Germany's Pirate Party Looks to Win More Seats • Hacker News Board

Re: Germany's Pirate Party Looks to Win More Seats

#61

Post by gwillen » Sun, May 13, 2012, 8:12 AM UTC

thirdsun wrote: post #47

stesch wrote: post #34

Earlier quoted context omitted.

That's what is being taught at school in Germany. But there are a lot or people who say that it wasn't the number of parties, it was the lack of democrats. (Democrats, not the US party. People who support democracy.)

There's truth to both reasons mentioned here and they aswell as several others certainly added up to the failing of the Weimarer Republik. It's not as if you have to narrow it down to one specific reason. In fact the constituion back then was very progressive and ambitious, even by todays standards, but with the lack of support even in official positions (e.g. Justice, Army sticking with the former structure and pers…

Google translate says "emergency decrees" for "Notverordnungen", which I would agree with. "Emergency law" is an ok but (to me) slightly confusing translation. I think a more common American English phrasing would be "abuse of emergency powers". ("Emergency powers" appears to be "Notverordnungsrecht".)

Re: Germany's Pirate Party Looks to Win More Seats

#62

Post by gurkendoktor » Sun, May 13, 2012, 9:08 AM UTC

rowla wrote: post #46

I voted for the Pirate party here in Berlin, and occasionally it seems their success surprised them more than anyone else. Right now, both the established political parties and the voters are fascinated by the Pirates. From nowhere to 8 % - that's quite a feat in our slow-moving political landscape. It also means that both the party and those rooting for them are a mix of young people, disappointed voters from both e…

> From nowhere to 8 % - that's quite a feat in our slow-moving political landscape.

I actually feel that the slow-moving days are over. The recent rise and fall of the FDP was spectacularly fast too, without anything happening, or the FDP even changing their opinion at all. (The FDP is a libertarian/neocon party with some interest in civil liberties.)

Re: Germany's Pirate Party Looks to Win More Seats

#63

Post by netcan » Sun, May 13, 2012, 12:37 PM UTC

muuh-gnu wrote: post #13

In other news, former German president Roman Herzog, member of the (for now) largest party, the Christian Democratical Union CDU, suggested that having new parties like the Pirates entering parliaments is bad for overall democracy because it is increasing political diversity, and should be combated by again increasing the election threshold, which is now at 5%. According to the interview he gave recently, increasing…

I'm from Israel where the threshold for a parliamentary political party is 2/120. It does come with a cost.

Especially if you include parties with just a chance of passing the threshold, you theoretically more likely to find a party that represents your position. In practice though it encourages parties that represent certain ethnic/interest groups. It creates instability. It also means governments are alway coalitions where small parties are constantly threatening to bring down the government, especially the ethnic/interest parties with a narrower set priorities.

Re: Germany's Pirate Party Looks to Win More Seats

#64

Post by maayank » Sun, May 13, 2012, 1:04 PM UTC

brazzy wrote: post #22

muuh-gnu wrote: post #13

In other news, former German president Roman Herzog, member of the (for now) largest party, the Christian Democratical Union CDU, suggested that having new parties like the Pirates entering parliaments is bad for overall democracy because it is increasing political diversity, and should be combated by again increasing the election threshold, which is now at 5%. According to the interview he gave recently, increasing…

This has to be understood in historical context. Germany has had a very Bad experience with an excessively fragmented parliament in the Weimar republic, which led to constant Government breakups and reelections, paralysing the country politically and paving the way for someone who promised to do away with all that sissy democracy stuff... That's why the 5% threshold was established.

As an Israeli, and in continuance with netcan's good comment above, I could certainly see that happening here as a result of fragmented parliament.

edit: I say it not to reflect on Israeli society or politics per se, but to agree that fragmented parliaments cause such problems.