May the Pie

Do you want Mustard Pie for dinner today?

Not 'Mustard and Something'... just Mustard... on it's own.

We know almost all of you wanted a different filling, but there were so many options that it was easier just to get one big pie and Mustard had the most orders... so we got that one for all of us.

I know you said that if you couldn't have Cherry pie that you'd rather have Beef or even Cheese as you are allergic to Mustard... but that was too complicated so we just ignored what you said!

Now tuck in to your delicious slab of potentially life threatening Mustard Pie... yummy.

Tomorrow is May 5th. You might or might not be aware that it's a voting day for the UK. And this year it's a more important day than usual, one that will likely have an effect on much of the rest of your life in this country.

We are having a referendum on the way in which we vote in the future. Do we stay with the system we have (First Past The Post) or do change to a different system (the Alternative Vote)?

The incident of the Mustard Pie is an example of what frequently happens with our current First Past The Post system. And because we end up with something we didn't want it puts off a lot of people from ordering at all in the future. You might well be one of these people, either you no longer vote or you just don't care as "it doesn't make a difference".

But, if tomorrow the country says yes to changing to the Alternate Vote, we would no longer end up with that mustard pie situation. Take a look at this food based metaphor:

Here's your menu. What would you like?
We are getting one big pie for the table.

Ok so Cherry is your first choice but if most people don't want that you'd be ok with Veg, Beef or Cheese. Fair enough.

These are everyones first choices. There are a lot of strong opinions on what flavour people think is best. And Mustard has the most votes so far... but most people didn't choose Mustard. Maybe we should see if there is a filling the majority of people can agree on!

Cherry had the least votes so we defiantly aren't having that, sorry guys, but you did say if you couldn't have that you be happy to have a couple of the others instead?

Right, with Cherry gone the remaining fillings have got more votes. Mustard still has a lot of votes but most people still don't prefer that choice. Now Veg is the one with the least votes, so we aren't having that one. What did you guys say you would have in it's place?

After we eliminated several fillings it seems at least half of us would prefer to have Cheese Pie rather than the other fillings. It's settled then Cheese it is. Sorry Mustard lovers, but most people didn't want that forced upon them this time!

So that's how the Alternative Vote works, seems like a fairer idea yeah?

But why should you care?

Well voting isn't always just about putting people you might not like into power. We also get to make important decisions for the whole country during referendums, like this one. And next time it might be a decision on something you really care about: like which city a nuclear power station should be built next to, how much money should we spend before we stop bailing out failed banks, or under what circumstances the country should be allowed to go to war.

If we say yes to the Alternative Vote now it will give you a much better chance that your voice will not simply be ignored like the majority of people currently are with the current system! You will gain the power not only to say what you most want to happen but also, by choosing your other preferences, you will be able to say what you really don't want to happen!

Please, go out tomorrow May 5th and make your choice on the Alternative Vote!

Math

If you are not yet registered to vote you can quickly apply online here:
https://www.aboutmyvote.co.uk/register_to_vote/electoral_registration_applica.aspx

And if you are still not convinced maybe this animation about cats will help:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HiHuiDD_oTk

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