Viewing Thread:
"Spanish election"

[URL]http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/3511280.stm[/URL]

Socialists win

Yey

I don't believe people should be forced to vote because I see myself as educated in political matters and can tell the difference between parties and policies.

Whilst Jason and Kylie Platt know nothing, they could turn up, cross a random box and walk away annoyed that they had to go to 'skul tae fackin vate'.

Light wrote:
>
> Believe it or not, I'm not being sarcastic here, but if it isn't
> democratic then how come Australia do it?

True, but I'd be scared if Australia was in central europe and not seperated from us and other countries by a great deal of water. ;D

And I do agree that is a bad point that the terrorist bombs have affected the politics in Spain but are they going to bomb Spain again? Probably not.

First past the post is not perfect but I think any other form would damage parliament as there would need to be a number of coalitions etc that weaken governement and then one certain party cannot be held responsible.

Look at Italy, they change governmen every month.

Australia use the best electoral system to be honest.

Our first-past-the-post system needs to be replaced, preferably by the alternative vote system they use in Australia.

I didn't know that everyone HAD to vote though. I suppose there isn't too much wrong with that though.

Light wrote:
> Believe it or not, I'm not being sarcastic here, but if it isn't
> democratic then how come Australia do it?

I actually didn't know that, but to me it does not seem very democratic - if I was forced to vote, despite the fact I did vote last time and will do next time, I'd just spoil my paper out of principal.

> Belldandy wrote:
> Socialists win but it goes down in the history books as probably the
> first time terrorism influenced an election outcome in a democracy.

I could take issue with that as an example of you selectively remembering history, but as you've made it clear you don't ACTUALLY know what you're talking about....

Ant wrote:
> Yup, a couple of days before the bombs and it was pretty certain that
> there wouldn't be a change of government.
>
> It's exactly what the terrorists wanted. So well done there.
>
> And now look - all the Spanish troops are being pulled out of Iraq.
>
> So now Al Queda will think, "hey, look what we can achieve with
> just a few bombs!"

In fairness, a lot of Spaniards have said that they voted against the Government because they tried to spin things and make it seem like ETA were responsible. Either way though, a terrorist bomb making the difference is bad thing.

Belldandy wrote:


> Even so, forcing people to attend is not democratic.


Believe it or not, I'm not being sarcastic here, but if it isn't democratic then how come Australia do it?

Belldandy wrote:
> Socialists win but it goes down in the history books as probably the
> first time terrorism influenced an election outcome in a democracy.
>
> Hurrah !

Yup, a couple of days before the bombs and it was pretty certain that there wouldn't be a change of government.

It's exactly what the terrorists wanted. So well done there.

And now look - all the Spanish troops are being pulled out of Iraq.

So now Al Queda will think, "hey, look what we can achieve with just a few bombs!"

SHEEPY wrote:
> I don't think everyone should have the right to vote/have kids etc
>
> They should pass tests
>
> Heil

This made me laugh. A lot.
*Shrugs*