Ever wondered about the importance of political

structures?

We may not realize it, but overall structures help decide the outcome more than we may imagine, delivering good explanations for the results we see around us.

This PowerPoint contains timed slides, please move through them slowly.

Take the overall structure of sport games. They often appear to be democratic, since everyone

can participate…

Yet sports can nevertheless discriminate and segregate?

Basketball

• Discrimination based on gender• Discrimination based on height

Good thing we do not elect our politicians through a game of basketball! Or do we?

Like it or not, political set-ups easily exist with baskets ten feet high; the selection process can help some candidates benefit more than others when we elect our representatives!

In 2005, Republicans controlled the Senate with 17% of all eligible voters (29,111,622 voters).

Only 14 Senators in 2005were womenBarack Obama

First black President andonly the third black US Senator in modern times

(with an African father and a European-American mother).

African-Americans account for one-eight of the population

Women account for 52% of the population

2005 Source: Federal Election Commission http://localparty.org/SenatorMinority.html

Emancipation:

Free from bondage, freeing someone from the control of another.

Of all 1,864 Senators elected ever, 15 have been minorities.

Who Wins?

Second choicehas no voice!

Example outcome

Everyone’s choice counts!

...the world according to voter systems.

Female Representatives on the National Level

1 in 5

1 in 6

1 in 3is female

2005 Source: Nationmaster.com

1 in 7

New Zealand

Changed their 2 party systemin 1996 to a more

representative system

Female Representatives jumped from 21% to 30%

in one election, improvingpolitical emancipation

Examples of Different Democratic Systems in the World Todayand how they allow for emancipation

USABritain

Germany Finland, Netherlands,Spain

People who did not bother to vote

USAPeople who cannot vote:

* Younger than 18* Inmates* Non-US-citizens

People who did vote

People who voted forthe loser(s) in the race

Winner of the race: either a Red or Blue candidate

To gain the majority requires between 17% and 23% of all eligible voters

USA Germany Finland, Netherlands,Spain

People who did not bother to vote

The voting population always gets the specific person or party that received their vote to represent them

To gain the majority requires between 35% and 50% of all eligible voters

People who cannot votein national elections:

* Younger than 18* Non-citizens

USA Germany Finland, Netherlands,Spain

People who cannot votein national elections:

* Younger than 18* Non-citizens

People who did not bother to vote

Voted for parties with less than 5% of votes

People get the specific party as long as 5% of the population vote for them

To gain the majorityrequires between 30% and 45% of all eligible voters

Actual Outcomes 2005

United States Senate Swedish National Assembly (one of two Houses) (there is only one House in Sweden)

Percentage based on total eligible voter population

Parties focus on specific voters to win the election

Result: Fixation on the mainstream

Voters that swing the

outcome receive disproportional attention

Result:Fixation on voters’ specific wishes, enabling political emancipation

Result:Fixation on the mainstream

Parties focus on specific voters to win the election

USABritain

Germany Finland, Netherlands,Spain

Political Structures Rulemaking our representatives listen more to us voters — or less!

Not every governmental level must deliver voter equality, yet at least one level should provide voter equality. LocalParty.Org works hard to

realize voter equality at the local level (city and county).

Join our efforts by setting up your own local party in your city or county!

Be a true American and help insert real competition to the single

party we now find in full control locally everywhere!

http://LocalParty.Org