As much as I hoped to be able to escape American politics by being in the Australian Outback on election day, it was not possible. Being in a country whose unofficial mantra is "no worries," helped until it didn't.
For better or worse, the world looks to America as a barometer. Seeing our nation swing to the right, Australians who have already noticed theirs tilting in that direction now anticipate the pendulum will knock it all the way right. If Americans were willing to vote away their Democracy, how will theirs stay?
Since coming home I've been exposed to literature that says democracies tend to last about 250 years, so (no matter how much it stinks to live through it), this is normal. That's a discussion for another time.
Australia handles elections much differently than we do in the United States.
Several major differences:
1) Everyone must vote. They do not have to tick a name off on the ballot, but they must appear to vote.
2) Your boss is required to give you time off to vote.
3) Elections are announced only a few weeks in advance.
4) People do not vote for the leader, they vote for the party that then decides on the leader. This is how we vote for mayor in Lawrenceville, so it makes sense to me.
5) Each candidate that is on the ballot is given a set amount of money by the government to use for ads. You can't add to that amount.
Americans there are other models out there we can use to reform our government.
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