Comments by "Aaron Okeanos" (@AaronOkeanos) on "Are Grand Coalitions a Bad Idea?" video.

  1. Proportional Representation is punishing stagnation and rewarding compromise. Grand coalitions work when they are able to put their differences aside and compromise to bring change. If they block each other and lead to stagnation they make their situation even worse and open the way for parties on the fringe and then these will be put to the same challenge.
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  2. I think you misinterpreted the consequences. If no party has a clear majority it means society is split or the parties are not doing what the people need/want. It is a sign of wrong policies. If you now go into a coalition no matter the size and still refuse to compromise this leads to stagnation. Stagnation is punished under PR with even more fracturing and movement to the fringes. This is the system correcting itself. I find it totally fascinating to watch. There are no rules written or laws to abide or someone who controls it just by the design of the system it is self-correcting to the needs of the people. But it takes a while ... or to be precise as long as someone is found who is doing what the people want/need or is willing to compromise with others for change.
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  3. Well you have to be apply some nuance here. Pre-WW2 yes because the system was not perfect. However now it is by design. Because the main parties not listened to the voters anymore. This is not a failure of the system. This is evidence that it works and self-correcting. If you don't do want voters want/need or do anything at all the system moves to the fringes or alternatives. And this continues as long until someone is found who is doing that.
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  4. After seeing the Brits vote for Brexit ... out of fear of people they don't know. And after seeing the American voting for Trump ... out of fear of people they don't know. I'm pretty sure Germans are stupid enough to vote the AfD in significant numbers enough so the conservatives are practically forced to make a pact with the radical right party. I'm not even sure at this point that the numbers of the Pro-Democracy parties are still enough. People are gullible. They don't believe the warnings of smart and clever people and need to feel the mistakes they voting for. So happend with Brexit so happened with Trump the 1st time and now the 2nd time thinking they had it hard under Biden but comparing it to pre-covid times.
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  5. The Neoliberals of the FDP clearly sabotaged the coalition over 3 years. Under the disguise of the debt brake they prevented left-leaning policies from unfolding and making things better for people. And now they caused early elections and jumped ship to become coalition party with the CDU again.
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  6. I also begin to think there is no way around. You need to give voters a chance to see the mistake they voting for. You saw it with Brexit, you saw it with Trump. The only problem is when they have so much power that they can change the system in their favor and ensure they never lose again basically taking the voice of the people away by underminding or ending elections.
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  7. America is living proof it is not a good system. People want alternatives but don't get anything. Instead they have a duopoly of the rich. You can choose yes ... but only which side exploits you next.
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