Re: a victory of sorts in india...

[k hanly <khanly@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Huh. Many parliamentary systems have first past the post systems and not
systems of proportional representation etc. Canada for example, and the UK.
I believe Australia and New Zealand use this system as well but I am not
positive. While this system is a disadvantage for smaller parties it hasnt
kept third parties from getting seats or even forming the government in
provinces in Canada.

The Communists (CPI-M) and CPI did very well in Kerala. The left won 18 of
20 seats.

Cheers, Ken Hanly


----- Original Message -----
From: "Louis Proyect" <lnp3@xxxxxxxxx>
To: <PEN-L@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Thursday, May 13, 2004 1:28 PM
Subject: Re: a victory of sorts in india...


> > No, but yesterday there would have been plenty around
> > to tell us how voting Communist Party (of your choice)
> > would throw the election to the BJP.
> >
> > Shane
>
> Not really. India, like most civilized countries, has a parliamentary
> system. This means that all parties can get some representation no
> matter how small. The USA has a "winner take all" system that was if not
> designed to marginalize smaller parties certainly has that effect. That
> being said, it is fascinating to see the similarities between John
> Kerry, the Congress Party and Putin. They all represent something not
> quite as bad as the party to the right. With the deepening crisis of
> world capitalism, you can be sure that lesser-evil scenarios for
> "stopping fascism" will be played out until either the world blows
> itself up or we finally expropriate the expropriators.
>
> --
>
> The Marxism list: www.marxmail.org