What on earth have we in common with these crazies?

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-51483541
merseymouth wrote:Morning, I don't think anyone should hold the US of A up as a model of "Democracy"! A joke with 50 varieties.
The simple fact that the Popular Vote is not the determining factor rules that out, sad because it is a simple thing on the ballot paper, "Who do you want as President? But no, they employ a very weird method of finding the answer to that simple question.
In this country we may flag things up as being a choice between party leaders, the reality is of course quite different. So fact is very few people had an opportunity to vote for either Boris or Jezza, the rest of us merely voted in our own constituency member.
The results of a number of US Presidential election may well have had a different outcome if it had been on a Popular Vote basis? MM
Vorpal wrote:So, let's see...
In the USA, voters vote for a leader, but don't elect them.
In the UK, voters don't vote for a leader, but do elect them
Do I have that right?
carpetcleaner wrote:merseymouth wrote:Morning, I don't think anyone should hold the US of A up as a model of "Democracy"! A joke with 50 varieties.
The simple fact that the Popular Vote is not the determining factor rules that out, sad because it is a simple thing on the ballot paper, "Who do you want as President? But no, they employ a very weird method of finding the answer to that simple question.
In this country we may flag things up as being a choice between party leaders, the reality is of course quite different. So fact is very few people had an opportunity to vote for either Boris or Jezza, the rest of us merely voted in our own constituency member.
The results of a number of US Presidential election may well have had a different outcome if it had been on a Popular Vote basis? MM
The US presidential election is not unlike our elections to parliament. The votes cast by the people elect others to vote later on their behalf to decide what happens. Neither are decided on the popular vote.
After the February 1974 election Mr Wilson became PM replacing Mr Heath. Mr Wilson's Labour party got fewer votes than Mr Heath's Conservative party.
I don't remember anyone complaining about that at the time.
Oldjohnw wrote:carpetcleaner wrote:merseymouth wrote:Morning, I don't think anyone should hold the US of A up as a model of "Democracy"! A joke with 50 varieties.
The simple fact that the Popular Vote is not the determining factor rules that out, sad because it is a simple thing on the ballot paper, "Who do you want as President? But no, they employ a very weird method of finding the answer to that simple question.
In this country we may flag things up as being a choice between party leaders, the reality is of course quite different. So fact is very few people had an opportunity to vote for either Boris or Jezza, the rest of us merely voted in our own constituency member.
The results of a number of US Presidential election may well have had a different outcome if it had been on a Popular Vote basis? MM
The US presidential election is not unlike our elections to parliament. The votes cast by the people elect others to vote later on their behalf to decide what happens. Neither are decided on the popular vote.
After the February 1974 election Mr Wilson became PM replacing Mr Heath. Mr Wilson's Labour party got fewer votes than Mr Heath's Conservative party.
I don't remember anyone complaining about that at the time.
Nearly half a century ago. People are a little more aware now.
Actually, there was quite a lot of 'complaining' about it. Edward Heath, the incumbent PM. recognising that his party had (just) gained the plurality (not 'majority') of votes cast, if not of seats won, was most unhappy about the situation. He did his level best to strike a deal with Jeremy Thorpe of the Liberal party, to form a sort of 'anti-Socialist alliance', as it was called. N.b. there was no talk of 'coalition' at that time - that didn't happen until 2010carpetcleaner wrote:After the February 1974 election Mr Wilson became PM replacing Mr Heath. Mr Wilson's Labour party got fewer votes than Mr Heath's Conservative party.
I don't remember anyone complaining about that at the time.
With all respect, I was around and reasonably 'aware' back then. As, I'm sure, you were.Oldjohnw wrote: Nearly half a century ago. People are a little more aware now.
carpetcleaner wrote:Vorpal wrote:So, let's see...
In the USA, voters vote for a leader, but don't elect them.
In the UK, voters don't vote for a leader, but do elect them
Do I have that right?
In both countries the people vote for other people who then choose the leader.
In the US they vote for an electoral college, in the UK they vote for their MPs.
In neither country is a straight popular vote used to choose the leader.
Oldjohnw wrote:No wish to revive the brexit thread but this came across my twitter feed today:Colin Browning (@ColinBrowning14) tweeted at 10:46 am on Thu, Feb 13, 2020:
Absolutely disgusting service at Schiphol airport. 55 minutes we have been stood in the immigration queue. This isn’t the Brexit I voted for.
Colin is getting exactly what he voted for but which he dismissed as project fear.
However, the people spoke.
Ben@Forest wrote:Oldjohnw wrote:No wish to revive the brexit thread but this came across my twitter feed today:Colin Browning (@ColinBrowning14) tweeted at 10:46 am on Thu, Feb 13, 2020:
Absolutely disgusting service at Schiphol airport. 55 minutes we have been stood in the immigration queue. This isn’t the Brexit I voted for.
Colin is getting exactly what he voted for but which he dismissed as project fear.
However, the people spoke.
I'm not sure this has anything to do with Brexit, for a start this should not change during the transition period.
A few years ago when we were firmly in the EU l was in a huge crowd (600+) at Frankfurt Airport waiting to get through border control. Finally a few more BPOL officers looking as if they'd just been told to 'finish their lunch and get out there' (it really was lunchtime) arrived and people started to flow through.
softlips wrote:Ben@Forest wrote:Oldjohnw wrote:No wish to revive the brexit thread but this came across my twitter feed today:
Colin is getting exactly what he voted for but which he dismissed as project fear.
However, the people spoke.
I'm not sure this has anything to do with Brexit, for a start this should not change during the transition period.
A few years ago when we were firmly in the EU l was in a huge crowd (600+) at Frankfurt Airport waiting to get through border control. Finally a few more BPOL officers looking as if they'd just been told to 'finish their lunch and get out there' (it really was lunchtime) arrived and people started to flow through.
Schiphol airport has always taken an age to get through. And nothing has changed since Jan 31st apart from a Union Flag and UK sticker being added to the EU and Swiss lane.
.Oldjohnw wrote:Just to be clear, it was Colin the supporter of brexit who was making the point and blaming voting leave.