h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

In the UK the argument is about local representation - which I can understand if you are going to have one person representing your area then the person with the most votes takes the seat.

This of course leads to the wierdness of a situation where 51% of the seats being won by a tiny margin by Pary A but the 49% being won by a huge margin by Party B. The minority party (B) gets the majority of votes.

Ouch!

Dr Watson bit me. I think I've been warned off politics!

Ah well, I guess that might be a good idea sir...

*Places a cup of nice hot before Hellie*

Evening, Lady P!

*Throws a peanut high in the air, turns to , then nonchalantly closes his eyes and tilts his head back, opening his mouth to catch the downrushing peanut. Peanut bounces off his nose and on to the floor*

Hmmm

The reason I've most commonly heard for the electoral college system is that Thomas Jefferson thought there should be some sort of safety device built into the system: a tier of qualified electors, experienced and educated, above the great unwashed masses, just in case those masses went crazy and elected a tyrant or a lunatic or a moron. In which case the electors could oppose the decision and force another election, or simply pick someone else.

Makes you think. Deeply undemocratic, of course, but there you go ... the electors seem to have forgotten the point of it, in any case.

Hi!

*Is about to say something about the electorate college electing a moron but changes her mind*

*Places a new bowl of peanuts on the bar, seeing as the first one is almost empty*

Hi!

*Is about to say something about the electorate college electing a moron but changes her mind*

*Places a new bowl of peanuts on the bar, seeing as the first one is almost empty*

(sorry if this posts twice)

*Has another go. Misses entirely, the peanut bouncing off his eyebrow this time*

Peanuts keep falling on my head

"wanders in, looks around... not been here for a while"........
plz....

*Gets some more bowls of peanuts, just in case. And a broom too, also just in case*

Oh, sorry ma'am! Coming right up!

thanx lady P... you can borrow my broom if you wish...

No need ma'am, thanks...

is anyone else experiencing probs with posts????
i posted here earlier but never showed...

anyway... i'm off now... thanx for your hospitality....

*still * I'm getting losto f'server errors.

I'm paraphrasing here... " anyone who shows the slightest apptitude for or desire to be involved in politics should be immediately banned form taking part!"

Oo, yeah, that should be some sort of law!

unfortunately the very people who would get this on the statute books are the ones banned by it

*looks meancingly at ferrets in case they get frisky again.*
Many local politicians are virtually selected against their will. Parties have great problems getting people to stand for election at a local level (I'm not talking national politics here). Imagine a local council with 60 or 70 seats - each party has to find 60 or 70 people to stand for election - even for the seats that they are unlikely to win as you never give the opposition a free ride if you can help it.

So the 3 major UK parties have to find over 200 local people amongn them. Then the Greens, BNP, UKIP or whoever come along and more people are needed.

Then the problems really start when someone who didn't want to stand and is only willing to stand in an unwinnable seat (so that they won't be a local politician) by some fluke gets elected! You now have an unwilling person in a position they never wanted. In my experience they often don't attend meetings or provide any services for their constituents which means that everyone is worse off. They generally resign at the first possible opportunity which nobody wants.

*All ferrets nip him very heard below the elasticated belt of his y-fronts*

I couldn't help myself - gerroff!

*walks in to the sounds of Handel's 'Water Music'*

I'll have a pint of non-specific, please.
I'd also like to invite people to visit or perhaps become members of the new online monastery here at H2G2; "Monasterio Aracronis".

Its open to cyber tourists looking for a peaceful retreat. You can watch the monks go about there business and just relax. If you are so inclined, you can be ordained a monk/nun there if you wish.

I'll see you there!

Wow.

*To Vestboy* Oh, that must have hurt, Mr. Vestie... can I get you anything?

*To Neri Acaro* A pint of non-specific? Would that be more like this or like this ? Or perhaps ?