power to the people

[wylie]

We over here (remember us??? the land mass on the underside of your geographay class world globe ;)) had a general election yesterday. The result was predictable......little Johhny Howard faced with no real opposition got himself & party re-elected for another term....
The point is, and it gets brought up every election, voting in Australia is COMPULSORY!!!.....if you DON'T vote you get fined $100.......
some think this is good (no-one can complain that the population as a whole didnt get the leader they wanted), others say that we should have the right not to vote should we feel either so inclined that way, or so disgusted with the candidates that none deserves our effort.....

I overheard an american tourist saying this was "undemocratic"....
personally I find it ironic that we are FORCED to vote where others fight, kill & die for the RIGHT to do so.....
*sigh*.....stupid world!

[shubles]

not only that, but a blank vote or "donkey vote" is an automatic vote for those already in the position...
... so if you DONT vote coz you dont give a t*ss yor REALLY voting for the idiots that have screwed the country for the last (at least) 3 years.

i second that
...stupid world!!!!!!

[MechCD]

Ooof! Hrmmmm... sounds like someone needs to werk on the election process...... LOL

[wylie]

Originally posted by shubles

i second that
...stupid world!!!!!!

hehe - nah just our silly country....and stupid politicians....The leader of the opposition said a good one at a rememberance day service yesterday after he lost the election..."I've come to remember the servicemen...there are no memorials to politicians & rightly so...."

[siggy]

It is an interesting twist on elections. I dont know what the right answer is but it is pathetic the number of ppl that show up and vote in the United States.

[Daniel, Laura, and Nora]

What happens if you vote and leave hanging chad?
D

[X-Calibur]

Sorry Aussie friends, but not voting for any candidate (blank vote) or voting for both or all is also a RIGHT no?

I mean you must have a way to show you disapprove both candidates? I guess you could if there is more then 2 parties, so you vote for a donkey party then? Or is there only 2 parties like in the US and Canada (mostly all the time... few donkeys party ... and the way it's going on right now, we might end up with only ONE party somewhere in the next year.... now that is gonna be ridiculous....

Cheers !

[dnar]

Originally posted by X-Calibur
Sorry Aussie friends, but not voting for any candidate (blank vote) or voting for both or all is also a RIGHT no?

I mean you must have a way to show you disapprove both candidates? I guess you could if there is more then 2 parties, so you vote for a donkey party then? Or is there only 2 parties like in the US and Canada (mostly all the time... few donkeys party ... and the way it's going on right now, we might end up with only ONE party somewhere in the next year.... now that is gonna be ridiculous....

Cheers !
Bummer, they did not have a box for "Ministry of silly walks".... :confused: :D

[shubles]

Originally posted by X-Calibur
Sorry Aussie friends, but not voting for any candidate (blank vote) or voting for both or all is also a RIGHT no?

I mean you must have a way to show you disapprove both candidates? I guess you could if there is more then 2 parties, so you vote for a donkey party then? Or is there only 2 parties like in the US and Canada (mostly all the time... few donkeys party ... and the way it's going on right now, we might end up with only ONE party somewhere in the next year.... now that is gonna be ridiculous....

Cheers !

there are a fair few minor parties here in oz, but it is VERY unlikely they will be elected. in that situation you end up voting for whichever party THEY nominate...
...normally one of the crappy major parties.

u cant win!!!!

[wylie]

We use a system call "preferential voting", whereby if there are seven candidates, you order them 1-7. After first votes are counted, the lowest scoring candidates votes are redistributed according to the second choice.......apparently it gives a truer indication of choice.
You can off course just write "all politicians should be soundly flogged" across your paper and it wont be counted, BUT you still have to turn up on polling day..

I do certainly agree you should have the right to abstain...

[siggy]

Well you certainly dont read about this stuff in the history books.

If they take all of the 7th place votes and give them to the 2nd place person. Couldn't that cause the 2nd place person to pass the 1st place person?:confused:

[shubles]

ok siggy
here's how it works...

say i voted:

Wally 6
LaaLaa 4
Elmo 1
Big Bird 7
Wiggles 2
Bert 5
Snuffy 3

when all votes are in they put all ballot papers in a pile according to whoever was voted with a one. (in my case elmo)
from there the smallest pile in then redistributed amongst the other 6 piles to whoever got voted 2. (wiggles)
then, 5 piles with votes of 3. (snuffy)
and so on.

until you have 2 piles
the biggest pile is the the winner

[shubles]

i fyou dont understand a word of what i just said...
...please feel free to tell me to shove my explanation.
:D :D :D

i tend to rattle on a bit

[wylie]

Actually not a bad explanation shue.....
The concept behind it is that although a member may get elected on (say) 45% of the vote, what it really means is the majority of the voters dont want that person elected.....
Think Maggie Thatcher who once got elected Prime Minister of Britain with only (from memory) 40% of the vote due to having three large political parties at the time......

The main benefit & what I like is you can vote for a minor or independent candidate & not "throw your vote away", coz you still have a say in which big party gets elected by putting them 2nd...

well I've just bored meself so I'm off to bed! ;)

[siggy]

Originally posted by shubles
i fyou dont understand a word of what i just said...
...please feel free to tell me to shove my explanation.
:D :D :D

i tend to rattle on a bit

I understand. Thanks for explaining it. It is just so different from what I am use to.

:hugz:

[dnar]

Originally posted by shubles
ok siggy
here's how it works...

say i voted:

Wally 6
LaaLaa 4
Elmo 1
Big Bird 7
Wiggles 2
Bert 5
Snuffy 3

when all votes are in they put all ballot papers in a pile according to whoever was voted with a one. (in my case elmo)
from there the smallest pile in then redistributed amongst the other 6 piles to whoever got voted 2. (wiggles)
then, 5 piles with votes of 3. (snuffy)
and so on.

until you have 2 piles
the biggest pile is the the winner
So your one of those left-wing Elmo supporters hugh? Explains quite a bit that does... :rolleyes: :rolleyes: :rolleyes: :rolleyes: