日本語

The world is now entering a state of confusion and delirium in which the pride and self-confidence of a handful of politicians in each country will lead to bluffing and even outright fire-breathing war, whether on a small or large scale. And already the signs have been reached to the painful point of actual war.

On the one hand, it divides the country into two halves, stirs up conflicts, and, although it has been entrusted with the right of representation by less than half of the population, it assumes total control of the country’s power and, based on the convictions of its representatives, moves it as if it were the will of the entire nation.

On the other hand, the other side has begun to rule as the sole leader of a dictatorship based on a political concept of representation, not electoral means, created by the course of history.

What both have in common is an either-or political system that avoids confirming the real will of the majority of the people, which is not a “democratic” system.

That is, one is based on a system of free elections in which representatives can be elected by less than half the population, and the other is based on a system in which representatives are elected without even a free election.

And now the fate of the people of the world is being decided by a power based on such a small minority.

This is truly a terrible situation.

So, when life and death are at stake for such a power, how can you go along with it in silence? Or did you already cast your vote with such an awareness of the current situation and such a determination at the time of your last vote?

 

So this is a pragmatic look at the practicalities of not exposing the world to the threat of such a war. Australia is the only developed country in the world that has a system where elections are not free, but compulsory, and in fact do not allow for minority representation.

In Australia, because of the compulsory voting system, national representation is always determined by the will of more than half – that is, a majority – of the people.

In other words, more than 90% of the people actually vote in an election, and their representatives are chosen by a majority of those 90% or more. Even if this includes what are commonly called “floating” votes, it is important that the results actually reflect the views of the entire population. It is impossible for anyone who pays not-so-cheap taxes not to have a say in the matter. A system in which paying taxes is compulsory and voting is also compulsory, and in which both sides of the issue are entrenched, is what “democracy” is all about.

In this country, even when a leader appears who preaches a proud national mission, he is received with a certain indifference. Even if they are supported, they will never get beyond a small section of the population and never reach an actual majority. This is the true “populism” of democracy.

Even if one were to advocate war against another country, in Australia, a country of immigrants, immigrants from the supposed enemy country have already become citizens and established members of society. In such a situation, where neighbors are divided into friends and enemies, the dubiousness of advocating war becomes even more apparent.

In other words, it is now such a valuable and effective example of maintaining a system in which virtually all citizens can actually vote and cast their ballots. This compulsory voting system was established in 1924 and has already had 100 years of refinement.

In layman’s terms, the free voting system tends to produce unrealistic results that divide the country, while the compulsory voting system tends to produce results based on the day-to-day realities of everyone.