Do you think our political system is broken? Fixed? Do you think your vote makes much difference?
Politicians in the state of Tamil Nadu, India are convincing people that their vote does affect their lives. The two leading parties are debating issues such as how to stop corruption and how to solve the problem of electricity shortages, but the race will probably be decided on the perks they’re offering if their side wins. As the Wall Street Journal points out in It’s Not the Economy, Stupid, It’s the Free Blenders and Sheep, the two parties are offering such things as blenders, food grinders, free sheep for poor families, etc. Is it really any worse than most political situations? It does have one advantage, it gets out the votes!
What do you think?
In India your vote doesn’t count much—so many people. Not here in the USA either. But we each feel strongly about our party’s platform, that we don’t need a sheep or blender to go vote.
bikehikebabe,
I’m just the opposite. I can’t stand either party, and offering me a sheep or a blender wouldn’t generate much enthusiasm in me. 🙂
Hare-Clarke simply the best! – proportional representation in multi-member electorates.
We really need to move to some kind of democratic input into the policy formation process – deliberative democracy.
Sociocracy is an alternative system.
The problem is preventing professionalism. Eg. forbidding large donations to parties (say over $10K) and none at all by corporates.
My single vote does not account for much. However, I don’t let that stop me from voting based on the issues, not the party.
Jean I understand your point. The politicians are too interested in the next election & not 20 years from now.
Evan,
I’m afraid with our pro-business Supreme Court limits on corporate funding aren’t going to happen.
Mike,
I vote, too. I also write to my Congressmen about issues I care about. I figure at least I can try to play my part well.
bikehikebabe,
The best quote I’ve heard about that is, “Who cares about the long run? In the long run we’ll all be dead.” Unfortunately voters and special interest groups also think that way.
Your two political parties have set ideology. In Tamil Nadu, both parties, that is the main ones offer the same ideology. Instead of low taxes, high benefits or the other way around, which are also pre poll promises, more meaningful sops are offered. Tamil Nadu in fact is one of the most prosperous states in India and the public there are very intelligent. The electors will vote for personalities. This time around, the main topic has been the billions that the ruling party’s members have earned through corrupt practices and as such, the issue has revolved around that aspect. Incidentally, neither party is significant at the national level. They are however very powerful at regional levels and their Members of Parliament can make or break governments.
Collectively, votes mean a great deal, but probably not otherwise!
My cynicism is starting to change to optimism. The last few elections have been the equivalent of voting in a new crew for the Titanic. The reason for the optimism? The Titanic was re-discovered 73 years after the wreck and recovery efforts were undertaken.
http://www.elections.org.nz/
I am not really ‘up’ with what happens in NZ but there is whole raft of levels that depend on votes for people, party and stuff like that.
I work out from information provided which/who/what I will vote for and go out to vote on the day! We just have one day for central government and local things. But occasionally we have other voting times for various reasons.
rummuser,
About corruption—I think it’s great that both foreign and domestic investors are starting to shy away from India because of the corruption. Hopefully that will put some pressure on the politicians to clean up their act a bit.
I also think it’s good that S & P is now warning that the U.S. credit rating may go down. Well, yeah, it should if we don’t start living within our means.
About our two-party system–years ago a friend of mine said it made for a more stable government and used France and Italy as examples of the alternative. The problem is it’s the extremists in each party who usually pick the candidates, and the nation as a whole is more middle of the road.
gaelikaa,
I vote but so far my one vote hasn’t changed any election, so I don’t worry too much about it.
Looney,
Hope you’re around in 73 years to see the recovery. I will have gone up in smoke long before then.
Cathy,
Part of my problem it’s sometimes hard to get good information. A woman I know asked me to vote for her candidate during the last election. I asked her where I could get some facts to decide between her choice and the opponent. The question stopped her in her tracks. Information? Real facts? What a novel idea. As I guessed, that’s not what elections are about.
once upon a time…each voter would be sent a manifesto from the main parties on their proposals for the future – along with how bad the ideas had been from the current institu party and bad mouthing their plans – if they knew them
Now there are dozens of temporary bill boards put up all around town. Of course, at night people go by and chop them down or add beards to women, boobs to guys with pen/paint…
I used to say, that whoever managed to come to the door and meet me – never let them in! But thought if they had the energy to climb up about 15 steps to the front door then they probably had energy for all sorts of things…but NOW they don’t come but specialise in putting leaflets in my box, handing me things at Malls and such like place. I like them if nothing is on the reverse – good for shopping lists!!
Right now, with the recent earthquakes in the South Island the leaders are been well and truly tested on how much energy/time they have to deal with the disaster in our small country…BUT on the otherhand if we are dealing nationally with anything bad; the guys in parliament get on with “passing bills” which often would have been debated alot but because of the more pressing problems media and watchdogs miss out 🙁
Massive financial problems – is one aspect of the disaster…so gov’t funds are stretched – they are bound to be working on making life financially bad for some sectors in the country…
on and on and on…it goes! New Zealand populace is just too small for such problems 🙁
Cathy,
I agree, the NZ population is too small to pay for all the rebuilding. 🙁
We don’t get many leaflets, etc., but we do get a lot of automated phone calls around election time. They’re a real nuisance.