General Discussion

sarisataka

(22,713 posts)

26. Do not assume for an election to be free and fair

Sat Nov 26, 2016, 02:57 PM

Nov 2016

it must take place in a democracy.

Many people have the mistaken notion that the U.S. is a democracy. At the Federal level we are a republic, not a democracy. The difference is important. It means we can have anomalies where a person can win the overall popular vote yet loose the election due to the distribution of elected representatives.

Similar situations can occur in a Parliamentary system where the head of government may come from a party other than the one with the most representatives. A coalition of minority parties could theoretically usurp the power of a majority party with 49% of the members of Parliament.

It either case, the elections may be "free and fair" but not reflect the choice of the plurality of the people. We can whine about the Electoral college and popular vote but Hillary only received ~48% of cast ballots and that only represents ~20% of the total eligible voters.

Our elections are free and fair- until tampering is proven. Engagement of the voters is a very different issue and we have a mechanism to eliminate the Electoral system if we believe it has become obsolete.

Compare and contrast the two governments of Fidel Castro and Fulgencio Batista, if you dare.

Castro was better than Batista, Mussolini was better than Hitler, Andropov was better than Stalin, what's your point?

Edit history

Please sign in to view edit histories.

Recommendations

0 members have recommended this reply (displayed in chronological order):

49 replies

= new reply since forum marked as read

Highlight:

Without free and open elections a government leader is not legitimate. [View all] Skinner Nov 2016 OP

I hope he enjoys his time in hell! hrmjustin Nov 2016 #1

And if the people in an area don't have the right to freely emigrate from that area.... PoliticAverse Nov 2016 #2

That is why I have so much respect for Daniel Ortega DemocratSinceBirth Nov 2016 #3

Absolutely. Ken Burch Nov 2016 #9

Nuanced views are all too often in short supply, even at DU. bullwinkle428 Nov 2016 #25

Excellent post. nt awoke_in_2003 Nov 2016 #43

You are absolutely right! Punkingal Nov 2016 #4

They escaped for the reason some are saying we lost the election Ligyron Nov 2016 #10

I've known people who PatSeg Nov 2016 #15

"And, then I told him... jberryhill Nov 2016 #5

Here's something I just posted about Cuba's other revolutionaries ... who gave their lives ... eppur_se_muova Nov 2016 #6

Hopefully with him gone and his brother stepping down in 2018... roamer65 Nov 2016 #7

A tyrant who 'means well' is still a tyrant Maeve Nov 2016 #8

Benevolent dictators can be attractive. moondust Nov 2016 #11

These recounts won't legtimize bucolic_frolic Nov 2016 #12

K&R mcar Nov 2016 #13

This message was self-deleted by its author johnp3907 Nov 2016 #14

Right On! kebob Nov 2016 #16

So let me pose this question DAngelo136 Nov 2016 #17

Batista was worse? That's your argument? LOL! MADem Nov 2016 #20

Well said n/t SickOfTheOnePct Nov 2016 #23

Do not assume for an election to be free and fair sarisataka Nov 2016 #26

Here we go with the "we aren't a democracy" BS awoke_in_2003 Nov 2016 #44

Most accurately we have sarisataka Nov 2016 #45

Good post n/t malaise Nov 2016 #34

our government now is legitimate heaven05 Nov 2016 #18

I know a lotta Cubanos. MADem Nov 2016 #19

I thought this would be about Trump. panader0 Nov 2016 #21

Thanks once again SickOfTheOnePct Nov 2016 #22

k&r tammywammy Nov 2016 #24

They had free and fair elections in Chile Bad Dog Nov 2016 #27

"Elections" Uponthegears Nov 2016 #28

Ok then. Why didn't Castro let the Cuban people render their judgement on his rule? Skinner Nov 2016 #30

No doubt a legitimate question Uponthegears Nov 2016 #32

That argument, however, fails at a basic level. Adrahil Nov 2016 #36

"let us not forget" Uponthegears Nov 2016 #39

Given how difficult it was to escape mythology Nov 2016 #47

Well, I guess no more Uponthegears Nov 2016 #49

The US is responsible and should reflect on its own history and actions lostnfound Nov 2016 #29

Castro cannot be held responsible for his own actions because the United States is bad. Skinner Nov 2016 #31

I did not say that! lostnfound Nov 2016 #33

Don''t you know America is never wrong malaise Nov 2016 #35

We just went though an election cycle madokie Nov 2016 #37

You have every reason to worry for your grandchild malaise Nov 2016 #38

I agree with you 100% madokie Nov 2016 #40

Then here's a question I have. Exilednight Nov 2016 #41

Cuba only has one government so obviously that's the one that everyone else has to deal with. Skinner Nov 2016 #42

Pious hypocrites RandiFan1290 Nov 2016 #46

Free and open elections are necessary but not sufficient for legitimacy FarCenter Nov 2016 #48