[Merged]US election stuff

[scooterscot]

In the UK, it's commonly accepted that you're voting for a person in council elections and a party at general elections. Very naïve to think otherwise. May is therefore not an unelected leader because she's the leader of the party that won the general election. The Tories won the game; you simply don't like the rules but don't live here anyway.

Don't condescend. We both know that's how the system works. And we both know it's not representative.

[sal]

2015 - parties with greater than 1 million votes
Conservatives - 11,334,920 votes, 331 seats
Labour - 9,347,326 votes, 232 seats
UKIP - 3,881,129 votes, 1 seat
Libs - 2,415,888 votes, 8 seats
SNP - 1,454,436 votes, 56 seats
Greens - 1,157,613 votes, 1 seat

The problem we'd have is that it's hard to imagine how we'd get a government formed if we had PR unless you cut down on the number of parties that can stand. But that's not exactly fair either.

Denmark seems to be doing fine with 8 parties having 5%+ of the votes:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_o...011%E2%80%9315

But ofcourse system like that makes it much harder for the corporate lobbyists to influence as they have to bribe a lot more people...

[LondonManc]

Don't condescend. We both know that's how the system works. And we both know it's not representative.

Denmark seems to be doing fine with 8 parties having 5%+ of the votes:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_o...011%E2%80%9315

But ofcourse system like that makes it much harder for the corporate lobbyists to influence as they have to bribe a lot more people...

We can only play the hand we've been dealt. Until there's a referendum for electoral reform, we're stuck with what we've got.

[scooterscot]

We can only play the hand we've been dealt. Until there's a referendum for electoral reform, we're stuck with what we've got.

Indeed. And that'll never happen.

[LondonManc]

Understanding why people don't vote could be just as important; some politicians may not want more people voting and are happy to maintain the status quo though.

[scooterscot]

Untrue only 65% of the people who actually voted, this doesn't count the eligible voters who didn't vote - See how it works?

84.6% voter turn out. 65% of resident Scots from the 84.6% who voted. Happy?!

[scooterscot]

Understanding why people don't vote could be just as important; some politicians may not want more people voting and are happy to maintain the status quo though.

Probably because they are not represented. Why bother voting? All those UKIP voters I'm sure are not disillusioned yet I'm sure someone in government thinks it was just a hiccup.

[shaunbhoy]

54% of "Scots" voted to leave. What would be your criteria for a "Scottish voter" born in Scotland? One parent born in Scotland? One Grandparent born in Scotland? A Scottish surname?

Exactly. Scooter talks about "democracy", yet tries to justify his points by somehow suggesting that for it to be truly "fair and representative", the only votes that really count should be those of "native" Scots.
You couldn't make it up!

[vetran]

54% of "Scots" voted to leave. What would be your criteria for a "Scottish voter" born in Scotland? One parent born in Scotland? One Grandparent born in Scotland? A Scottish surname?

I don't remember getting my ballot on the Scottish referendum?

He only believes you are a Scot if you would vote for financial meltdown & Independence.

[Flashman]

Meanwhile...