#No2PD

This Thursday, we are to vote on a reform to our electoral system: the introduction of the Alternative Vote. The No2AV campaign have offered a number of striking arguments against this change.

Always keen on the long view, I have dug out a political pamphlet from 1689, the year of the Bill of Rights and therefore the birth of Parliamentary Democracy and I publish the full text below.

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Sirs, th’unruly MOB hath lately fulminat’d for CHANGE to the POLITICK of this NATION & certain BILLS are presently laid before the HOUSE offering provision for ELECKTIONS unto PARLIAMENT & limitations o’er the power of the MONARCH. It is our settled VIEW that PARLIAMENTARY DEMOCRACY is a naughty doctrine & would be resist’d by all good MEN. We do venture to set forth our REASONS below.

ONE, we do declare that PARLIAMENTARY DEMOCRACY is expensive, demanding much of the publick PURSE in the nature of BALLOT BOXES, PAPERS & sundry PENCILS. The vulgar OPINION of the people will needs be carried by HORSE and ERRAND-BOY at further expense. Who is to bear the EXCESS COST of this frivolity popularly nam’d VOTING? DECISIONS made by the King & agree’d by such hereditary MEMBERS as whimsickally choose t’attend at the HOUSE cost naught to the PUBLICK who ergo may go about their lives spending their BAUBLES on BREAD and SOIL, &c.

TWO, we do find that PARLIAMENTARY DEMOCRACY is a wretched BURDEN and TOIL to the BRAIN of the ORDINARY MAN, who will perforce be addl’d and confound’d by th’TASK to choose between divers CANDIDATES. Do we consider it a proper USE of publick TIME for each ENGLISH SUBJECT to discover FACTS and OPINIONS and DEBATES in the matter of GOOD GOVERNMENT? Sirs, we venture to say NO. To place an EX in THIS box or THAT is no TASK for an AMATEUR & we do judge it bothersome & unnecessary to rouse the PEOPLE from its BED to demoralyze it with this obscure INTERROGATION. 

THREE, though we have sought in EARNEST, we do find no NATION or KINGDOM in th’entire WORLD that do make USE of this PARLIAMENTARY DEMOCRACY. Our efficacious & belov’d SYSTEM of ROYAL DECREE may be found in fully all DOMAINS save where there be but SAVAGES. Do we not trow if PARLIAMENTARY DEMOCRACY were the SPLENDID FANCY that its FANATICKS pretend, we might have discover’d it OTHERWHERE?

FOUR, PARLIAMENTARY DEMOCRACY do offend agin our TRADITIONS of JUSTICE. Indeed, Sirs, we say it is UNFAIR. Why, its CHAMPIONS themselves judge it possible that the BEST CANDIDATE, plainly judg’d by his WEALTH, PATRIOTISM & sporting PROWESS, may come second or e’en THIRD according to the insensible OPINIONS of the MOB? This KINGDOM already is possess’d of a fine CUSTOM to allow the best of us to come forth & assume AUTHORITY, namely WEALTH, STOCK & PRIMOGENITURE. What NEED hath ENGLAND of the accurs’d VOTE?

FIFTH, we do have it on AUTHORITY that the beliefs of MISS NELL GWYN were oppos’d unto REFORM, which, Sirs, surely settles the MATTER.

ROYAL PREROGATIVE on all CONCERNS works. Sirs, we hereby declare the HEALTH of PARLIAMENT as currently constitut’d & counsel with VIGOUR that it should never be modify’d. As the common PARLANCE tells us, if it be not broke, forbear to FIX it.

On Thursday, please vote YES to AV.