Elections in the Netherlands

[Witchkingx5]

Today were Netherland's elctions. Who did you vote for?

[FM]

Isn't the vote supposed to be secret?

[Witchkingx5]

Yes, but I'm very interested in elections and politics, so...

[SomeRandomDude]

Isn't the vote supposed to be secret?

Vote is secret in the USA too, but most people are fairly straightforward about everyone they vote for. Secrecy is a right, not a requirement.

[Gil-Estel]

Well, the elections weren't for the central government, though it is being used since 2 weeks ago the government fell. The elections were for local government. They were exciting in a way, because there were two major components:

- How would the fall of the government reflect the voter's opinion
- What would happen to Geert Wilders and his Party of Freedom

This last party was participating in 2 major cities and least to say there is some argument going on regarding this party. The most important subject of this party is emphasising the danger of Islam, thereby deviding the country almost in 2 opposite camps. It is weird, and also historical not surprising that such a minority, (about 6% of the dutch is muslim, and just a very small percentage of them may cause a threat to our society) can play such an important roll in an election. And that all the trouble in our country with the economic crisis and such, is supposed to be delt with by a party that has almost only one topic: Islam and the prevention of more muslims coming to the Netherlands.....sigh.
Of course it can be said - and it should be- that the parties that are in control and have been in control have been somewhat arogant, ignoring the people it seems and allowing a gap to rise between politics and people. Which is in my mind, the biggest threat to democracy: people not participating and government not listening. I must say though, that this is an opinion, a feeling, more than an empiric right founded conclusion.
These are exciting times in the Netherlands. What will happen when the political landscape is being scathered as it is going to be. What if the society hardens? 2 main political rights are more and more confronted with eachother: freedom of speech and freedom of religion. And the latter seems to be losing.

[Smeagollum]

I didn't vote. The party I would have vote for wasn't elecatable in my local government: I would have voted party for the animals. Secondly I didn't vote, because I was just out of hospital.

Third: I thinkg Geert Wilders PVV is a big threat. They don't like to be called neo-nazzies, but if you compare them good enough there enough simularities with by example the ndsap.

What I think will happen is that we'll have a national election on the 9th of june and then a few months later a new one, because either the new government falls or the different factions were not able to make a government. In any case I hope for a left orientated government.

[FM]

Isn't the vote supposed to be secret?

Vote is secret in the USA too, but most people are fairly straightforward about everyone they vote for. Secrecy is a right, not a requirement.

Hence, the joke.

[Witchkingx5]

Nice to see some interesting replies in here!

Actually, the whole muslim thing comes from here: Switzerland. I'm only 16, so I can't vote, but there was a minarett-iniciative a coupleof months ago. But first, let me explain you our (nearly) perfekt democratic systems. Just stay on your seats, inhabitants of the US, cus' yuor freedom is nothing compared to our system:

Everybody can suggest a law in Switzerland. Just everybody. Depending on the law, you have to get a specific number of signatures from swiss people over 18  , for smaller laws, 50'000 for Basic Laws, 100'000. (Just keep in mind Switzerland has just 7 millions inhabitnats when your looking at those numbers.) When you get enough votes, the law goes to the popular vote. That means, that every single swiss man or swiss woman over 18 get's a sheet of paper into his mailbox, and then can vote pro or against the law. You can also let the people decide to just delete a law, and depending on how important it is, 75% of all people and of the both parliaments most vote against it.

We'll, thisd was just a small part of our legal system; everybody can become politican and can make laws, even the poorest (which aren't represented so much in here, btw) and our 7 ministers ca't make a law without either let the parliament or the people decide about it.

But back tothe topic, minaretts are forbidden in Switzerland. There's no reason why, but there are, and that's a little problem; everybody can make laws, and if they get accepted, then... you know what happened... incitement of the people and so on...

[Smeagollum]

Don't agree with you about the muzlim thing is comming from Switzerland. I'm afraid the discussion started already years ago, not sure where, but we were already talking bout it since Pim Fortuyn and actually already before that.

[Witchkingx5]

Don't agree with you about the muzlim thing is comming from Switzerland. I'm afraid the discussion started already years ago, not sure where, but we were already talking bout it since Pim Fortuyn and actually already before that.

The debate in Switzerland also started about 5 or 6 years ago, and it always takes a couple of years to make a law in here, so I'm not really sure who was first.

America is not a democracy. It is a Federalist government.
-wtk

I did't mean that, I thought of something like "the american dream" when talking about freedom.

[legolas3333]

America is not a democracy. It is a Federalist government.
-wtk

It is officially a Constitutional Federated Republic

but, in practice it is a democracy.

[Smeagollum]

Uhmm here is a statement to discuss: Democracy does not exist.

[legolas3333]

Uhmm here is a statement to discuss: Democracy does not exist.

from dictionary.com

government by the people; a form of government in which the supreme power is vested in the people and exercised directly by them or by their elected agents under a free electoral system.

America's government is composed of elected agents who directly control the government, so, it is a democracy.

[Smeagollum]

Uhmm here is a statement to discuss: Democracy does not exist.

from dictionary.com

government by the people; a form of government in which the supreme power is vested in the people and exercised directly by them or by their elected agents under a free electoral system.

America's government is composed of elected agents who directly control the government, so, it is a democracy.

Is that what the greek word demos and cratos means? And can you decide who is a candidate or do you need money for that for a campaign?

[legolas3333]

Uhmm here is a statement to discuss: Democracy does not exist.

from dictionary.com

government by the people; a form of government in which the supreme power is vested in the people and exercised directly by them or by their elected agents under a free electoral system.

America's government is composed of elected agents who directly control the government, so, it is a democracy.

Is that what the greek word demos and cratos means? And can you decide who is a candidate or do you need money for that for a campaign?

You can vote for anyone in the United States.