JennieG -

I used to think when younger that we should only have 'optional voting' but as I have lived longer, I am now utterly convinced, that in spite of what you say (and I confess to once having written on the paper "I want none of these idiots!") the benefits of our system far outweigh any minor negatives.

The extra lobbying power that the electorate as a whole, rather than just those few who can afford to bribe, gets by having effective minor parties is just impossible in the USA - where an honest politician is just 'one who STAYS bought'!!! :-) There, you only have to bribe TWO organisations, here no-one can afford to bribe them all - and only bribing the big boys is, because of the system, largely a waste of money! :-)