Why in the world would anyone feel that a system that gets 82% of the people to vote is an outdated system? We could only dream of such a great voter turnout.
I must say, in the last French presidential primaries when LePen made such a good showing, it certainly looked like something was wrong with the system. However, it seems to have galvanized the voters to make sure LePen did not take office.
The good side was that the voter turnout was excellent and LePen did not gain office. The bad side was that Chirac really did not have a valid opponent. To work, an election needs at least two candidates who have something positive to offer the electorate. Then each can work to show what it is they can do. The electorate decides what it wants by voting. When the entire country is voting against one candidate because of his reactionary platform, the electorate loses. Sure they can vote against him, but the idea of an election is to vote FOR someone, not against someone.
Our last California election (the infamous recall) had a 29% voter turnout. You can hardly call that a majority win. 71% of the voters were not represented . . . by their own choosing. Very sad!
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11 Comments On 82% of the people voting should be fantastic . . . not outdated.
SalB,
Please accept our apologies if our wording was not precise enough. In the last 2 national elections, voter turnout was indeed very high. In fact, it’s hard to think of a people more interested in politics than the French (which is why you are going to have political debate here: it’s an integral part of French culture).
But that being said, the high turnout produced 2 landslides, going in opposite directions, just 2 years apart. French people talk a lot about politics, yet the political system does not seem to produce the results they are expecting: 82% of the French voted for Chirac in 2002 and the Socialist won 90% of the regional councils 2 years later, as the electorate turned 180° and voted against President Chirac.
The political system in France (it may be true elsewhere, for sure) does not produce enough new blood and new ideas to make the elections work. In that sense the system in general seems to fail the French who have no choice but to vote against the candidates rather than for them.
For the French on the forum, please feel free to add your thoughts.
FC
The 82% vote for Chirac was really a vote against LePen. Chirac has had his problems and if not for his opponent, he would not have received 82% of the vote. I think the votes two years later were a reaction to that. People tend to vote influenced by current events too, especially the economy.
I still contend it is better to have a lerger group of voters. Living in California and knowing 71% of the voters are not represented, albeit by their own choice, makes me feel that democracy in the state is rather shaky. There really isn’t a mandate to action with a 29% voter turnout.
I would love to hear the French side of this. It’s a fascinating topic.
I wish 82% of Americans would vote instead of being apathetic to politics. I am pretty sure America would be a lot better off if 82% of Americans voted.
well, ahlors, you use le mot freely….APaTheTIGue….
How many high school juniors are going to school and support two kids cause of the LAWS non-judaic or Otherwise stating that
Only Boys will solve problems of passing on Airs.
No, I don’t think all the people at that Rome or Paris English to Frenche or Italian theatre…da Sisto?…should watch
Bobby Deerfield
or One Flu over a Bird next of Oizeaus
But, should Adoph the cop killer have been turnedinto a Pilar de Sel…and sent to the glass case for bidding and exchange
in the KRemlin/// does that ivory skull and the stamps of Hitler belong to the Highest Henri Renault bidder?
as soon as can be….I would follow the california Rules of the Road…and the Richelieu manual on car repairs.
as enforced by California Highway Patrol man, Hemptead.
He is head and shoulders about most "Jacque Chirac" s…He is one of a few Theodore Postelle’s, and I wouldn’t trade Aunt Margaret or her many hubbies for any Volvos at the south side Holiday Inn
Express, Porte d’Italia, 1
addendum "adidas Dachau" Run avec les pieds…for Star Jones may take yours faster than Imelda Marcos can sing her National Anthem even a cappella…in a "{Chat" room
danairozo: How eloquent! Do some more for us. Donerail
mmm … Donerail I’m not sure it is wise to encourage the guy
CRC
crc95: He or she could be a new source of entertainment. He or she is certainly way out there and makes amero-franc look literate. Donerail
danairozo: what have you been smoking/drinking/shooting up lately?
LVB I told donerail on several occasions he had to stop promoting Timothy Leary but he wouldn’t listen to me.
CRC
crc95: You are right. I should have listened. Donerail