If you are in the US this post won't apply to you, since you only have a choice between two parties. But in germany we have at least 6 major parties with a realistic chance to win at least enough votes to be part of our Bundestag. But in the past germans have been lazy and usually voted in a big majority for one of 3 parties. The other 3 play the role of the opposition, and usually everyone is fine with that "system".
I always ask people why they don't want to vote for one of the smaller parties, and the usual response is that they just don't trust them to do the job. I then usually reply that the main difference between the bigger parties and the smaller ones is that the bigger ones have proven that they are unable or unwilling to do the job. Therefore it should be the logical choice to go for the ones who at least havn't had the chance of screwing up yet.
But well, logic has nothing to do with it ... it's politics, stupid ...
May I remind you of a certain dialogue: "Why don't you like that politician?" Answer: "He's a liar; they are all liars." If no one cares to think reasonably when it comes to politics, why would anyone bother to apply logic to the process of voting?
ReplyDeleteInteresting post. I didn't know that about your country's political system. We do have what we call "third parties" or independents. I think that the two main parties are so corrupt--so entrenched and connected that we need to oust them. BUT...if you ask an American why, if they agree with a third-party candidate, they don't vote for him, they will usually tell you "That would just be throwing away my vote--they will never get elected."
ReplyDeleteHmmm...go figure???