Hung parliaments are hell

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A. A hung parliament would be hell

With the results of the May 6 general election inconclusive, David Cameron's Conservatives have not won enough seats for an overall majority, and Britain is set to be governed by a hung parliament for the first time since the 1970s.

During the campaign, the Conservative party sounded dire warnings about the ineffectiveness and irresponsibility of coalitions and tried to impress on voters the need for strong government, especially at this time of economic crisis. The Liberal Democrats argued that the kind of strong government the Tories are so keen on is actually injurious to the functioning of British democracy. Labour party figures, meanwhile, suggested that voters use "their heads and not their hearts"  – that is, vote for the Liberal Democrats in the hope that a "hung" result would keep the Tories from power.

So, would a hung parliament allow our politicians to make strong policy decisions in the national interest, or would the back-room bartering between parties result in ineffectual, watered-down government? And does having a coalition pose a serious risk to our economy?