This weekend's close elections | 32 comments (32 topical, 0 editorial, 0 hidden)

Just one nitpick :) (none / 0)

Personally, I would prefer that there have to be coalitions, rather than potentially have 49.9% of the people not be represented at all,...

It can even get worse!
The "49.9%" is only true in a real two party system.
Look at the British elections this year. The Labour party got 55% of the seats with only 35% of the votes.

http://www.psr.keele.ac.uk/area/uk/uktable.htm

by Detlef (Detlef1961_at_yahoo_dot_de) on Mon Sep 19th, 2005 at 12:41:40 PM EST

FPTP can have splits, too. (none / 0)

Bill Clinton got elected with only about 43% of the vote. This didn't lead to a coalition government, because we elect the President directly.

In Congress there are only two parties, but the President might be from the party that is a minority in Congress. That seems to be the case about half the time...

by asdf on Mon Sep 19th, 2005 at 02:32:48 PM EST
[ Parent ]

nipicking, part II (none / 0)

The US president is elected by the electoral college, not direct popular vote.

Most of the time Congress is in the hands of the opposition. The present situation with both branches of Congress and the White House in Republican hands is rare. Throw in the Supreme Court and the Media, and just hope it's a fleeting moment.

by de Gondi (publiobestia aaaatttthotmaildaughtusual) on Mon Sep 19th, 2005 at 06:17:16 PM EST
[ Parent ]

This weekend's close elections | 32 comments (32 topical, 0 editorial, 0 hidden)

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