Conflicting tales from the result

[redandblack]

It seems pretty obvious what has happened tonight.

The safer it was to send a protest to the Government, the bigger the swing.

In other words, the safer the seat, generally the bigger the swing.

Voters probably wanted to send a message to the Govt, but didn't want to kick it out.

(if that's the end result).

On the other hand, I've always believed that whoever wins the popular vote, should form the Government and I still feel the same. I've seen Federal ALP on the wrong side of that equation a few times and now this is the third time it's happened to the Liberal Party in SA.

I think that's wrong.

[dedja]

This wouldn't be an issue if we adopted the Hare-Clark system as used in Tasmania ... but that will never happen unfortunately.

[Dutchy]

Voters probably wanted to send a message to the Govt, but didn't want to kick it out.

How does one do this? Put Liberal on the voting card but then ask that they dont win the seat?

[Dogwatcher]

Can often be easy to make a protest vote in a seat that is not winnable.
I think we saw a bit of that tonight.

[redandblack]

Not at all, Dutchy.

I was èxplaining that if you are generally a Labor voter and your local member is sitting on a 25% margin, you know you can vote against them and not change the result.

If your local ALP member is sitting on 4 or 5%, you know it could change the Government, so you might be more reluctant.

That's not just a theory, it's borne out by the results.

Similarly, if you're in a safe Liberal seat, the same applies.

Correct, Dogwatcher.

[Dutchy]

still confused I thought they all start at zero on election day?

[redandblack]

Sorry Dutchy, read DW's post.

They don't really start at zero on election day. Sounds good in theory, might be technically correct, but the realpolitik of the history of democracy says otherwise.

[mick]

I accept the result whatever happens. It's democracy under our imperfect system. Still better than North Korea or Cuba.

[Squawk]

I was èxplaining that if you are generally a Labor voter and your local member is sitting on a 25% margin, you know you can vote against them and not change the result.

If your local ALP member is sitting on 4 or 5%, you know it could change the Government, so you might be more reluctant.

That's not just a theory, it's borne out by the results.

Agreed - just posted the same comment on the elction thread and then I look here and there is a WHOLE thread dedicated to it!

[Dutchy]

Sorry Dutchy, read DW's post.

They don't really start at zero on election day. Sounds good in theory, might be technically correct, but the realpolitik of the history of democracy says otherwise.

OK - TBH I dont understand but at the same time dont really want to!

[redandblack]

Yes, mate, you're right.

I saw that after I started this one, so I bow to you being first with it