Is it time for a new system?
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Date Posted:
August-30-2010 11:21
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So…how about that election, eh? Good one for the Greens. Independents, too. As for the two major parties, it was nothing to write home about. There was no winner. The public didn’t seem to care much for it, either. Preliminary figures from the AEC show that 5.64 per cent of people cast donkey votes – the highest percentage recorded since 1984.
The nation is currently in the throes of a hung parliament and theories about how to solve the problem abound. Independent MP Rob Oakeshott raised the idea of a multi-party government. This system has worked in Canada, France and Germany (among other countries) in the past and might not be a bad idea. At the very least, it’ll shake things up and reduce the apathy among Australian voters.
We’ve got another idea, though. Why don’t we try out some of the more (in)famous political systems through history instead of settling for one that might turn out to be shit?
Feudalism
This is the political version of survival of the fittest, except the fittest are the most socio-economically prominent. Lords (the rich) give a fief (piece of land) to vassals (select folk who pledge allegiance to the Lord) and they all live happily ever after… we think? Considering most FHM staff are in the middle income bracket, this isn’t our system of choice. We’re nobody’s vassal!
Dictatorship
One person controls the country with unlimited power. It’s cool if the leader is a nice person with a social conscience i.e. a Tony Stark type. Then again, you might get a leader like Hitler or Mussolini, which doesn’t end well for anyone – even the leader. In ancient Roman times, the Senate kept a lid on the dictator’s power, of which we approve. They kept Caesar in check by stabbing him 23 times, of which we don’t approve.
Anarchy
Not really a political system – more a lack thereof. In the case of the French Revolution, it was a means to an end. Chaos filled the streets in the quest for liberty and the thwarting of unpopular ideas. In Australia’s case, the disillusioned voting public could raid Parliament House, cast out the pollies and re-write the Constitution accordingly.
Theocracy
A god or god-like figure is seen as the head of state and the institution representing that deity governs on its behalf. OK, so Iran and Israel are a little more problematic than we’d like, but the Vatican City seems like a nice place. The majority of crimes are petty and committed by outsiders (so we’d need to keep those strict border controls), living standards are good and the economy is stable. Assuming the deity we instate supports cheaper imported beer and abolishes work on Monday, we’re in.
Do any of these systems appeal? What political system do you think Australia should adopt? Grab this month's copy of FHM to see if we printed your correspondence and you could win a prize!
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