European Elections - Social Network Voting?

The big story from the European and council elections was clearly the election of 2 BNP candidates. The fact they polled lower than the greens AND less votes than last time didn't seem to matter. However not wanting to give them any more publicity that is all I am going to say on the matter.

There was however, on some ballot sheets, and situation in the (other smaller parties) on the bbc site a group who are calling themselves YD. (Your Decision). They propose that if one of their members get elected they will put, on their website, the next vote that MP, MEP or councilor, has to make, and allow members to vote on what decision they want. What a bloody brilliant idea. Disregarding for a moment the problems around fraud and vote-rigging. Imagine if every MP allowed their constituents to vote on every issues. That's democracy. No longer would MPs be tied to the outdated party political system. Instead they would be tied to what the people who voted for them actually wanted. Politics for the many rather than the few.

The comparison is always made between the number of voters for reality TV shows vs. political parties. The reason is quite simple. People know their vote will count. They are being asked who they think is the better singer, dancer, Big brother um.....person. Imagine if politics worked the same way. People who drink a lot would be really interested in voting on alcohol tax. Parents would be actively engaged in discussing education, students would be really interested in the arguments around student loans. Everyone would have the ability to speak, vote for and be engaged in the areas of policy that would actively effect them. And not every 4 years, but every week, month, and year.


That is how to get people engaged in anything, asking their opinion and make it known that their opinion is valid and listened too. If Simon Cowell can understand this, why cannot the government?