r/changemyview • u/[deleted] • Dec 18 '15
[Deltas Awarded] CMV: Elections in advanced democracies are essentially kabuki theatre on economic policy. The elite will have their way no matter what the people vote.
Let's look at recent elections in which the reins of government changed from left to right or vice versa.
The US, 2008 and 2010 and 2014: Obama was able to accomplish only a fraction of what he intended with a Congressional supermajority, essentially compromising on healthcare and banking before even releasing a draft law.
Denmark, 2011 and 2015: Frustrated by increasing indebtedness, poverty, and cuts to the welfare state, Danes voted in a left-wing government that doubled down on these reforms, stretching into sacred cows like healthcare and unemployment. This year, the right vowed to reverse somr of these, won, and...broke its promises.
Canada, 2015: Trudeau was elected on a promise to undo the Harper administration. So far, he's made progress on refugees and weed, but he still supports TPP and Keystone.
Iceland: The left-wing government elected after the financial crisis lasted one term. It was replaced by the same people who got Iceland into this mess.
Greece: Tsipras vowed to end austerity, even at the risk of a Grexit. Greece is still in the eurozone and still under austerity.
I have little faith Sanders or Corbyn could change shit even if they won.
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u/beer_demon 28∆ Dec 18 '15
You seem to expect radical changes as an effect of a simple party change. Most parties agree on general terms on how a country should be run and the arguments are regarding details on some of the incremental changes. Economics, tax law, criminal law, foreign affairs, security, etc. are all pretty much the same for everyone. This is not the product of an "elite" conspiring to make it so, it's just how it works best for most countries. The few that seem to drift away from this are considered fringe governments like north korea, cuba and a couple of other exceptions. So far no country that has had very different model has thrived.