4 ms·

Here in the US voters don't punish any elected officials for anything because half don't vote and the other half that do are more concerned about their side "wi

Here in the US voters don't punish any elected officials for anything because half don't vote and the other half that do are more concerned about their side "winning" and less concerned about practical day to day considerations like corruption. People would gladly accept a corrupt Democrat over a Republican and vice versa purely based on political lines.

bradleyjg 9y ago
NYC voted in a Republican for mayor in 1993, 1997, 2001, 2005 and sort-of in 2009 (he ran on the Republican line, but wasn't a party member). To contrast that with partisan affiliation when it comes to national politics, the last time NYC went for a Republican presidential candidate was 1924 for Calvin Coolidge.
- shard972 9y ago
  > 2009 (he ran on the Republican line, but wasn't a party member). You aren't talking about "let's ban smoking and soft drinks" bloomberg are you?
altstar 9y ago
Not quite. Alabama voted for a Democrat last year. They are normally red.
- philwelch 9y ago
  Even that was close, and the Republican candidate was a child molester on top of being an incompetent wingnut. It takes a LOT to sway American voters.
  - pcollins123 9y ago
    > Even that was close, and the Republican candidate was _accused of molesting children_. There, fixed that for you. Look, I'm very progressive, but we need to firmly stand behind "innocent until proven guilty" especially when it is so easy to create a slander campaign against a political opponent. And, yes, even the democrats are capable of that.
    - philwelch 9y ago
      Politically there’s no difference.
keithnz 9y ago
It's difficult to get people out of that mentality even after making changes. Here in NZ we changed to MMP many years ago but many people still vote along party lines. It is slowly changing, but there's still a long way to go.
- lostlogin 9y ago
  Not helped by the leader of the opposition claiming to have ‘won’ the election, despite being unable to form a government. First among the losers hurts, but claiming some sort of moral right to victory is petty.
abandonliberty 9y ago
Ah, but this is the magic! It's how you disenfranchise voters. Very effective.

bradleyjg 9y ago

NYC voted in a Republican for mayor in 1993, 1997, 2001, 2005 and sort-of in 2009 (he ran on the Republican line, but wasn't a party member). To contrast that with partisan affiliation when it comes to national politics, the last time NYC went for a Republican presidential candidate was 1924 for Calvin Coolidge.

shard972 9y ago
> 2009 (he ran on the Republican line, but wasn't a party member). You aren't talking about "let's ban smoking and soft drinks" bloomberg are you?

altstar 9y ago

Not quite. Alabama voted for a Democrat last year. They are normally red.

philwelch 9y ago
Even that was close, and the Republican candidate was a child molester on top of being an incompetent wingnut. It takes a LOT to sway American voters.
- pcollins123 9y ago
  > Even that was close, and the Republican candidate was _accused of molesting children_. There, fixed that for you. Look, I'm very progressive, but we need to firmly stand behind "innocent until proven guilty" especially when it is so easy to create a slander campaign against a political opponent. And, yes, even the democrats are capable of that.
  - philwelch 9y ago
    Politically there’s no difference.

keithnz 9y ago

It's difficult to get people out of that mentality even after making changes. Here in NZ we changed to MMP many years ago but many people still vote along party lines. It is slowly changing, but there's still a long way to go.

lostlogin 9y ago
Not helped by the leader of the opposition claiming to have ‘won’ the election, despite being unable to form a government. First among the losers hurts, but claiming some sort of moral right to victory is petty.

abandonliberty 9y ago

Ah, but this is the magic! It's how you disenfranchise voters. Very effective.