THE poet and playwright Friedrich Schiller said: “Against stupidity, the gods themselves contend in vain”.
With that in mind, if the Tories win tomorrow, it will be a triumph of ignorance and stupidity over justice.
On polling day the voters will have a rare opportunity to replace the present iniquitous first-past-the-post system, which gives the politicians control over the people, with proportional representation – which gives the people control over the politicians.
Since the Tories are the only major party opposed to electoral reform, every legal means possible must be used to prevent them from forming a government – even a minority one if there is to be any hope of real change.
Of course, the simple answer is not to vote Tory.
Unfortunately far too many voters will continue to support them, thus confirming Schiller’s cynical observation.
The most effective solution is tactical voting, especially in the marginals.
Where the marginal seats held by Labour or the Lib Dems are threatened by the Tories, support the sitting MP.
Where the Tory-held marginals are closely challenged by Labour or the Lib Dems, vote for the candidates most likely to defeat them.
At this point, I want to invite all those supporters of minority parties with no hope of representation under the present system to swallow their pride just this once and join in tactical voting in a common cause.
Don’t be sidelined by any argument about the Labour Government’s record.
What matters is that it is prepared to consider electoral reform and the Tories aren’t.
And don’t be fooled by ingenious arguments against reform. The majority of stable democracies have forms of PR.
Only four nations have a first-past-the-post system, of these, France has a two-stage system. The rest – the UK, the US and Canada – are still living in the Dark Ages.
GL SAMSON, Preston Road, Abingdon
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