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I suppose it depends where you draw the line of "democracy"? That the party who were a clear 10% ahead of any other single party, - - on margins like this - is "democratic".
They did not buy the extra votes or put a gun to anyone's head.
If democracy has to be an idyllic form of representation - proportionate to everyone's individual vote - then we run into problems of effective governance.
Democracy to some extent has always been illusory.
Wyot wrote: I suppose it depends where you draw the line of "democracy"? That the party who were a clear 10% ahead of any other single party, - - on margins like this - is "democratic".
They did not buy the extra votes or put a gun to anyone's head.
If democracy has to be an idyllic form of representation - proportionate to everyone's individual vote - then we run into problems of effective governance.
Democracy to some extent has always been illusory.
As far as I can see Australia and New Zealand have exceptionally democratic systems.
NZ's is quite complex while Australia's is very straight forward with proportional representation..every electorate has a similar number of voters and the way preferences flow where you choose your alternative choice if your first choice didn't win 50% of votes means no government is elected without a 50% voter win.
It also means independents can win and have imput into proposed law as with The Greens who often hold the balance of power in the Oz Senate and are now picking seats in state and federal elections.
As far as I can see Australia and New Zealand have exceptionally democratic systems.
Yes the Aus system does sound a lot more mature and sensible than our own. It is clear that they try anyway to be as "democratic" as possible; whereas no effort is made here, and boundaries cynically re-drawn.
Do you think the Aus system makes media less powerful? As you know, they more or less run things in the UK...
As far as I can see Australia and New Zealand have exceptionally democratic systems.
Yes the Aus system does sound a lot more mature and sensible than our own. It is clear that they try anyway to be as "democratic" as possible; whereas no effort is made here, and boundaries cynically re-drawn.
Do you think the Aus system makes media less powerful? As you know, they more or less run things in the UK...
The conservative Oz media dominates just as it does in the UK. But there are more middle of the road outlets in Oz.
Rupert Murdoch has always influenced votes in Oz but lately his power seems to have waned. He opposed the Albanese Labor party but they still won.
I worked for News Corp when Lachlan Murdoch ran it. He famously sent around a memo to all the staff to "not bother using the internet as it's a passing fad."..it was when using the internet cost real money.
I think it was also when Rupert Murdoch paid a fortune for My Space !
Wyot wrote, "Democracy to some extent has always been illusory."
Quote late great cynic George Carlin, "A window dressing illusion of choice." Masking the US/UK unelected permanent Deep State for power not for the people. Greedy Banks fund an aggressive Military fuelling Wars for a devious Media with unstated subtext, "No Profit in Peace."
While China's business is business, U.S. Business is War!
Quote late great U.S. Major General Smedley Butler, 1933, "WAR IS A RACKET! It always has been. It is possibly the oldest, easily the most profitable, surely the most vicious. It is the only one international in scope. It is the only one in which the profits are reckoned in dollars and the losses in lives.
A racket is best described, I believe, as something that is not what it seems to
the majority of people. Only a small 'inside' group knows what it is about. It is
conducted for the benefit of the very few, at the expense of the very many. Out of
war a few people make huge fortunes."
The media won't affect PR any more or less than other electoral system. PR gives minority groups a bigger say, and will precipitate a need for more coalition governments (not viewed, by many, as the best option). Like in the Republic of Ireland.
Reginald wrote: The media won't affect PR any more or less than other electoral system.
Surely it must be easier for media barons to effect change through backing a single party and leader which wins, than through a diffuse coalition of parties and interest groups?
But I accept that media-monopolies will influence the thinking of the masses on key issues in general.
Rupert Murdoch has always influenced votes in Oz but lately his power seems to have waned. He opposed the Albanese Labor party but they still won.
I worked for News Corp when Lachlan Murdoch ran it. He famously sent around a memo to all the staff to "not bother using the internet as it's a passing fad."..it was when using the internet cost real money.
Positive to hear the malign influence of Murdoch may be waning in Aus, and hopefully elsewhere.
Ironically, perhaps because of the internet fad young Lachlan watched pass him by...
Rupert Murdoch has always influenced votes in Oz but lately his power seems to have waned. He opposed the Albanese Labor party but they still won.
I worked for News Corp when Lachlan Murdoch ran it. He famously sent around a memo to all the staff to "not bother using the internet as it's a passing fad."..it was when using the internet cost real money.
Positive to hear the malign influence of Murdoch may be waning in Aus, and hopefully elsewhere.
Ironically, perhaps because of the internet fad young Lachlan watched pass him by...
I still haven't seen evidence of what type of conservative Lachlan Murdoch is..old style or the new wacky brand.
Former Australian PM Kevin Rudd called for a Royal Commission into Murdoch's empire and he got over half a million signatures.
Lachlan (a very pleasant guy in person) runs US Fox and Murdoch USA empire from a "basement bunker" in Sydney in a huge luxury house compound not a stone's throw from my compact flat. His residence is high on a hill with sweeping Harbour and Seaside Bondi views.
Kevin Rudd is now the Oz ambassador to the USA and worked behind the scenes lobbying for the US to drop Julian Assange charges.
Donald Trump said a few weeks ago "I hear Rudd is not a very guy".
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