What do you do ... absolutely.

[Charles Fiterman]

At 01:50 PM 11/2/98 +1000, you wrote:
>
>I just know that this thread is going to start marginalising one little
>antipodean socialist pretty soon. Oh well; American politics is so
>self-assured of its importance that I guess it should be covered just as
>megalomaniacally on a sort-of-an-international-list as on a totally
>domestic one.

In discussing Democratic process it is vital to discuss it where
it does marginally or even badly as well as where it does well. 
Times change and a country that was the example to the world of
free elections can become the example of how they break down.

Therefore election news from the United States and even Colombia
are key considerations. You want to know how people cheat and
scheme or you can't stop them. Republicans, Nazis and Communists
should be studied in schools as bad examples.

My posting of American election problems is therefore an
anti megalomania. I'm saying look at how things break down.
How can you protect yourselves?

For one thing voting rules should only be changed by
a referenda. Elected officials should never get a shot
at changing the rules of election.