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Partisan bickering
by avishai 31 Replies latest social current
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Abaddon
The two-party system that the USA and the UK share is a flawed joke that cannot hope to provide true representation of a populace's opinions.
Both are based on a 'first-past-the-post' system where winning in a certain number of areas gets you in, as distinct from a proportional system where seats would be awarded in line with the share of the vote. As we all know, in a first-past-the-post system it is quite possible for a party with less share of vores to win in more areas and still get in.
The only reason it stays in place is that is favours the current power set-up; essentially a choice of two bad options with a third (or more) 'joke' options. As (in the US) the Democrats and Republicans have and will share power until electoral reform they don't want to change it. As the Conservatives and Labour party have and will share power until electoral reform they don't want to change it.
Of course, the UK Labour party were all FOR electoral reform when they had no hope of winning, as it would have increased their share of seats in parliament. Now they've got in, they're not interested. Typical politicians.
Now, obviously under the two-party system the power sharing is sequential; one term one party, maybe two terms or three, but eventually the other party gets in. So the policy of the country, rather than moving in a progressive linear fashion zig-zags according to who is in power. The sole advantage is that is does allow for some rapidity of decison as normally one party has enough votes to carry on no matter what the other party thinks.
In countries where the electoral systems are proportional, government is by consensus. Progress might be slower, but it is almost always in the same direction. No zig-zagging between policies with each administration. Small parties have a proportional number of seats to their support.
It's win-win for the voters. But as it is lose-lose for the Republicans, Democrats, Conservatives and Labour party, don't hold your breath waiting for it.
Enjoy the democracy the rulers of your country let you have...
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avishai
bttt
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Sirius Dogma
Heya Avi,
Yeah on some things I agree with you, I am a fiscal conservative, but the Republicans are spending like a 18 year old college kid with his first credit card. I am a social liberal, but the Democrats are backing down against doing anything that might piss off the religious
rightwrong. As far as being partisan, I could give a crap. The thing is, I don't like Bush. I have liked plenty of Republicans, but Bush is pathetic and represents the worst of his party. Kerry, well, he isn't so great either, but better. I don't agree with the 'anyone but Bush' philosophy, for example it could be worse, we could have Orrin Hatch as president. (shudder)However, Bush was a big step in the wrong direction for this country, before we can move forward to better men than Kerry, we need to have a better man than Bush. A better man than Bush is not hard to find, but Kerry is the only one who stands a chance to win. This year, Kerry has my vote. In the next election, I hope a third option(party) candidate has a real chance, cause neither party suits my liking.
SD
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gitasatsangha
I'm finished with voting for Republicans and Democrats, unless they are a candidate that really appeals to me on character alone. So I will "waste my vote" as some say, and vote indepentant.
Here is an analogy I've heared used. You are convicted of murder and sentenced to be executed. You have three options: a 49% chance of being lethally injected, a 50% chance of being electrocuted, or a 1% chance of being set free. You have the option to pick which you want and let chance decide if you actually attain it. Would you pick lethal injection because you are pretty sure you're going to die anyway, and it sounds nicer then frying in a chair, or would you take the odds on and try to live.
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Swan
Why do we have 51 contestants to choose from in the Miss America contest, but we only get 2 choices when it comes to picking our president?
I too am conservative fiscally, but liberal when it comes to making our own adult decisions, especially when it comes to keeping religion out of our government and my life.
Why does it always seem we are choosing the lesser of two evils?
Why do we have government funded faith based marriage counselors when Jesus wasn't ever married? Oh, I guess we have to have faith that Jesus knows enough to save our marriages.
I guess I just don't have enough faith. After years of being told to have faith and getting screwed over by a dozen or so men in Brooklyn, I like things explained to me. Tell me again why we need to change the constitution so that when my granddaughter and her wife getting married it won't invalidate my marriage?
At least Joe Lieberman won't be taking away my computer games.
Afghanistan I understood. We were attacked. Iraq I don't get.
Okay, now it seems like John Kerry really was a war hero, but voted for the war against Saddam. How does he stand on The Sims?
The highlight of G.W.'s military career was landing on an aircraft carrier. Why is it okay for the press to report that his twins, such good little girls, are now campaigning for dear old dad, but when they were caught underage in a bar they were declared off limits to the press?
Will Kerry pick Lieberman as his running mate? Maybe I better stock up on game titles.
Dick Cheney owns part of Haliburton. He says he's for some sort of equal rights for gay couples, but why do you never see his daughter Mary's same-sex partner?
Our former democratic governor is an admitted child molester. They removed his portrait from the public area of the capitol today, and stuck it in the capitol library where the public seldom goes.
Argh! I get so tired of it all.
Tammy
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Sirius Dogma
heya git,
For me the analogy is something like this:
You have a 49% chance of a moron running the country or a 49% chance of a much lesser moron running the country or 2% chance of a possibly competant totally untested unknown running the country. To me the decision is not as clear or easy.
regards,
SD
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got my forty homey?
I do think that all of it is created to keep us diverted from our miserable meaningless existences. No policticians ever stand for whatever party line they're suppossed to. Gulianni and Shwartanegger are pro lifers, Mayor Bloomberg in NY raised property taxes 18%. Kerry and Clinton voted in favor of the war. Bush Senior and Junior are always into the "compansaionate conservatism" like thier is such a thing as (mean democrats).
Its all a meaningless bunch of crap, thats why I try not to enter polictical threads but I do have certain core beliefs myself.
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exjdub
Tammy (Swan) and Sirius Dogma,
What you both have said really speaks to me. I feel exactly how you both wrote and I hear this alot from people and friends that I talk to as well. Why are we not able to get another party, like the Independent party off the ground? Is it the candidates? Or is it the "Power Brokers" who keep it to 2 parties? does anyone know? I am embarassed to ask sometimes, because it sounds terribly naive, but I have never heard a good answer. One thing for sure is...it does feel like I am throwing a vote away by voting Independent and I am not thrilled with Ralph Nader. If I was even minutely satisfied with the current President I would throw my vote to the Independent party, but not this year...too important to throw away.
exjdub
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avishai
I am so sick of the personal attacks that are happening today, Americans are idiots if they elect bush, idiots if they elect Kerry etc. Dammit, people, i can come up with examples of EVERY country electing screwed up leaders. Thatcher sucked. Germany elected Hitler. France, well, I could go on and on, but my point is, geez, painting all of us in the US with the same brush is very simpleminded and bigoted. i personally will be dissapointed no matter WHO is elected.i personally am very dissapointed in many of the statements coming from other countries, and feel they are personal attacks on me. It sucks.