David Parker deserves his Cabinet Post

Some right-wingers have suggested that David Parker, having lost his Otago Seat, does not deserve to be in Cabinet. Well, I'm sick of people classing List MPs as second class MPs.

In theory, electors consider the policies and the people when electing a Government. So, the published list of Candidates, and the Labour Party policies were popular enough for Parker to be elected.

The great advantage of MMP is a party vote is rarely wasted. In 1990, I voted for Graham Kelly, who won Porirua. In 1993, my vote counted for nothing as I voted for a candidate who lost. In 1996, my candidate vote was worth nothing again but my Party Vote helped elect a candidate. Unlike 1993, I had a representitive in Parliament for my views from my vote, just like all the people who voted for the winning candidate in the electorate. (This is the primary advantage of MMP - nearly every vote counts.)

So if you don't like the idea that David Parker being a Cabinet Minister then you have one choice - start a referendum to have MMP removed as our electoral system.