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So how does your government work?
danny_galaga:
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--- Quote from: danny_galaga on February 22, 2005, 09:09:15 am ---oz is much the same, except that WE'VE had a leader sacked by our governor general (and hence by the queen)!!
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When I was in OZ in May 04 & Dec 03, I remember reading how there is a big movement to remove the Union Jack from the Australian flag.
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jbox:
Australia
I agree that little johnny spiked the referendum, but on the whole it was just a "change the flag" anyway (ie. a diversion from domestic issues). >:(
And before certain people wet themselves with their excitement, (;D) we also protect the 'sovereignty' of our states, we just do it in a way which "smooths out perterbations, and also gives a clearer winner". We have set it up so that the PM in this country is taken from the party which got democratically elected based on the total national population (clear winner), but in order to then actually pass any *legislation* they must have support from the state representatives (protection from the 'big' states). That is, out of our two houses one is based on simple population and the other is not (all states have equal numbers, territories have a few guys as well). So while people living in Sydney complain that people in Hobart have 'unfair' representation in one house, each of their single votes count exactly the same as each other for deciding who is actually in charge. 8)
At the moment Australia has 4 main parties, and several bits and pieces (in order of current strength):
Liberals - believe that strong businesses are most important
Labour - believe that strong unions are most important
Nationals - believe that strong farmers are most important
Greens - believe that breathing is most important
Family First - believe that religion is most important
Democrats - believe in destroying their own party
One Nation - believe that suburbia is most important
Socialists - believe that the other parties suck
Independants - " " " " " "
The Liberal/National alliance is currently "in government", although the Liberals are damn close to having the numbers by themselves. Come July the government will have more control over the country than any other for over 20 years. :'(
By contrast, most (all?) state governments are currently Labour dominated. Generally certain matters are supposed to be left completely to the states themselves, but the current federal government is doing its best to basically run a Liberal agenda at the state level as well by using the "over-ride" clause in ways it wasn't supposed to. Not that Labour never did, as it is often the case that the states and the country have different parties in charge, which gives me some small hope people aren't complete idiots. :-\
Unfortunately right now the federal Labour party is in shambles because they are too busy trying to blame each other for their complete slaughter last election than to actually re-unite and be an actual opposition to the government. I would hope that even the staunchest supporters of the Liberal party would agree that it is bad to not have *anyone* holding them to account for whatever it is they're currently up to. ???
We have compulsory voting, which is good because the government does try to pander to as many people as possible then. And we use IRV, which is good because then *most* of our votes count no matter who wins. Personally, I would prefer something a little more mathematically safe (like condercet), but I doubt that will get changed any time in the near future. ::)
We currently have a 1.5 tiered health care system, guarenteed low-interest government loans for university, a GST, gerrymandering, a heap of petrol tax, a conservative media, lots of Kangaroos and the metric system. :) The vast majority of Australians opposed the Iraq war, but are still afraid of foreigners (they call them "boat people" and "illegal refugees") so they kept Johnny in power anyway. Sorry about that. :-[
--- Quote --- so is the queen your figurehead as well? having no real power but is on all your money?
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Actually, a court case can *theoretically* be appealed back to England, but our court system has to approve the appeal first, so it is never going to happen.
--- Quote --- oz is much the same, except that WE'VE had a leader sacked by our governor general (and hence by the queen)!!
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Just to be clear about this - the governor general dissolved the government because they failed to pass their BUDGET and the PM refused to step down to make way for a more moderate leader (who could get the extra senator or two on side with a compromise budget). It's not like the PM beat him at golf one day so he decided to get even! :)
Anyone want any sand?
danny_galaga:
--- Quote from: jbox on February 22, 2005, 08:08:42 pm ---Australia
By contrast, most (all?) state governments are currently Labour dominated.
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all
--- Quote ---Just to be clear about this - the governor general dissolved the government because they failed to pass their BUDGET and the PM refused to step down to make way for a more moderate leader (who could get the extra senator or two on side with a compromise budget). It's not like the PM beat him at golf one day so he decided to get even! :)
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yeah, so....oz is much the same, except that WE'VE had a leader sacked by our governor general (and hence by the queen)!! ;)
doesn't matter why, it still happened. the liberals could see that if they pushed and kept supply blocked then something freaky would happen...
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fredster:
--- Quote ---(no flaming others--there are enough other threads for that)
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Man, that is funny.
Make a thread about the function of government and expect on one to flame. Wow. :-X
Flame baiting - "So how does your government work?"
menace:
Fredster--do you appreciate the irony that the only "flame baiting" in this thread was done by you talking about no "flame baiting"?
So far (as expected) most people are flaming their own governments :D--I find it interesting to see how other people's democracies are set up--cause you always think there must be a better way but after review we all have the same problems--just in slightly different fashions.
One thing I've admired about the US system is the fixed terms in office and the fact that more officials are elected as opposed to appointed. Our senate is the biggest sham in history--100+ people with exceptional power who have absolutely no obligation to the voters--and we pay them large sums of money to do this--best job in the world if you can get it i guess...
What made me think of this was every now and again some canadian comdey show gets it in their head to send a guy down south and ask them questions about canada--virtually no one knew how canada was organized--some even congratulated us on our move to a 24hr clock (up from the 20hr clock they thought we were using ???) I'm still curious how other european countries work (aside from the obvious google answers)