Article

2005-04-14 Caucasus/Russia/Central Asia

Putin Proposes Stringent New Electoral Rules

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Posted by Anonymoose 2005-04-14 4:59:04 PM|| || Front Page|| [11135 views since 2007-05-07] Top

#1 I have no doubt that, regardless of any impressions otherwise, this is just another step in the long-term plan leading to Tsar Putty's coronation.

Posted by .com 2005-04-14 5:50:28 PM|| 2005-04-14 5:50:28 PM|| Front Page Top

#2 This appears to be a move to strengthen political parties and decrease the influence of individuals. Good for democracy IMHO.

Posted by phil_b 2005-04-14 7:17:12 PM|| 2005-04-14 7:17:12 PM|| Front Page Top

#3 And, for all the marbles...

Which is easier to control:
1) Parties
2) Individuals

[Play something similar to Final Jeopardy music here while you ponder...]

Posted by .com 2005-04-14 8:01:06 PM|| 2005-04-14 8:01:06 PM|| Front Page Top

#4 OK, I'll bite. There are really two questions here. One is, are individuals easier to control inside or outside strong political parties? Clearly they are easier to control outside strong parties, since getting members to agree to and stick to a program is pretty much the sole function of a political party. The other question is, is it easier to control large numbers of individuals (a majority) with strong political parties (implicitly without agreeing to their program)? I would argue no, for the same reason as in question one, it is directly contrary to why political parties exist.

Posted by phil_b 2005-04-14 9:28:43 PM|| 2005-04-14 9:28:43 PM|| Front Page Top

#5 Seattle's Kings County Dems have a lot they could teach Vlad about winning regardless of the vote count

Posted by Frank G 2005-04-14 9:43:31 PM|| 2005-04-14 9:43:31 PM|| Front Page Top

#6 I think an individual election system is healthier for democracy because each member of the legislature has their own base of power (electoral district) and must answer to their electorate. In a party slate, the party leaders control whether a candidate is on a list or not. In that case, their power, privilege and loyalty is to the party bosses, and leads to an easily abused concentration of power.

I think the greatest flaw in the Iraqi electoral system is this party slate. The parliament and executive branch members are chosen by the leaders of DAWA, SCIRI, PKK, etc., and only indirectly by the voters.

Posted by ed 2005-04-14 9:45:15 PM|| 2005-04-14 9:45:15 PM|| Front Page Top

#7 Stalin wrote the book. King County Dems are amateurs.

Posted by ed 2005-04-14 9:47:15 PM|| 2005-04-14 9:47:15 PM|| Front Page Top

#8 Putin Proposes Stringent New Electoral Rules

"When I or any of my flunkies run for office, you will vote for us, and no one else."

Posted by Bomb-a-rama 2005-04-14 10:59:46 PM|| 2005-04-14 10:59:46 PM|| Front Page Top

#9 Putin's a puppet. Mark my word: he's not likely to survive his term, esp if oil prices decline.

The real power center in that country is in an alliance of two sets of "oligarchs," those outside the government who kowtow to it, and those inside the government who set the rules.

The latter group includes heavy representation from the security services-- ie the figures who found and promoted Putin and who dominate his government now. Think of Putin as Musharraf in whiteface.

Posted by thibaud (aka lex) 2005-04-14 11:26:28 PM|| 2005-04-14 11:26:28 PM|| Front Page Top

15:50 its me
23:38 Sock Puppet 0â Doom
23:28 thibaud (aka lex)
23:28 Laurence of the Rats
23:26 thibaud (aka lex)
23:14 Bomb-a-rama
23:05 trailing wife
23:03 trailing wife
22:59 Bomb-a-rama
22:58 trailing wife
22:57 Bomb-a-rama
22:55 trailing wife
22:53 Sobiesky
22:53 Frank G
22:45 Silentbrick
22:44 Bomb-a-rama
22:43 Sock Puppet 0â Doom
22:39 Frank G
22:37 Sobiesky
22:37 SteveS
22:34 Bomb-a-rama
21:50 Bomb-a-rama
21:48 Frank G
21:47 ed