Reply #19: Yes, when Jean-Marie Le Pen was elected to the French Parliament... [View All]

[Paschall]

...that was not a good thing. Full proportional representation can block all government action. As it stands the slating of lists of candidates in France is generally abused. Most parties put big names out front, then those candidates withdraw after the election to leave the representative's post to a stand-in. On the other hand, this type of system works when parties are strong and exert a certain amount of discipline over their members. Loose cannons either bolt and form their own party or buckle to the party organization, which--if it is democratic--is not necessarily bad. Currently, the French Socialists have democratic house rules; Chirac's conservatives operate more on the good ole boy/smoke-filled room model.

The poster above who mentioned that Berlusconi was a product of one or another electoral system is overlooking Mr. Media's wealth and media influence. Not a fair analysis.

I think the jist of this thread is that we might do something to favor a truly multi-party system in the US. There I strongly agree. But I think campaign financing is the more pressing issue.