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Politics : DON'T START THE WAR -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Steeny who wrote (13082)	2/26/2003 12:43:54 AM
From: 49thMIMOMander	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 25898

Btw, "it" has nothing to do with "parliamentary" or not systems, but the basic fundamental problem is having voting districts from which only one candidate is elected. (as well as a senate with two elected from every state, for USA) There are some reasons for large population countries to have this, but in general they also have a second, or alternative system based on this "magic" (for 2-party persons) thing called "proportional representation". Luckily totally normal for the rest of the world, x% votes and x% seats in the congress or parliement. (ho-ho-said Santa Clause about the "parliamentary" system of "parliementary" UK and Canada) That is, "parliamentary" means something totally different, mainly not having a president but just a "prime minister" (major funny and dangerous guy as in UK) That is, one reason many informed americans laugh at UK, no "checks&balances^, US-style, but basically , how does it go, the pot and kettle, competing on not saying the magic word of "proportional representation" = PR However, PR is, or was a major force in USA after the civil rights and voting act of 1971. however, not by regular elections but by gerrymandering the "100%-non-PR" districts to achieve "100% PR" for the "black" populations. Great success, few figured out how, but voting districts were manipulated for what they could not have otherwise achieved (41 representatives vs zero when it started, 41 fairly accurate to 12% PR) Ouch, what a pain, 2-3-4 steps removed from the rest of the world... Ilmarinen however, nobody claims they have a solution for USA..:the 2-party system has served USA well" but that takes some basic knowledge of above issues as well as USA history, of the more difficult type. However, a constant source of having fun at many americans... nothing like somebody who brags about something which he/she has no idea of.

To: Steeny who wrote (13082)	2/26/2003 1:03:29 AM
From: PartyTime	Read Replies (2) \| Respond to of 25898

Two party system equals: National Election: * Only half the people vote. (My theory is that the money dominating politics, a sense of hypocrisy on the part of politicians and effects from the nation's drug war seem conveniently to keep people feeling shut out.) * Party base represents about 1/3 of the half who do vote. * Fence sitters sit in the middle. * All the big money that pours into the campaign primarily is allocated toward gaining that thin sliver of the uncommitted middle ground voters. (When the message of the campaign should be the true meaning, this money aimed at a tiny few is a very sad wasting of resources, in my opinion.) * Anyway, with your party base whoped up behind you, that's how you get to be president. Statewide elections: * Only one third of the people vote in state elections. * Here, the issues of abortion, gun control and capital punishment keep the base voters poles apart. The politicians running from both sides of the asiles get a free ticket ride by using the crime and drug war issue. All of the above applies here, and if you get a little more than half of the third of the people who vote, well then you get to become governor, senator or elected into congress. Municipal Elections: * Now there's only about 16 percent of the people voting, and sometimes there are multiple seats available either for city council or board of selectment. So sometimes all you need to become one of these is a little bit better sliver of that 16 percent than the candidate behind you. Well, that's how it works folks. All it takes is your base together with lots of money from key special interests and the ability not to make a mistake as you don't wanna lose your party base of support. Oh! I forgot. Elederly folks, by percentage, vote in the greatest numbers and they are very much sought after. In my view, some politicians work this democraphic group in such a manner that many of 'em, for the sake of these elderly folk, oughta be placed in jail on election day! Nice, huh! Don't forget to vote--lol! Oh, why not. Might as well get a parting shot in: "Friends don't let friends vote Republican!"