Hung, drawn or quartered?

With many pundits idly predicting a hung parliament the country is being lambasted by those who see a hung parliament as greater problem than a cabal of dodgy bankers, politicians and business people. The voters are being told that they need to choose "strong" government.

However if we wake up on Friday morning with a prime minister who has a derisory vote share, we could be joining the Greeks by the end of the month. Not in such financial crisis, but in turmoil over the democratic deficit.

First nightmare scenario. Gordon Brown gets the largest number of seats (not an overall majority) but gets less than a third of the popular vote. He is determined to carry on.

Second nightmare scenario. David Cameron gets the largest number of seats (not an overall majority) but gets less than a third of the popular vote. He is determined to become prime minister.

Third nightmare scenario. There is a dead heat in seats between the Tories and Labour (no magic winning number) with the Liberal Democrats coming a respectable third. However, the LibDems get just as many percentage votes as the Tories, resulting in a tie for first place.

Each of these outcomes will cause resentment and bitterness. The country is divided. I've lost count of the number of people I have come across who have yet to decide. Some may never get around to it. If the Abstentionist Party gets a good showing, then the present percentages being touted for the three main parties look rather paltry when put against the total electorate.

Gordon Brown inherited a premiership on 20% of the total electorate's support. The country accepted that democratic deficit in 2005. In 2010 they will not accept ANY democratic deficit. In order to get out of the impending deadlock, the politicians that arrive in Westminster next week will have to get together rather than follow a playground punchup.