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Nye Bevan

(25,406 posts)

39. Yes, when you said "someone like GWB would've had MORE power",

Sat Mar 22, 2014, 05:03 PM

Mar 2014

you hit on a huge problem with parliamentary systems; a government which has a big overall parliamentary majority tends to have too much power. Mrs Thatcher, for example, was able to do essentially whatever she wanted. More recently, I guarantee that a Prime Minister George W Bush would have been successful in his quest to privatize Social Security. On the flipside, a Prime Minister Barack Obama might well have been able to implement a single-payer healthcare system.

You are absolutely right that no system is perfect. The US system has much more checks and balances, so it's harder to do bad things as well as good things.

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Poll: What Does the United States Need? [View all] MineralMan Mar 2014 OP

Fewer internet polls would be a start. nt Democracyinkind Mar 2014 #1

But, they're so useful and important. MineralMan Mar 2014 #4

Lol. Democracyinkind Mar 2014 #5

If I missed your choice, please post it as the title of your reply. MineralMan Mar 2014 #2

IMO, needs the money out of politics, as well as, all redistricting eliminated. ... maybe RKP5637 Mar 2014 #3

money out of politics, hands down nt justabob Mar 2014 #18

Or more in - pay everyone who comes out to vote $100. Erich Bloodaxe BSN Mar 2014 #52

Isn't it also mandatory to vote in some countries? n/t RKP5637 Mar 2014 #57

I think I heard it was in at least one. Erich Bloodaxe BSN Mar 2014 #58

The $100 would certainly be an incentive!!! n/t RKP5637 Mar 2014 #60

Proportional representation in the House. Benton D Struckcheon Mar 2014 #6

The UK does not have proportional representation. Spider Jerusalem Mar 2014 #11

True, but your parliamentary system Benton D Struckcheon Mar 2014 #15

Sure you do Spider Jerusalem Mar 2014 #16

1. Erm, mebbe... Benton D Struckcheon Mar 2014 #32

Scrap the presidential system, replace it with a parliamentary system Spider Jerusalem Mar 2014 #7

That's pretty much the first choice in the poll. MineralMan Mar 2014 #10

I guarantee you that the Tea Party would have much more power under a parliamentary system Nye Bevan Mar 2014 #12

Would it? The Tea Party as it is is a faction within the Republican Party. Spider Jerusalem Mar 2014 #14

Under a parliamentary system small factions have tremendous leverage. Nye Bevan Mar 2014 #21

Not under a Westminster-style system, they don't. Spider Jerusalem Mar 2014 #23

The House of Commons in Westminster has 650 seats. Nye Bevan Mar 2014 #35

No, they couldn't. Spider Jerusalem Mar 2014 #38

Your subject line disagrees with the body of your post. Nye Bevan Mar 2014 #40

No, I'm saying they couldn't. Spider Jerusalem Mar 2014 #43

Ah, I was not familiar with the new 55% rule. Nye Bevan Mar 2014 #53

That's only in a minority situation. nt laundry_queen Mar 2014 #34

That depends on how it's set up laundry_queen Mar 2014 #33

Yes, when you said "someone like GWB would've had MORE power", Nye Bevan Mar 2014 #39

Someone like GWB never would have risen to the leadership in a parliamentary system. Spider Jerusalem Mar 2014 #50

The Reichstag was a parliament. Nye Bevan Mar 2014 #54

Weimar Germany is not a good yardstick for measuring parliamentary government. Spider Jerusalem Mar 2014 #55

Well, that is true. :) nt laundry_queen Mar 2014 #63

Yeh, that'll happen. Warren DeMontague Mar 2014 #28

Not going to happen, no Spider Jerusalem Mar 2014 #36

Can't talk about it? Sure, you can. Warren DeMontague Mar 2014 #41

"A surprisingly secular document for its time"...230 years ago. Spider Jerusalem Mar 2014 #46

Like I said, Gerrymandering is right at the top of my list. Warren DeMontague Mar 2014 #47

I used to hear the expression-"guns and butter" panader0 Mar 2014 #8

switch the military budget and education budget JaneyVee Mar 2014 #9

Something on a Ritz cracker. LiberalAndProud Mar 2014 #13

Can't get that with Republicans in control of the House. MineralMan Mar 2014 #19

You asked me what we need, not what we can get. LiberalAndProud Mar 2014 #22

Once we decide what we need, we have to figure out how to get it. MineralMan Mar 2014 #26

Okay. LiberalAndProud Mar 2014 #37

Also one person, one vote (no Electoral College), verifiable voting in 50 states... polichick Mar 2014 #24

+1 Auggie Mar 2014 #29

It used to be "a really good five-cent cigar," tho' it'd be nice to get back to a great dime bag... Journeyman Mar 2014 #17

Number one on my list would be a complete end to gerrymandering. Nye Bevan Mar 2014 #20

Some states already have that system in place. MineralMan Mar 2014 #25

I'd settle for 'all districts must be rectangles' Erich Bloodaxe BSN Mar 2014 #59

To wear brighter colors. Warren DeMontague Mar 2014 #27

Best option so far, I think. MineralMan Mar 2014 #30

That's what I'm here for! Warren DeMontague Mar 2014 #31

I'm not drab, I'm just differently-happied. NuclearDem Mar 2014 #44

Hey, I'm all about earth tones, myself. Warren DeMontague Mar 2014 #48

A parliamentary proportional representation system. NuclearDem Mar 2014 #42

campaign finance reform/clean elections G_j Mar 2014 #45

The non-negative parts of 1,3, and 6. Here's my Vote. eom PowerToThePeople Mar 2014 #49

I don't even know what a 'pure socialist state' is... Erich Bloodaxe BSN Mar 2014 #51

Nobody does, really. nt MineralMan Mar 2014 #64

Broad-based prosperity. moondust Mar 2014 #56

It won't become progressive if people sit home on their Historic NY Mar 2014 #61

Less military, cops, and prisons TransitJohn Mar 2014 #62

A massive infusion of critical thinking skills. hobbit709 Mar 2014 #65

That would have been a good addition to the poll. MineralMan Mar 2014 #66

You forgot the kitten option. TBF Mar 2014 #67

What this country needs is a good ten cent cuppa coffee. rrneck Mar 2014 #68

Anarchy, baby DiverDave Mar 2014 #69