Michael said: As that hard reality dawns on people, here is the best opportunity to take electoral reform from the realms of anorak academics into popular politics. If Labour had an ounce of sense left, it would see that radical reform is its last chance to regain a shred of credibility – and the best reason not to hold an election until a constitutional convention draws up propositions for a referendum to be held at the same time. But does Labour get it yet? Talking to cabinet members this week, a few enthuse about a convention where everything is thrown open. Added: May 23, 2009 at 8:56AM EDT
Michael said: One of the massive challenges for all pollsters with these elections is estimating the impact of turnout. Five years ago this was 38.5% but the elections took place on the same day as the metropolitan borough and London elections and large parts of England saw their turnout increase sharply because of all postal voting. Added: May 22, 2009 at 5:11PM EDT
Michael said: If there’s less need for trade associations - if they could even be dangerous because of the very limitations that define them - then doesn’t that indicate a diminution of the role of the trade (or industry or guild or craft or union, for that matter) in the future, when the tools get democratized and anybody can pick them up, when you don’t win through control of scarcity anymore but through supporting abundance? The idea of a closed industry and its closed association controlling a closed segment of media or the economy becomes absurd. In short: Who made you publishers and not you? Added: January 10, 2009 at 10:46AM EST