France's Election is Today

[hmkpoker]

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First round of elections only. IT will be Sarkowshy vs Royale, I hope, in the run-off!

I hope Le Pen doesn't get a guernsey this time!

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Even though democracy is ridiculous, I think that this system (where a candidate must win by a true majority) is better than our system. The guarantee of popular-ish candidates making the final running makes it much more sensible to vote for a third party candidate (since if they don't win, it's not going to change the outcome in a negative fashion, i.e. voting green is like voting Republican). Seems to make it easier for people to vote their conscience rather than vote practically, thereby bypassing some of Duverger's law.

[MidGe]

hmkpoker,

I think it is even worse than you make it out to be. The prez of the US is not a people elected official, he is elected by the "Electoral College" whose electors are not bound by the position they took to be popularly elected. My understanding, is that this was designed to ensure that a popular vote would not really upset the real political powers agenda!

I won't even mention the interference from the judiciary in the process! [img]/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]

[Arnfinn Madsen]

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ConstantineX (who I think is libertarian-leaning) and myself are both Americans, but we do not represent the status quo (which is what/whom you were addressing)

I mock the USA for their retarded policies on a regular basis; much moreso than any other country in the world. I am in every position to mock France all I want.

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Lol, I know that. I don't want to take that right away from you. I am just a bit fed up with the France-bashing because it is usually used to prove how left-wing European policies is a failure. Just cross the border into Switzerland, they still speak French they are just more openminded and progressive and thus they don't end up in such big problems. I think that no politics or government can solve France's problems short term now, a mentality change is needed.

[ConstantineX]

Please. There's still a pretty fundamental ideological difference between the psyches of Americans and the French. The French see themselves as entitled to their jobs, while most Americans see success as meritocratic (71% believe capitalism is the best economic system). And I agree we are nominally on the same path, but there are still many people in the US who like low taxes and free enterprise. Hardly a single person in France I've seen quoted has linked their vaunted "French system" with their economic maladies. That's a pretty dramatic disconnect. Even the worst government excesses, like the Iraq War, are a pittance compared to the wealth compounded by the private sector. We'll discuss this later when Americans' real incomes are falling.

[Arnfinn Madsen]

Yes, the difference is huge. As an anecdote I checked in in at a hotel 2 days ago in France and the lights weren't working. So I go downstairs and tell them that the lights aren't working and thus I am leaving for another hotel without paying. He just looks at me like I am the biggest idiot in the world and starts shouting at me. I was driving a car with German number plates and though I am not usually a nit about such things most Germans are and thus he should account for that. Throw people thinking like that into globalism, lol.

My point was more that the same sort of mentality is developing.

[HeavilyArmed]

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I'm rooting for Royal. I want that country to plunge head-first into the crapper as soon as possible, and I would love for a woman to help them do it. Especially before our presidential election.

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Can this happen?

Something to root for as I continue to live a nearly 100% french-free life.

[Arnfinn Madsen]

It is quite democratic, but to make it really democratic I think they would need to add a 3rd round somehow. Reaching the 2nd round is a bit too dependant upon not having similar candidates contesting you.

[Arnfinn Madsen]

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Something to root for as I continue to live a nearly 100% french-free life.

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Even if it can be bad to live there in many regards, it is still a wonderful country to visit and they make great food and great wine, so french-free life sounds like a beat.

[Metric]

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I'm rooting for Royal. I want that country to plunge head-first into the crapper as soon as possible, and I would love for a woman to help them do it. Especially before our presidential election.

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I am with you -- hope Royal wins. The "conservative" candidate won't be able to make any real changes -- he'll merely slow the inevitable. France needs to become a serious object lesson for the world's economies -- the sooner and the more dramatic the better. Get the pain over with ASAP and get a new generation of people who have a different take on government and socialism.

[canis582]

Given the recent trend in Europe, Royal will win.

Most recently, neocons(presidents who take their orders from Bushco) have been routed from power in Italy and Spain. I expect this trend to continue despite tremdous pressure on France's citizenry from the corporate French media to vote against their own interests.