Israeli Election

[I spent the winter writing songs about getting better]

I'm normally against a threshold, but a higher one in Israel isn't a bad idea, since in the past it resulted in all sorts of wacko nutjob parties getting in with about 1.1% of the vote. Hell, even Kahane served in the Knesset at one point.

[I spent the winter writing songs about getting better]

The notion of a centrist party led by Sharon ... yeah well, I still find it hard to wrap my mind around that.

This party will probably be more like the UAC than a true centrist party, especially if Peres joins like rumored. But hey, anything to get Likud out.

[I spent the winter writing songs about getting better]

How is the Knesset elected?

National list PR; % of votes = % of seats.

The most putrid of voting systems

Dave

I like it, but by far the worst is the way Japan does it (or used to, I'm not sure if they switched.) That's the only thing that could possibly make FPTP look good.

The way it is is that you have multiple-member districts (I think it's 4 apeice) and each voter has only one vote. The top 4 vote getters win. So the only thing that matters is being the party best at coordinating tactical voters. No wonder the LDP can't be beaten.

[I spent the winter writing songs about getting better]

So what type of government will we see? Not enough seats for a Kadima-Labour coalition. Could Shinui or that new splinter party of Shinui join in?

[I spent the winter writing songs about getting better]

What about Hetz (the part that split from Shinui)? They look just like Shinui so far and are probably closer to Kadima than anyone else actually.

[I spent the winter writing songs about getting better]

Wow, Likud got smashed. I'm happy

[I spent the winter writing songs about getting better]

Meretz and Likud in the same governing coalition? I can't see the logic behind that at all.

[I spent the winter writing songs about getting better]

What would be the point of each party putting the party they disagree with far more in just to keep Kadima out?

[I spent the winter writing songs about getting better]

Ironically Labor's 20th seat holder is a Muslim Arab.

A Druze. A Druze is not a Muslim.

They consider themselves to be Muslims, although most Muslims don't. Comparable to Mormons perhaps.