UK Politics / Reply to Ann (was Re: Is Umbridge a commentary on British govt. ed

[Goddlefrood]

> Mus:
> I am a voting citizen of a European country which has had only 
> coalition government since 1977, apart from one nine month period 
> in 1982. We function rather well, and for some years have been 
> experiencing astonishing economic growth and prosperity.

Goddlefrood:

That's fantastic, bully for you. I too am a voting member of a 
European country.

> Mus:
> You may be philosophically opposed to the idea of coalition, 
> and there's much to be said for such a position, but it's 
> simply untrue to say that coalitions necessarily function 
> poorly.

Goddlefrood:

Well, that's not exactly what I said, and your example is but 
one of many European countries. Coalitions generally have to 
compromise policies of one or another party within the coalition. 
That's not really controversial, I trust. That coalitions *can* 
function effectively is not something I would argue against.

Giving one example, the country in which I now reside has a 
forced coalition system enshrined in its constitution. Any 
party with more than ten percent of seats in the Parliament 
(it's a preferential voting system that's used, although 
basically first past the post) has to have a proportionate 
number of seats in Government.

This is a system based on others, and my point had been that 
a *forced* coalition situation, as prevails here, and indeed 
elsewhere, is not a good thing because too many policies have 
to be compromised to accommodate the disparate parties. I hope 
that's now clear.