The question I am posing today, refers to our system of Government, and do we, Australians or do the Americans have a better system of Government? Currently in Australia, many people would strongly argue that our system of Government has let the people down, given the perception that the Parliamentary Standards (especially in the Federal Lower House) have been slipping. Furthermore, the unenlightened voting public believe a massive wrongdoing has been set against them, with the possibility of a Prime Minister Leadership spill every other week - or so it seems. The style of electing governing officials in America is fairly different to our standard ''only-pick-your-immediate-representative-from-a-prescribed-list" soirée Australia has bought into. There are pros and cons to each Political System and I plan to scratch the surface some more.
Despite the massive 'let down' of a Leadership spill within the Federal Labor Party the day of the last sitting day before the Autumn break, the aftermath would suggest differently. The carnage currently stands at 8 Ministers resigning or being fired from the Governments Front Bench. Many of which, publicly came out on the Thursday advocating the need for a Leadership Ballot, and of whom, all are avid Rudd supporters. While some people saw and described this 'purging' of the Cabinet as just another example, in a long list stacking up against the Government, might this further Cabinet Reshuffle be seen as a good thing? All I am saying is that, despite our Prime Minister showing her 'feisty' and tough exterior, it doesn't help to be surrounded with people who are categorical friends and not foes ... right?
The imperfect separation of power seen in the Australian Political System is further cause to rejoice in the effectiveness of our system, when comparing it to the American Style, and yet many Australians forget how much our Parliament has done and is capable of. The Executive and the Legislature are intricately woven, with the Government's Front Bench making up the Executive Cabinet (barring the Governor General). Unlike in the United States, where the President and his (or her) Cabinet are excluded from Congress, and are forced to push their own Political Agenda from the White House and not Capitol Hill. Furthermore, given the perfect separation of power, the President cannot decide the legislative agenda in the House of Representatives, like the Prime Minister and Cabinet do in Australia. Hence the Prime Minister of Australia has more domestic control over political affairs than the President does, as her (or his) direct involvement in the Parliament allows them to do so.
For example, unless the President's party is in the majority in congress, their ability to create legislation becomes highly improbable, and in cases like this a 'watered down' version of legislation would be the only hope of success. Now think about the current Political Climate in Australia (possibly forgoing the last fortnight or so), despite the Greens holding the balance of power in the Senate, the ALP Government has been quite successful in its legislative outcome. Regardless of whether or not one agrees with the bills, the ALP have been able to pass some major reforms, including the MRRT (Minerals Resource Rent Tax), Tax on Carbon (Clean Energy Futures Package) and the NDIS (National Disability Insurance Scheme) despite the hostility of the Senate and Minority Coalition with the Independents and Green in the House.
Saying all that however, one of the major flaws voters speak about in Australia, comes from the party-room or caucus electing the head of each Major Party rather than the people themselves. Despite the constitution having no mention of a Prime Minister or a Cabinet these things exist, obviously, but with no recognition of these offices come no solid way of electing people to these roles. This again, contrasts to how the United States operates, as they have primary elections in each State before the General Election to elect the representatives the people want, as well as the Presidential Candidates. It is an interesting concept to imagine, and with voluntary voting in the US it is a wonder people turn out twice to vote on their own accord. Another major difference is the voluntary versus compulsory voting idea. The argument for compulsory voting being, it forces the public (who are an Australian Citizen and over 18) to vote and to have some input onto the running of the country. Whereas advocates for voluntary voting say that in a democracy it is up to the people to decide whether or not they participate.
So the debate about who has a better system of Government is still a contested issue while the grass supposedly always looks greener on the other side, sometimes we should just be grateful for what we have. Neither country has major civil unrest or extreme poverty like other countries and yes no one could have predicted the state of either economy before the GFC, but still maybe we should just take a step back and think about what we could lose if the Political System changed. I am definitely not saying if Australia became a Republic and elected out Head of State, there would be rioting in the street, and many people say it is time for Australia to become a Republic, but I am saying think about how good we have it before we critisise the Australian Political System. As honestly it could be much much worse! And remember there is nothing wrong with changing the Political System, but do it for the right reasons and not just because the perception of the US system is better than what we have now.
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