11/7/2005: Swiss direct democracy of the 70s

Undertoad · 11-07-2005, 05:44 PM

Would you guess what it was if there wasn't a title there? xoB is on fire finding images, and sends this one. This is an unpublished National Geographic picture from 1973.

"Men of Appenzell, Switzerland, gather to vote on public issues at the annual Landsgemeinde (constitutional assembly). Most Swiss cantons have abolished the Landsgemeinde in favor of anonymous written ballots, but a few Landsgemeinde are still held, continuing this 600-year-old tradition of direct democracy."

It looks like fairly direct democracy, but you do note that only half the eligible citizens seem included in the vote.

Clodfobble · 11-07-2005, 05:59 PM

Someone actually tries to count how many hands are raised?

tw · 11-07-2005, 07:02 PM

It does solve the problem of hanging chads and recounts.

ashke · 11-07-2005, 07:10 PM

I thought they didn't give the vote to women until some donkey years late?

xoxoxoBruce · 11-07-2005, 07:21 PM

I've seen this system used in nonpolitical situations where they would have "counters" stationed throughout the crowd to count the hands in their area.
Just how the counters determine the boundry between them is a mystery.

If the actual count is close, then whatever they say the tally is would be hard to dispute. If the actual count is not close, then it's probably obvious to the officials and the crowd alike.

xoxoxoBruce · 11-07-2005, 07:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ashke

I thought they didn't give the vote to women until some donkey years late?

1971, but these people were using the old way of voting so they may have used the old way of allowing.

capnhowdy · 11-07-2005, 11:54 PM

Sure that isnt GWB dressed in red and they are giving him a group finger? How do the Swiss flip the bird, anyway?

Thats right.. it's a universal thingie.

capnhowdy · 11-07-2005, 11:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ashke

I thought they didn't give the vote to women until some donkey years late?

WTF is donkey years. I'm curious.

be-bop · 11-08-2005, 04:57 PM

Sorry but I have to say it "Where's Wally"...?

ashke · 11-08-2005, 07:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by capnhowdy

WTF is donkey years. I'm curious.

It's a Singlish (derived from 'Singapore' and 'English') expression, meaning 'many years'. I don't know why it's that way (donkey's aren't well-known for their longevity??) but... it is. ^_^;;

Griff · 11-08-2005, 08:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Undertoad

It looks like fairly direct democracy, but you do note that only half the eligible citizens seem included in the vote.

Yah, I don't see any black hands...

wolf · 11-10-2005, 01:10 PM

If they're palm toward you, given the scale of the picture, it would be hard to tell.

capnhowdy · 11-10-2005, 07:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ashke

It's a Singlish (derived from 'Singapore' and 'English') expression, meaning 'many years'. I don't know why it's that way (donkey's aren't well-known for their longevity??) but... it is. ^_^;;

OK. Kinda like we say here: Ain't seen you in a coons age. Or: It's been a dogs age since that's happened.
Thanks

jaguar · 11-10-2005, 07:35 PM

Switzerland can be very culturally conservative. If you were a swiss woman you lost your swiss citizenship if you married a foreigner until a few years ago. I filled in my ballot paper about changes in workplace law and banning GM food, my duty as a swiss citizen a few hours ago, it's one kickass system of government.

Griff · 11-10-2005, 07:51 PM

I drove within 50 yards of "my" polling place tuesday.

11-07-2005, 05:44 PM	#1
Undertoad Radical Centrist Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Cottage of Prussia Posts: 31,423	11/7/2005: Swiss direct democracy of the 70s Would you guess what it was if there wasn't a title there? xoB is on fire finding images, and sends this one. This is an unpublished National Geographic picture from 1973. "Men of Appenzell, Switzerland, gather to vote on public issues at the annual Landsgemeinde (constitutional assembly). Most Swiss cantons have abolished the Landsgemeinde in favor of anonymous written ballots, but a few Landsgemeinde are still held, continuing this 600-year-old tradition of direct democracy." It looks like fairly direct democracy, but you do note that only half the eligible citizens seem included in the vote.

11-07-2005, 07:21 PM	#5
xoxoxoBruce The future is unwritten Join Date: Oct 2002 Posts: 71,105	I've seen this system used in nonpolitical situations where they would have "counters" stationed throughout the crowd to count the hands in their area. Just how the counters determine the boundry between them is a mystery. If the actual count is close, then whatever they say the tally is would be hard to dispute. If the actual count is not close, then it's probably obvious to the officials and the crowd alike. __________________ The descent of man ~ Nixon, Friedman, Reagan, Trump.

11-07-2005, 11:54 PM	#7
capnhowdy Blatantly Homosapien Join Date: Mar 2004 Posts: 6,200	Sure that isnt GWB dressed in red and they are giving him a group finger? How do the Swiss flip the bird, anyway? Thats right.. it's a universal thingie. __________________ Please type slowly. I can't read very fast............... and no holy water, please.

11-10-2005, 01:10 PM	#12
wolf lobber of scimitars Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Phila Burbs Posts: 20,774	If they're palm toward you, given the scale of the picture, it would be hard to tell. __________________ wolf eht htiw og "Conspiracies are the norm, not the exception." --G. Edward Griffin The Creature from Jekyll Island High Priestess of the Church of the Whale Penis

11-10-2005, 07:35 PM	#14
jaguar whig Join Date: Apr 2001 Posts: 5,075	Switzerland can be very culturally conservative. If you were a swiss woman you lost your swiss citizenship if you married a foreigner until a few years ago. I filled in my ballot paper about changes in workplace law and banning GM food, my duty as a swiss citizen a few hours ago, it's one kickass system of government. __________________ Good friends, good books and a sleepy conscience: this is the ideal life. - Twain

11-07-2005, 05:59 PM	#2
Clodfobble UNDER CONDITIONAL MITIGATION Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Austin, TX Posts: 20,012	Someone actually tries to count how many hands are raised?

11-07-2005, 07:02 PM	#3
tw Read? I only know how to write. Join Date: Jan 2001 Posts: 11,933	It does solve the problem of hanging chads and recounts.

11-07-2005, 07:10 PM	#4
ashke Don't look at me! Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Singapore Posts: 288	I thought they didn't give the vote to women until some donkey years late?

11-08-2005, 04:57 PM	#9
be-bop Operations Operative Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: scotland/uk Posts: 664	Sorry but I have to say it "Where's Wally"...?

11-10-2005, 07:51 PM	#15
Griff still says videotape Join Date: Feb 2001 Posts: 26,813	I drove within 50 yards of "my" polling place tuesday. __________________ If you would only recognize that life is hard, things would be so much easier for you. - Louis D. Brandeis

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