Wednesday write in: All voters count in MMP system

All voters count in MMP system
The most positive thing about MMP is that every voter counts.
That's why I found Richard Edmunds' comments ('MMP must go', June 11) regarding MMP being undemocratic, confusing.
Imagine if you were a National voter in the Napier electorate between 1954 and 2002. As this was a safe Labour seat your vote was really just a waste of time. What's democratic about that?
Under MMP it is not the electorate seat that is important, it is the party vote.
That's why every vote nationwide is important, and not just in the swing seats any more.
Sure there are some challenges with MMP that should be reviewed (unsuccessful electorate candidates getting back on the list, waka-jumping list MPs, and list MPs coming in on the coattails of an electorate winner being just some of them) but please don't throw out the baby with the bath water! These challenges are easily resolved.Paul BaileyNapierWeak governmentWhen you vote on the MMP referendum, have regard for what MMP has delivered New Zealanders. Some argue that it provides better representation, but this sentiment is blind to reality.
MMP increased the size of Parliament and relevant costs to taxpayers (salaries, benefits, travel allowances, etc.) without real gains to us.
What we have seen are backroom deals amongst parties that defy democracy and true representation of our voting intentions. Some of these deals are tantamount to ransom and mainly kept secret.
We have gained weaker governments without particularly strong mandates and small parties wield more influence than what they deserve.
This has contributed to difficulties in managing various coalitions.
The lack of strong mandates by so called senior party "winners" and subsequent backroom deals has culminated in a range of bills, not the least of which have been the Emission Trading Scheme, anti-smacking and the coastal coalition legislation.
While many argue that voters should decide the fate of MMP, don't forget that established political hierarchies are the real power brokers, given the important side issue of party member positions on party lists.
Under MMP, our right to choose MPs is compromised.
Others have chosen for us and we dare to call this democracy!
This aside, why should we vote on a non-binding referendum?
While no clear alternative to MMP exists, I like the Australian model; they use preferential voting where everyone has to vote, and if you don't, then you're fined.
This system could do away with our 60 or 70 per cent turnouts on election days and could provide any government with an additional revenue stream.
A Thomas,  Napier
An insult
I was shocked to see on Friday night's paper about a high school teacher from HBHS and his drunken offences that led to his resignation.
But what appalled me even more was the fact that Flaxmere College, a school he taught at about seven to eight years ago, was mentioned in the article as well.
A couple years back, Barry Hennig was in the paper celebrating his sporting success in ice hockey and they glorified the fact that he teaches at HBHS, not a single mention of Flaxmere.
See my point?
There was no need for this to be published in this instance; it was like an insult not only to Flaxmere College but also to the community.
Cherie Pohatu, Hastings