickets are dodgy, decided by backroom deals, and none of them reflect what a party’s voters do when they can give preferences freely.

To vote below the line, you must number at least five candidates sequentially 1–5. You can then give as many more preferences as you want. You can stop at 5, or you can preference everyone, or do anything in between; it’s up to you. I recommend preferencing as far as you can express a meaningful preference, including between gradations of bad, as this maximises the power of your vote. I also recommend preparing your vote beforehand on a template such as that from ClueyVoter, and then copying this onto your ballot in the booth. If you want a more detailed discussion of this system and how to make best use of your vote, Kevin Bonham's got you covered.

This entry includes links to my reviews of each micro-party. Earlier today I posted a cheat sheet with my recommended preference categories. I do not review Labor, Liberal/National, Greens, or One Nation, as anyone interested enough to read this blog presumably already has opinions on those parties. I did float the prospect of reviewing the state branch of One Nation when I began the reviews, but their website still lacks meaningful content for the state election and it seems they aren’t presenting any Vic-specific platform, so it's same old guff.

Angry Victorians Party (covid conspiracists)

Animal Justice Party (animal rights)

Australia One (unregistered covid conspiracists endorsing six independents)

Companions and Pets Party (animal breeding and racing industry front)

Democratic Labour Party (Catholic conservatism)

Derryn Hinch’s Justice Party (tough-on-crime centrism)

Family First Victoria (Protestant extreme right)

Fiona Patten’s Reason Party (left-wing civil libertarian)

Freedom Party of Victoria (covid conspiracists)

Fusion: Science, Pirate, Secular, Climate Emergency (centre-left pragmatists; unregistered party endorsing three independents)

Health Australia Party (anti-vaxxers who were anti-vax before covid made it the trendy thing for conspiracists)

Indigenous–Aboriginal Party of Australia (Indigenous rights; unregistered party endorsing three independents)

Legalise Cannabis Victoria (single issue)

Liberal Democratic Party (far-right libertarians)

New Democrats (centre-right)

Restore Democracy Sack Dan Andrews (personal grudge and/or preference-harvesting front)

Shooters, Fishers and Farmers Party (anti-environmentalist gun nuts)

Socialist Alliance (socialism; unregistered party endorsing four independents)

Sustainable Australia—Stop Overdevelopment/Corruption (anti-immigration NIMBYs)

Transport Matters Party (centre-left taxi industry front)

United Australia Party (covid grievance-mongers floating in a policy-free zone)

Victorian Socialists (socialism)

Overviews of independents for the Legislative Assembly and for the Legislative Council

If you want more perspectives, I recommend the Something for Cate blog for extended takes, and the Notionoriety blog for pithy ones (also this entry covers lower house independents that I haven’t covered). For really short takes, I whipped up a Twitter thread.

Happy voting and enjoy your democracy sausage!

#auspol #springst #vicvotes #vicvotes22 #vicvotes2022 #Victorian election #Victoria #Melbourne #Election 2022 #politics #political parties #political candidates #independent politics #independent politicians #democracy sausage

[totallyjazzed]

Loving all the enthusiasm from non-brits about Scottish Independence but I just want to make sure everyone's aware that if the Gender Recognition Bill fiasco properly cascades into the breakup of the union, life will get so much worse for English trans people, so please have a little sympathy for those of us who are trapped in this horrible fucking country.

This is by no means a call to stop celebrating, just please keep us in mind.

#uk politics #scottish independence #the posting will continue until morale improves

[ghostforum]

how we feeling tonight, im not feeling good

#this is a horrifying turn of events #uk politics #scottish independence #trans rights #Scottish gender recognition bill

[ayeforscotland]

The fight for trans rights bringing about an end to the United Kingdom will be extremely funny.

#ayeforscotland #scottish politics #british politics #uk politics #scottish independence #scotland

[lil-gingerbread-queen]

Maybe it's my own fault for not checking the news

UK folks, listen, it's time for you to unify to destroy the UK once and for all. Scotland & Wales, do everything to declare independence, Ireland, become one again, English people, get rid of those nobles treating you like dirt. Overwelm them, get your freedom back. Others gov cannot support you, but the people are. The EU is waiting for you, folks.

Now, excusez-moi, but I'm going to prepare myself for my brother saying that British are happy to not have heat if the King gets a great ceremony.

#scottish independence #vive la révolution ! #uk politics #scotland

[michaelgovehateblog]

Fuck the tories sucks to suck

#as much as i dislike current labour i am still happy to see major conservative losses #lot of independent as well #which is cool #uk politics

[lavenderlyncis]

The UK was always destined to fall, I'm just glad that it's happening within my lifetime

#scottish independence #scotland #uk politics #scottish politics #england blocking the scottish gender reform act

[cassolotl]

UK government planning to scrap a major disability benefit

I'm only just scraping by and the government are proposing to take away PIP (a disability benefit), which would be HALF of my income wiped out.

"Reforms to personal independence payments (PIP) could include stopping regular cash payments, and instead offering claimants one-off grants for things like home adaptations." -- "Disabled people face end to monthly benefits cash", BBC News, 29 April 2024

And:

"The plans, which will be consulted on over the coming months, also include proposals to “move away from a fixed cash benefit system”, meaning people with some conditions will no longer receive regular payments, but instead access to treatment if their condition does not involve extra costs." -- "People with depression or anxiety could lose sickness benefits, says UK minister", Guardian, 29 April 2024

That's what the NHS is supposed to be doing...

Genuinely absolutely terrifying.

Can anyone living in the UK join in with an (hopefully!) overwhelming cascade of unique emails to their MP opposing this? WriteToThem.com makes it very quick and easy.

They're proposing to replace it with one-off grants that the individual can apply for, which is absurd and horrifying, so feel free to point out how that won't work as well!

Here's what I'm writing, and do not just copy-paste my letter/email, because that makes it less legit. Do your own thing, even just one sentence telling your MP that you're opposed is enough if that's all you can manage. Whatever you want to say is what your MP needs to hear.

Dear [MP's name], Today I learned that the government plan to scrap PIP, and maybe replace it with something like a one-off grant application process, before the next election. ("Disabled people face end to monthly benefits cash", BBC News, 29 April 2024: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cn0ry09d50wo) PIP is about half of my income (about 44%). I don't spend it on occasional large purchases, I spend it on countless things that are more expensive for me than they are for other people. PIP is in place to acknowledge, as it says in the above article, that disabled people's lives are more expensive than non-disabled people's lives by hundreds of pounds per week. ("Previous research from Scope suggests households with at least one disabled adult or child face an estimated average extra cost of £975 a month to have the same standard of living as non-disabled households." That's £225 per week, and the maximum amount of PIP you can get is £184.) So firstly, it could be argued that PIP doesn't even cover the additional expenses of the average disabled household. And next, the cost of implementing an alternative system would be worse for disabled people, totally unsuited to its purpose, and more expensive to run. Worse for disabled people: Currently PIP acknowledges that being disabled takes a lot more work to maintain a comparable standard of living, and as it's an amount of work that the claimant cannot sustainably do, they are given money so that they can pay someone else to do it. These costs are distributed across all living expenses, in addition to occasional one-off purchases of e.g. mobility aids. Having to apply for one-off payments for expenses would be more work on top of that, so if the disabled person isn't able to do it (which is very likely) they will either have to work less in their day jobs in order to spend more time applying for one-off grants, or they will have to also apply for one-off payments to pay someone to apply for more one-off payments. This is self-evidently a waste of energy and time, and totally impractical, as well as being counter to the entire point of disability benefits. It would also be extremely undignified for the disabled people, and arguably against human rights (right to private life and dignity), to have to justify each purchase to the government. Totally unsuited to its purpose: One off-grants are not suited to ongoing higher expenses such as having to buy more prepared food (e.g. carrot batons are more expensive than raw carrots and go off much more quickly). Does this policy assume that disabled people's PIP is only for things like wheelchairs and walking sticks? More expensive to run: The system for PIP applications is already fairly backlogged, in that my last application took over 6 months to complete. I was awarded PIP for 10 years. If every application for a one-off grant had to be accompanied by an application of a similar scale that wouldn't be workable, so presumably an initial PIP application like the current system's would still be required to qualify for the system in the first place, and then following that, numerous smaller applications for money (e.g. for taxis, pre-chopped veg, painkillers, specialist clothing, etc.) would be carried out per person per month. The disability benefits system would have to be scaled up significantly, and it would be much more expensive. It is far cheaper to give people a set amount of money based on their needs; it's the same money that you would be giving them in grants anyway, but without having to process each purchase/one-off application. I implore you to oppose this proposal. It is blatantly unworkable to the level of absurdity, but more importantly it is inhumane. I look forward to your reply detailing your stance. Many thanks in advance. Yours sincerely, [My name]

But, again, if you can't manage anything long or complicated like that, your best is good enough. Even if they're not all perfectly written and detailed, we want to bowl them over with sheer quantity of emails.

#disability #disabled #armchair activism #UK #UK politics #PIP #personal independence payments #DWP #department for work and pensions #disability benefits #activism