Despite all the hoopla surrounding the US primaries, there have been a few other elections in the world that don't get nearly as much attention. It seems that Dimitris Christofias of AKEL (Progressive Party of Working People) has won the Cypriot Presidential elections. Imagine living in a country where a communist party could actually win an election. How refreshing.
In the first round of voting, Christofias took 33.29% of the vote, Ioannis Kasoulidis of the center-right DISY (Democratic Rally party) took 33.51%, and the incumbent President, Tassos Papadopoulos, of the centrist DIKO (Democratic Party) took only 31.79%.
Coming in a close third, Papadopoulos was out. Christofias and Kasoulidis went on to the second round of voting, where Christofias won with 53.37% of the vote against 46.63% for Kasoulides.
But focusing on the intricacies of Cypriot electoral politics is not really my point here. Mr. Christofias campaigned on a promise to pursue re-unification with the Turkish half of Cyprus. With his victory the talks have been brought back to the foreground, and it seems Christofias has asked the UN to arrange a meeting with his northern counterpart, Mehmet Ali Talat.
Is it possible that re-unification is around the corner? The Turkish Cypriots had accepted a UN peace plan in 2003, which the Greek Cypriots had rejected at the time. If both halves are on board this time, it could be the real deal. And if it does come to pass, how much of the credit will go to the Cypriot communists?
Originally posted by rwingettRefreshing indeed ! If the Communist party were allowed on the
Despite all the hoopla surrounding the US primaries, there have been a few other elections in the world that don't get nearly as much attention. It seems that Dimitris Christofias of AKEL (Progressive Party of Working People) has won the Cypriot Presidential elections. Imagine living in a country where a communist party could actually win an election. How r ...[text shortened]... al deal. And if it does come to pass, how much of the credit will go to the Cypriot communists?
ballot in the US, how many votes do you think they would get?
F. GRANNY.
Originally posted by smw6869Virtually none. But in Cyprus the communist candidate got over 50% of the vote in the final round. I find this wildly divergent opinion over communist parties to be perplexing. Why does one western style democracy support a communist party, while the other considers it anathema?
Refreshing indeed ! If the Communist party were allowed on the
ballot in the US, how many votes do you think they would get?
F. GRANNY.
Originally posted by rwingettPropaganda? It's been drilled into US children and adults for decades now.
Virtually none. But in Cyprus the communist candidate got over 50% of the vote in the final round. I find this wildly divergent opinion over communist parties to be perplexing. Why does one western style democracy support a communist party, while the other considers it anathema?
Originally posted by rwingettIt really depends on the style of democracy you have in place..... Our multi party system at home means that although there a 2 major right wing parties which are much the same thing, not dissimilar to your Republican/democrat system. We also have Labour who hold 15 - 20% of our government seats, the greens (who are very left wing) and another who hold maybe 10% each and then various others such as the socialists, who are pretty active, and independents, who always get a seat or 2...... Thus its usually impossible for the major right wingers to get in without smaller left wing parties..... and some times all the lefties join up and push both out.... which is often refreshing. The problem with the very strongly 2 party system in the is that it leaves no room for smaller parties to even get a look in. Where as in a more open system a left wing party can get in in a small way, then people realize they're actually pretty effective, and they gain more support.... Hence some western democracies end up with strongly socialist governments getting elected.
Virtually none. But in Cyprus the communist candidate got over 50% of the vote in the final round. I find this wildly divergent opinion over communist parties to be perplexing. Why does one western style democracy support a communist party, while the other considers it anathema?
At least thats how I understand it.....
Communism has brought a lot of good things into the world: National health, voting for women, worker's rights in the work place, the fight against fascism (in Germany, Spain, Italy), etc.
Just because some countries are run by big business that dislikes these sort of things doesn't mean that a large group of "normal" people in the rest of the world don't see some benefits.
Nowhere I've been (and I've lived in many a place) has there been the "hatred" towards communism as I witnessed in the US.
However, even when I lived there I did meet a lot of people who thought that various parts of communism are good. And one of my best friends is a US socialist.... so go figure.
How, obviously folk like Stalin didn't do communism much justice (to be honest he wasn't a communist, but a dictator who took over the role of big business), but really, we should be older and wiser than to throw the baby out with the bath water.
Originally posted by rwingettpopulation of Cyprus: 788,457
Despite all the hoopla surrounding the US primaries, there have been a few other elections in the world that don't get nearly as much attention. It seems that Dimitris Christofias of AKEL (Progressive Party of Working People) has won the Cypriot Presidential elections. Imagine living in a country where a communist party could actually win an election. How r ...[text shortened]... al deal. And if it does come to pass, how much of the credit will go to the Cypriot communists?
population of the Great State of Rhode Island: 1,057,832
Originally posted by zeeblebotIn the begining the US forefathers were concern of the big states having too much power. So they decided on the two house system. Each state gets two senitors and in the house of reps. it is based on population. For example Rhode Island has 2 and California has 36.
can someone please explain again why Rhode Island has the same number of senators as California?
Originally posted by smw6869The American Communist party has had candidates in the past.. I don't know if they are bothering this election cycle. They haven't gotten many votes because except for a few people, living in a communist country is hardly refreshing
Refreshing indeed ! If the Communist party were allowed on the
ballot in the US, how many votes do you think they would get?
F. GRANNY.
Originally posted by SMSBear716But its not a communist country. I a western-style democracy with an elected communist party in office.
The American Communist party has had candidates in the past.. I don't know if they are bothering this election cycle. They haven't gotten many votes because except for a few people, living in a communist country is hardly refreshing