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> A classic example of why you really shouldn't be giving the government too much power, because even so-called "modern democracies" can and will go bad. I'm n
by einarfd 5y ago
> A classic example of why you really shouldn't be giving the government too much power, because even so-called "modern democracies" can and will go bad.
I'm not an expert, but I'm under the impression that Australia uses a "first past the post" / "simple majority" voting system. If that is true, calling it a "modern democracy" seems deeply misguided, democracy yes, modern no.
- softveda 5y agoNot true at all. Australian federal election House of Representatives uses a preferential voting system where you have to number every candidate in your order of preference 1..N. Also voting (or at least attending) is compulsory.
- saithound 5y agoNot even close. The Australian electoral system uses instant-runoff for the House, and single-transferable-vote for the Senate.
- Jensson 5y agoThat has almost the same results as first past the post though.
- SturgeonsLaw 5y agoKinda, but that "almost the same" occasionally counts for some significant differences. Australian politics is dominated by the two major parties, but the minor parties form a reasonable percentage of held seats, and occasionally neither major party holds a majority, which leads to a hung parliament where the balance of power is open to negotiation. https://www.aph.gov.au/Senators_and_Members/Senators/Senate_composition https://www.aph.gov.au/Senators_and_Members/Senators/Senate_... https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Australian_House_of_Representatives https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Australian_House_of_Representa...