01-07-2021, 09:50 AM
Lemonaid Wrote:Klem, rigged elections here are a pretty big deal. What kind of machines or ballot process are in use where you live? Are you confident the tally is accurately reflecting the vote? Would you go quietly away or protest if there was massive fraud? Hope you never have to find out.
Lemonaid,
In answer to your questions;
In Oz we have compulsory voting at schools and civic buildings and for expats living overseas, Oz embassies and consulates. We also have a postal voting system of filling out paperwork with signatures of voter and a witness. Postal voting is not automatically available to everyone, you have to apply for it prior to the day. There is no machine counting that I am aware, I believe (but don't quote me) that all counting is manually done by volunteers with procedures in place to double check.
Am I confident the [US] tally is accurately reflecting the vote? Like millions of people, I don't know for sure, but I am not going to take the losing person's word for it. For me, without evidence I consider whether the outcome is consistent with what is possible. It is not inconceivable that Trump could be voted out by a majority and so it is possible that it is a fair reflection of democracy. If Trump was voted back in it would be the same; it is not inconceivable and therefore I would be comfortable with that outcome too. So, No I don't know and it is not my place as a foreigner to have a strong opinion either way. It just seems legit.
Would I go quietly if there was "massive fraud"? No, but I would have to be utterly convinced with evidence there was fraud in the first place. Plus there is the obvious conflict-of-interest possibility that an outvoted President is lying to save himself. Are you confident he is telling the truth? Has he ever lied or exaggerated in his interests?
Would I go quietly If I was in his shoes and was legitimately voted out? Yes I would go quietly, and be damn gracious about it. It is what democracy is all about; I love it, it is what we protect and risk our lives for.
Hey, look on the bright side, your gun laws can't get any worse than ours.
52,
Yes, we have issues with China at the moment. On the one hand we are reliant on trade with them (and they know it) and on the other we are a sovereign nation. Serves us right for putting all export trade in one convenient basket, and now we are paying for it.