Well, some are markedly more democratic than others. I still wouldn’t give the US high marks for democracy, but “The ability for the majority of the population to freely choose a candidate of their choice” is miles ahead of “There is one candidate and the Central Committee approved them”, even with all the other fuckery that goes on.
Independents are allowed to run without the approval of the party, as are third parties in the US system. Furthermore, the two party ‘central committees’ choose the candidates through primary votes. That’s a pretty vast fucking difference.
You are right in that I wouldn’t consider the US system as bad at giving individuals a voice as the Chinese/Russian systems. It is actually worse than the Hungarian system even afte Orbán fucked it up even more though.
How many of those primaries happened before the previous election? If I run as an independent, will I get the same campaign resources as the other parties? Otherwise the whole election and the mandate is only about as meaningful as that of Orbán. I don’t consider Hungary a democracy, it’s an electoral autocracy.
Well, some are markedly more democratic than others. I still wouldn’t give the US high marks for democracy, but “The ability for the majority of the population to freely choose a candidate of their choice” is miles ahead of “There is one candidate and the Central Committee approved them”, even with all the other fuckery that goes on.
I’ll be honest with you, “there are two candidates and the two party central comittees approved them” sounds only marginally better.
Independents are allowed to run without the approval of the party, as are third parties in the US system. Furthermore, the two party ‘central committees’ choose the candidates through primary votes. That’s a pretty vast fucking difference.
You are right in that I wouldn’t consider the US system as bad at giving individuals a voice as the Chinese/Russian systems. It is actually worse than the Hungarian system even afte Orbán fucked it up even more though.
How many of those primaries happened before the previous election? If I run as an independent, will I get the same campaign resources as the other parties? Otherwise the whole election and the mandate is only about as meaningful as that of Orbán. I don’t consider Hungary a democracy, it’s an electoral autocracy.
I mean, that’s my main point of contention. Beyond that I’m not trying to say much.
The US?? That’s laughable. There is already systems in place to make it difficult for certain demographics to vote, and it’s getting worse: https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/why-voting-rights-groups-warn-the-save-act-may-make-it-harder-for-married-women-to-vote