… I think. I should probably check, but I think it’s 3 weeks to the day until A-Level results are out.

To many people, it will just be a formality, having already received unconditional offers, or just from actually being smart and doing revision. For people like me, results day could go either way by a narrow margin. Who knows maybe I’m somehow one of those few who pulled an amazing grade out of their arse despite doing mediocre throughout the year.

Not likely.

If I do somehow manage to scrape 280 UCAS points from god-knows-where, then that means I’ll be off to Aberystwyth to study Computer Science & AI, whilst working a job on the side, as well as my doing work as Deputy Campaigns Officer and Governor for Pirate Party UK – Although thanks to SLC that should perhaps be “I’ll be off to Aberystwyth to work whilst studying on the side”, since they’ve managed to screw up my loans application, meaning I can’t even afford accommodation.

Pictured: SLC's patented sorting system

All that aside, studying Artificial Intelligence at Aberystwyth will be amazing, as they are at the forefront of research into robotics, and artificial intelligence. The university’s work on projects like ExoMars is what drew me to apply, all the other things like the scenery are just a bonus.

And if I don’t get in, I’ll instead be moving to a nowhere 6 miles north of the nowhere in which I currently live, and working there instead.

Oh well.

This post was written for my page on AberInsiders.

… I think. I should probably check, but I think it’s 3 weeks to the day until A-Level results are out. To many people, it will just be a formality,...

Click for .svg

‘Yes To AV’ Poster for http://www.takebackparliament.com/sites/takebackparliament/index.php/blog/wanted-posters-to-win-the-yes-campaign/

UPDATE: Here’s another -

A second poster, showing the majority of MPs with less than 50% support

‘Yes To AV’ Poster for http://www.takebackparliament.com/sites/takebackparliament/index.php/blog/wanted-posters-to-win-the-yes-campaign/ UPDATE: Here’s another - Share this:EmailShareDigg

Alternative Vote is a terrible voting system for the election of our representatives. It’s hardly any better than the hugely undemocratic FPTP system we use now. So it may be surprising for me to then say that I’ll be campaigning in favour of it in the upcoming Referendum next year, but that’s exactly what I’ll be doing.

Under the AV system, voters rank the candidates in preference order. If no candidate achieves 50% of First Preferences, then the candidate with the lowest first preference share is eliminated, and the ballots for that candidate are redistributed according to the next preferences. This is repeated until one candidate finally has 50% and is duly elected.

Whilst this isn’t proportional, a majority system is still preferable to a plurality system as it means that on average the least-bad candidate wins, although you’re still going to disagree with them. It also means that the divided left, and minor parties, who are vastly under-represented in all levels of government, would stand more chance of gaining a seat.

Regardless of outcome of the referendum, it is likely that the Conservative Party, and those opposed to reform, will use it to quell desire for proportionally representative electoral reform for a generation – as if AV is supported, they will likely say we already have it, and that the cost of successive reform creates excessive cost that would ultimately hit their beloved private sector; and if it’s rejected they’ll claim that there isn’t the public appetite for proportional reform. All arguments that I reject, since AV is barely a stepping stone towards a fairer electoral system, and the democratic deficit is far worse than the financial one created by gross under- and de-regulation of the private sector.

Ideally, I would rather we adopt AV+, AMS, or STV, but in the absence of these options on the referendum ballot, and the potential of losing our one chance for electoral reform for a generation, I will be supporting the introduction of the Alternative Vote.

Alternative Vote is a terrible voting system for the election of our representatives. It’s hardly any better than the hugely undemocratic FPTP system we use now. So it may be...