A world in a grain of sand

[root-fu.livejournal.com]

( A guide to better understanding politics. )

FRIDAY FUN -- SHOCKING DISCOVERY ABOUT PRESIDENT OBAMA!

[malasadas.livejournal.com]

NEW EVIDENCE HAS EMERGED -- LISTEN TO THIS SHOCKING RECORDING ABOUT BARACK "BARRY" OBAMA "SOETORO" MADE IN HAWAI'I WHEN HE WAS IN HIGH SCHOOL:

LISTEN ESPECIALLY TO 1:25 WHEN "BARRY" ADMITS HIS NAME AND THAT HE HAS "THE UKUS" --

WE KNOW NOW THAT THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES GREW UP IN FILTH AND SQUALOR!!!!!!!!!!!! There can be no doubt that he grew up hating the children who were able to afford clean homes and clothes and that is the source of his attempts to destroy all wealth and prosperity in America!!!!!

Don't Listen to HER -- She's a Conspiracy Theorist!

[paft.livejournal.com]

It’s been a busy couple of weeks, with end of month writing deadlines, projects at work, and, most time-consuming of all, the San Francisco International Film Festival. I saw a lot I liked there, but as of today, my favorite bit of film is not something I saw at the SFFIF:

( Read more )

A moment at Agincourt.

[mintogrubb.livejournal.com]

In 1415, on October the 25th, a cold, tired and hungry army of English soldiers were making for the coast of France in an attempt to reach Calais, a town still in English hands.

Imagine their dismay when they found the route home was blocked by a large French army, five times more numerous than themselves. The English were mainly on foot, and the French had brought along their elite troops - the well armed and armoured knights of the royal court.

As the French knights on their proud chargers drew up, with the sun glinting on their armour and the resplendent banners of these proud aristocrats, they made a complete contrast to the drab, miserable and shivering wretches on the English side. Who were these common men who dared to even think that they could match the proud and noble French aristocracy in battle?

Yet, as the French knights came forward at a trot, the English stood firm and notched their arrows in their bows. When the knights moved into a canter, the archers raised and took aim. When the knights levelled their lances and the trumpeters sounded the charge, the archers loosed their long bowsbows, sending a cloud of arrows on their way. ( Read more... )

Lessons for the UK; The Canadian Election and Voting Systems

[tcpip.livejournal.com]

On May 2nd Canada held a Federal election, contested primarily by the governing Conservatives, the opposition Liberals and the New Democratic Party, and the Bloc Quebecois. The election was called because the ruling Conservative Party suffered a motion of no-confidence, after the electoral commission found that the Conservative Party had contravened the Elections Act five years prior. The Conservatives promised to re-introduce warrant-less Internet surveillance legislation along with a bundle of crime-related bills emphasising punishment, in contrast with preventative measures suggested by the opposition. The Conservatives promised to purchase no less than 65 F-35 attack jet fighters, whereas the NDP preferred a more defensive naval orientation. The Conservatives claimed that they were economically responsible, successfully steering the country through the financial crisis. The Liberals countered this, claiming that they had left the country with a $13 billion surplus which was now in deficit. The Conservatives wanted to cut company tax down to 15%; the NDP wanted to increase it by 1.5% and double the pension plan.

During the election the Conservatives expressed fears that there would be a left-wing coalition between the Liberals, the NDP, Le Bloc and the Greens. This was repeatedly denied by these parties; they should have realised that this was a potential strength. Prior to the poll, there was an enormous swing to the New Democratic Party, but most of this came from the Liberals and Le Bloc. This was replicated on polling day; the Conservatives, with a mere 39.62% (+1.96%) of the vote, have achieved a majority government with 167 seats (+24). The progressive vote was split between the New Democratic Party (30.63%, +12.44%, 102 seats, +66 seats), the Liberals (18.91%, -7.36%, 34 seats, -43), Bloc Quebecois (6.04%. -3.94%, 4 seats, -43) and the Greens (3.91%, -2.87%, 1 seat, +1).

( sour grapes, much? )

Ultimately it comes down to the question of what one wants from a voting system. Putting aside equally important issues such as constituency size, recall provisions, and suffrage issues, if one is dedicated to the principle of majority rule plurality voting cannot be supported, as it does not ensure this eventuality and, over time, ensures a two-party system. In this sense both preferential and proportional voting systems are vastly superior. From the two alternatives, preferential voting makes sense for single-member electorates and single-transferable vote representation for proportional multi-member electorates; it is right to combine these as a means to represent both local interests (preferential representation) and general interests (proportional representation). Because in democratic politics, it is bad enough to be in a minority and having put up with a government of the majority. But it is always worse to be in a majority and to be governed by a minority. That is the lesson that Canada can send to the UK.


Crossposted at You know where.