Quote:
Originally Posted by GGG
For sure it’s not bad yet, however it’s only Norms that hold that together. There is nothing inherently secure in our system. It works because politicians haven’t been bold enough to try to use it for obvious political gain.
If Kenny appointed a bunch of his people to the courts do you the ink the electorate would punish him?
My overall point is that all political systems rely on people following the rules by choice and given a lack of caring by the public and a lack of norm following by politicians no political system is safe from authoritarianism.
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I don't think it is the system as much as it is the culture.
Americans are brought up to revere politicians. Their biggest historical national heroes are politicians and they get built up to mythical levels. The all-or-nothing two party system just exacerbates that. In Canada, people don't care much about past or even current leaders and a lot of emphasis actually gets put on their negative attributes rather than being awe inspiring figures of legend. Not too many people are going to stick their necks out far to defend them.
In the U.S., people strongly identify as a Democrat or Republican. In Canada, it's not nearly as strong. Just Google politics and dating in the U.S. and there are numerous articles about how and when to tell someone if you are a Democrat or Republican. In Canada, such things are pretty far down the list of things to wonder or worry about when you meet people.