The Price Of Oil !

[jaysay]

Originally Posted by jambutty

As I understand it democracy is the rule by the wishes of the majority. As far as the UK is concerned that is not the case. The government voted into office is there because of the wishes of the minority of those eligible to vote in the country. But the government twists the democracy rule by using the majority of those who cast a vote.

However even then democracy is squashed. Each MP voted into Parliament has one vote when it comes to deciding a course of action. Yet one MP can have attained office with 65,000 people voting for him whilst another only had 10,000 vote for him. Yet both votes in Parliament carry the same weight.

A strange form of democracy!

And non of them actually vote how their electorate want them otherwise we would have capital punishment for murdering scumbags instead of giving them a life of luxury behind bars and a beter living than most pensioners

[Neil]

Originally Posted by jaysay

And non of them actually vote how their electorate want them otherwise we would have capital punishment for murdering scumbags instead of giving them a life of luxury behind bars and a beter living than most pensioners

As a man well known in political circles maybe you could explain that mystery to us all

[Eric]

Originally Posted by jambutty

As I understand it democracy is the rule by the wishes of the majority. As far as the UK is concerned that is not the case. The government voted into office is there because of the wishes of the minority of those eligible to vote in the country. But the government twists the democracy rule by using the majority of those who cast a vote.

However even then democracy is squashed. Each MP voted into Parliament has one vote when it comes to deciding a course of action. Yet one MP can have attained office with 65,000 people voting for him whilst another only had 10,000 vote for him. Yet both votes in Parliament carry the same weight.

A strange form of democracy!

Seems like you are in favor of some form of proportional representation ... and this I would agree with ... just for an example, and this is not an indication of my politics, the Canadian Green Party won about 10% of the national vote in the last General Election, but won no seats. Under some form of proportional representation, the thousands of people who voted Greeen would have a voice in parliament. I don't know how it is in England, but in Canada, in both Provincial and Federal elections, the winning party often has less than fifty per cent of the vote.

[jambutty]

Originally Posted by Eric

Seems like you are in favor of some form of proportional representation ... and this I would agree with ... just for an example, and this is not an indication of my politics, the Canadian Green Party won about 10% of the national vote in the last General Election, but won no seats. Under some form of proportional representation, the thousands of people who voted Greeen would have a voice in parliament. I don't know how it is in England, but in Canada, in both Provincial and Federal elections, the winning party often has less than fifty per cent of the vote.

I am indeed.

And what you describe is a mirror of the UK “democratic” system.

[Eric]

Originally Posted by jambutty

I am indeed.

And what you describe is a mirror of the UK “democratic” system.

It's even crazier here; Federal elections are ususally decided after the vote is counted in Onatario and Quebec, because these are the most populous provinces. This means that because this is such a huge country, stretching across five and a half time zones, the election is over while people in British Columbia are still voting. TV and radio stations are not allowed to release results in the western provinces until all the polls are closed ... but in this digital age, anyone can access results on the net. So if you are voting in MST or PST areas you know the results of the election before you go to vote.

[Eric]

I think that I am wandering a long way from the price of oil .... but we have billions of barrels of the stuff still in the ground, so we don't worry about the price of oil, just the level of govt. taxation on the stuff. Unlike some in the US, most of us prefer to have free health care and good access to education than cheap oil and gas. Our Liberal party is proposing a new revenue neutral tax scheme that looks interesting, and is receiving the nod from both the left wing and the right.

[steeljack]

Originally Posted by Eric

It's even crazier here; Federal elections are ususally decided after the vote is counted in Onatario and Quebec, because these are the most populous provinces. This means that because this is such a huge country, stretching across five and a half time zones, the election is over while people in British Columbia are still voting. TV and radio stations are not allowed to release results in the western provinces until all the polls are closed ... but in this digital age, anyone can access results on the net. So if you are voting in MST or PST areas you know the results of the election before you go to vote.

similar situation here , the east coast polls close and the 'talking heads' are out with the exit polls and predictions , though they do wait until the west coast polls close before issuing any results , though no one seems to care that Alaska and Hawaii are still voting ....
my solution ... the US and Canada should be like China and have only one timezone

[Eric]

Originally Posted by steeljack

similar situation here , the east coast polls close and the 'talking heads' are out with the exit polls and predictions , though they do wait until the west coast polls close before issuing any results , though no one seems to care that Alaska and Hawaii are still voting ....
my solution ... the US and Canada should be like China and have only one timezone

Or form a new country consiting of California and BC (British California) ... oh, and lets add Alberta because it is floating on a sea of oil. And Oregon and Washington because they are so beautiful.

[bullseyebarb]

Originally Posted by jambutty

In the meantime we pay the price. We always have and we always will until such times as true democracy can be implemented.

Be careful what you wish for. In a democracy, individual rights are irrelevant. If the majority votes that half of your income be confiscated before you can even buy groceries.....well, what are you going to do then?

[jambutty]

Originally Posted by bullseyebarb

Be careful what you wish for. In a democracy, individual rights are irrelevant. If the majority votes that half of your income be confiscated before you can even buy groceries.....well, what are you going to do then?

Don’t be stupid.

What sane group would vote to lose half their income before even getting access to it?

[entwisi]

the well paid who are on 40% tax and NI and then all the tax that we already pay. They don't have a chance because there isn't a party that will change any of that.

[bullseyebarb]

Originally Posted by jambutty

Don’t be stupid.

What sane group would vote to lose half their income before even getting access to it?

No sane person does......yet it still happens.

I was merely making the point that democracy is mob rule, which makes it a very dangerous form of government. But what care you if the majority vote comes at the expense of the minority.

To paraphrase one of Cyfr's favorite quotes.....
"Democracy is two wolves and a sheep deciding what's for dinner."

'Tis better, I think, to restrain the wolves and arm the sheep.

[Eric]

Originally Posted by bullseyebarb

Be careful what you wish for. In a democracy, individual rights are irrelevant. If the majority votes that half of your income be confiscated before you can even buy groceries.....well, what are you going to do then?

Now I get it ... Barb is an anarchist