Comments on: Not A Good Time For Incumbents

By: Bryan

Bryan — Sun, 19 Oct 2008 21:22:43 +0000

Ah, I didn’t remember that, and not sure I approve. I have neighbors I would just as soon not vote. It’s not that they don’t agree with me; it’s more that they haven’t got a clue as to what is going on. I could convince them to agree with me, but they aren’t worth the effort.

From the reporting it sounds like an instant run off system which is certainly less expensive than our ever increasing number of elections. It seems like the voters are the only ones doing any work in the US.

At least y’all can get rid of your “rascals” at any time, while we have to wait for a scheduled election.

By: Kryten42

Kryten42 — Sun, 19 Oct 2008 07:13:17 +0000

Remember, voting is compulsory here. 😉 And it’s a $150 fine if you don’t show up at the polling booth and vote. 😉 I think that’s enough incentive these days! LOL

The system is quite complicated here, but for different reasons than in the USA. 🙂 We have to deal with being a part of the Commonwealth still, which adds a layer of complexity.

We only have the one *coalition* here, Liberal party & National Country party. The amusing fact of the matter is, the Liberal party (on their own) haven’t won an election here in over 30 years! LOL It’s only because of the coalition they win government at State or Federal level. 🙂 On a one-to-one basis, the ALP has always beaten the Lib’s. There’s always been too much infighting in the coalition, and they generally loose elections eventually because of it. 🙂

We have a system of preference distribution here that makes things complicated. And often, the peepul rarely know the exact details of any of the deals struck, until the election is over and the winner, after preferences are taken into account, is declared.

Fun and games, as always.

By: Bryan

Bryan — Sun, 19 Oct 2008 05:02:15 +0000

Actually, the one thing that happens in hard times is that it motivates people to go to the polls, which is never good for the party in power. In good times people tend to stay home because they are satisfied with the way things are going. If their equilibrium is lost they have a reason to vote, and usually it is to vote against something.

In many ways I favor coalition governments as they tend to reduce the occurrence of bad legislation and promote compromises. The real excesses occur when one party controls everything.

We don’t have much separation between state and federal parties in our system, as the states feed directly into the national parties via the legislature. The normal progression is state lower house -> state upper house -> federal lower house -> federal upper house, so there is a very tight connection.

I don’t really see why anyone would enter politics.

By: Kryten42

Kryten42 — Sun, 19 Oct 2008 03:05:32 +0000

That would have happened regardless of the current crisis. ACT has always been Liberal, it only swung Labor to make sure Howard was gone. Labor was only there by a couple fingernails. 🙂 As for NSW… As in Victoria, Labor has been *Governing* (and I use the term in it’s strictest sense only) far too long and is showing their age. Both State Labor Parties think they can do what they please and get away with it. I wouldn’t be at all surprised to see Labor have their nuts crushed in Vic in the next election, the State’s in a mess, and the idiots-in-charge aren’t making things better. The sad thing is, his Liberal opponent is a clueless eunuch and would only win by default, but I doubt things would improve. The only reason Labor are still in here is the fear that whilst they are bad, it might possibly be worse with a Liberal Government. But patience is definitely wearing thin! *shrug* 🙂 The State Labor parties are becoming (or already are) a disaster. Sadly, The State Liberal parties are no better, or even worse. Well, it will help the Greens get a few more places at the trough I guess. 🙂 The Democrats self-destructed years ago and are well and truly marginalized, the National (country) Party is really the Liberal Party and everyone knows it. Options are few here. As in the USA, it’s down too picking the least worst of the bunch, there is no *best*. Thankfully, the Federal Labor party, ALP, is not too bad (so far). Compared to the Liberals… that’s high praise indeed! LOL

Politics! LOL

The only good Politician is 6′ under! 🙂