Vote For Anonymous In Iraq! This Is A Democratic Election?

[Itsthetruth]

The names of most candidates running for the Iraqi National Assembly are not even listed on the ballots! And little or no information is being circulated to voters on what any of the candidates stand for, even for those few who have their names on the so-called ballots!

Could anyone seriously say we had an election in the United States if "candidates" running for Congress did not have their names on the ballots and if not a single piece of literature was circulated indicating what the candidates (named and un-named) stand for?

If an anonymous candidate demands a recount in a close election that should be a laugher. Exactly how do you conduct a recount for candidates who are not identified by name on the ballots?

The odds are pretty good that a lot ballot stuffing will take place in southern Iraq and the Kurdish north. That will also help to inflate the Bush government figures on the number of people who actually vote for "anonymous".

My prediction:

Anonymous will win the election in a landslide!

[LSdemocrat]

1. In many countries with proportional representation you vote for a party

Granted, most of the time that's on the second ballot (the first is generally for your district's legislator) and one can easily find out who the second ballot representatives are for each party, but this type of thing really isn't that uncommon in many systems.

Also note that in most countries with this type of system individual legislators RARELY vote against their party.

[Inland]

2. So what are people voting for, if not people, platforms, issues, etc?

Pretty much leaves tribal i.d., religious affiliation.

And when the reps are in power, what policies do they have the backing of the people to enact?

Those that help the tribe or sect.

Poor Bush. His understanding of democracy is so shallow, so limited, that the best he wants to do is project the worst failures of American politics on Iraq.

[Inland]

3. Clearing up a misunderstanding you have

The Iraqi election is by party lists, that is, you vote for a party only and the list is an order of that party's candidates from one to ex. The more votes for a party, the farther it goes down on the list for winners. Israel does the same for its parliament.

[fob]

4. I believe his name is Anu Namus, they wouldn't have an election

without the ability to KNOW who the candidates are! Afterall this is bush*-style freedumb and dumbocracy.

/madness