NationStates Jolt Archive

It is rather surprising with all the rally around your politician talk that goes on these days.

Seems rather mean spirited as well. Maybe I just had rose colored glasses on during previous elections.....

Maybe it is time for a none of the above option?

A big warning flag for problems is the fact people seem to vote(exclude the party fanatics of course) along the lines of who is going to do the least amount of damange.

Could a None of the Above work?

The two parties are most assuridly against it as it would eliminate the people they want.

What do you think?

I think the creation of a viable third party will be one of the greatest accomplishments of the current generation. Voting none of the above is throwing your vote away. Voting for Nader is throwing your vote away. I hope it won't be like that in 20 years.

Western democracies seem all to work on a two-party system. You get either Coke or Pepsi. The None-of-the-Above option would make it more likely for the populace to get their hands on some shandy or even cider, and we can't have that, now can we?

I have three words for you INSTANT RUNOFF ELECTIONS.

IF you don't know how they work, check out this thread.
http://forums2.jolt.co.uk/showthread.php?t=340127&highlight=runoff

I'd love to have it as an option, assuming there was also an IRV option of some sort.

what would be the point of a none of the above option? you could also just stay home on election day...

what would be the point of a none of the above option? you could also just stay home on election day...

It shows the difference between apathy and a new niche in the market.

Western democracies seem all to work on a two-party system. You get either Coke or Pepsi. The None-of-the-Above option would make it more likely for the populace to get their hands on some shandy or even cider, and we can't have that, now can we?

that's not really true - it mostly happens in places with first-past-the-post election systems. a large percentage western 'democracies' have some system of proportional representation in them, which invariably leads to multiparty states. and i think the russian federation has a "none of the above" option, which doesn't really matter since their important elections are rigged anyways.

I’ve suggested this before. I’ve got some support, but not much. It will help ensure that politicians stay legit. Or so I claim. In all practicality it probably wouldn’t work out the way I’d hope it to be.
:(

that's not really true - it mostly happens in places with first-past-the-post election systems. a large percentage western 'democracies' have some system of proportional representation in them, which invariably leads to multiparty states. and i think the russian federation has a "none of the above" option, which doesn't really matter since their important elections are rigged anyways.


I don't know, have America, the U.K. or Australia ever had a third party in government?

Interesting, I was talking to a Brit friend of mine yesterday about this very thing. I will not vote for a Pub or Dem for President (and I really don't care what people say about oh that is just voting for..no it isn't). Now if we had this choice of saying none of the above to say hey we really are getting sick and tired of the pisspoor way the two major parties are doing thigns maybe then things might change. Until there is a third option things won't change, we will continue to have all the back biting sniping BS that we have now. Neither party gives two shits about the people, I think it is time the people told them that we don't give two shits for them either. I like the idea of a None of the above option, it says you care enough to go vote but there isn't anyone worth YOUR time to vote for.

Maybe it is time for a none of the above option?

A third candidate who cannot win...
That would be Nader.

I don't know, have America, the U.K. or Australia ever had a third party in government?

yes. but more importantly, those are three of the main first past the post systems (well, australia uses irv for the lower house and some semi-proportional system for the senate, and i don't know what the british do with the house of lords these days, but in general).

I don't know, have America, the U.K. or Australia ever had a third party in government?

The Republicans. [Beat the Whigs out as a main party].

Nowadays it's a major accomplushment to win a single state as a third-party candidate... Republicans won the entire presidency...

The Republicans. [Beat the Whigs out as a main party].

Nowadays it's a major accomplushment to win a single state as a third-party candidate... Republicans won the entire presidency...

Ah. Fair enough, then - although it was quite a long time ago. I always thought the Whigs kind of morphed into the Republicans.