Oct 1, 2025
In the UK, Canada, and Australia, a failed budget is treated as losing confidence. There’s no U.S.-style “shutdown”; the government usually resigns or asks for a new election, or another majority is formed.
seen from Hong Kong SAR China
seen from Saudi Arabia
seen from Germany
seen from United States
seen from Denmark
seen from Netherlands
seen from Spain
seen from Argentina
seen from Canada
seen from Argentina
seen from Türkiye
seen from United States
seen from Slovakia
seen from United States
seen from United States
seen from Denmark
seen from China
seen from Germany
seen from Germany
seen from United States
In the UK, Canada, and Australia, a failed budget is treated as losing confidence. There’s no U.S.-style “shutdown”; the government usually resigns or asks for a new election, or another majority is formed.
This may be a goofy question for someone who’s blog is dedicated to the Presidency, but do you think that the U.S. Presidency is ultimately a net good for the country and the world? Should the US try a system without such a powerful executive branch?
That's not a goofy question at all, especially in 2024!
I think the American system as originally envisioned by the Founders -- with three truly equal and balanced branches of the federal government with a definitive separation of powers -- was brilliant and effective. But that's not the country we live in anymore. The three branches not only don't respect the powers of each other, but they often don't respect the powers of their own branch, which means there is no balance of power. If there's no true balance of power amongst the separate branches, the entire design flat-out doesn't work.
The problem is that this is the system and has been since 1789, so you can't really put the toothpaste back in the tube. But there are certainly many aspects of the Westminster system or even a dual executive republic like the French government that would be a more efficient and genuinely democratic way of governing a modern democracy. There are drawbacks, too, but I don't think our system is ideal when it's challenged by the petty and destructive politics of the United States in the 21st Century, which is dominated by this awful determination to actively obstruct government. There are scores of American politicians who run for office on the idea of NOT doing things and literally keeping the government progress derailed.
WTF is the archbishop of Canterbury doing addressing the house of lords? I thought the "separation of powers" [separating church, state and legislature from the crown] was a cornerstone of the Westminster system. ⁉️
That is the church, state [king] and legislature [parliament] got separated and they stay out of each other's business. That's part of the reason the poms have got these ceremonies between the crown and parliament. The old state and legislature deferring to each other.
What is this joker doing involving the church in politics? If the state has got to stay out of politics, surely the bloody church should too.
VIDEO: Senate Approves Jobless-benefits Bill
The Senate has passed legislation to renew a program of jobless benefits for the long-term unemployed that expired last December. But the 59-38 vote sends the bill to a frosty reception in the House, where majority Republicans are generally opposed. The White House-backed bill would retroactively restore benefits that were cut off in late December, and maintain them through the May. If renewed,…
View On WordPress
VIDEO: Italy's Berlusconi Demands Renzi's Senate Reform Be Negotiated
VIDEO: Italy’s Berlusconi Demands Renzi’s Senate Reform Be Negotiated
Italian center-right leader Silvio Berlusconi on Saturday demanded a renegotiation of a reform of the upper house of parliament to which Prime Minister Matteo Renzi has tied his political future. Renzi, 39, has vowed to quit if parliament blocks the reform of the Senate, part of a wider drive to slim down Italy’s political apparatus and fix an electoral system blamed for creating deadlock and…
View On WordPress
VIDEO: Italy's Berlusconi Demands Renzi's Senate Reform Be Negotiated
VIDEO: Italy’s Berlusconi Demands Renzi’s Senate Reform Be Negotiated
Italian center-right leader Silvio Berlusconi on Saturday demanded a renegotiation of a reform of the upper house of parliament to which Prime Minister Matteo Renzi has tied his political future. Renzi, 39, has vowed to quit if parliament blocks the reform of the Senate, part of a wider drive to slim down Italy’s political apparatus and fix an electoral system blamed for creating deadlock and…
View On WordPress
hey, quick question for Ireland, Canada, India, and everyone else apart from the UK and Australia who uses the Westminster system of government or something similar
have you guys ever had that thing where the Prime Minister promises their Treasurer (or any other major cabinet minister I guess, but in examples I know of it’s the Treasurer) they will step aside at some point and let them become Prime Minister, then breaks their word, and it all ends in a storm of bitterness and squabbling?
because I know it’s happened in the UK and it’s happened in Australia twice in consecutive governments so I’m just wondering if this is a system-wide problem
Westminster 101
Listen up Australia, we do not and have NEVER voted for the prime minister!!! NEVER!!!