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Been thinking about malapportionment since I found out about the fact that Houston, a city of over 2 million people, is being given just one ballot drop-off box throughout the entire county.
In particular, I've been thinking a lot about this man. Buckle up because it's time for a history lesson about my state here in Australia.
In case you don't recognise him (and most of you probably won't), this is Joh Bjelke-Petersen. He was the 31st Premier of Queensland, serving for 19 years from 1968 to 1987.
Now, you might say, "Wow, how could he possibly have stayed in office for so long?"
Now, you might say, "Wow, how could he possibly have stayed in office for so long?"
The answer is the Bjelkemander.
For context, Bjelke-Petersen was the leader of the Country Party. As the name implies, this party's support was heavily concentrated in the rural areas of the state.
For context, Bjelke-Petersen was the leader of the Country Party. As the name implies, this party's support was heavily concentrated in the rural areas of the state.
Essentially, what they did was carve out a bunch of extra electorates in the country. These electorates had far fewer voters, but still counted as a seat in the state legislature.
Therefore, it required much fewer votes to win one of these seats in comparison to a seat in Brisbane, where support for Labor was strong.
This meant that the Country Party, in coalition with the Liberal Party, could constantly win the highest amount of seats in the Legislative Assembly, regardless of how much of the popular vote they won.
In 1969, the first election BP presided over as Premier, the Country Party barely scraped past 21% of the vote. In spite of this, they won 26 seats of the 78 available.
Combined with the 19 seats won by the Liberals, that took them to 45 seats, allowing them a clear majority over Labor's 31.
I'm sure you can see how this is problematic.
I'm sure you can see how this is problematic.
And you might say "Oh, well that's not *that* much of a lead."
Sure, 45/78 is only about 57% of the seats.
But let's fast-forward five years to 1974, two elections later.
By this point there are 82 seats up for grabs. The Coalition had increased their seat count to 47.
Sure, 45/78 is only about 57% of the seats.
But let's fast-forward five years to 1974, two elections later.
By this point there are 82 seats up for grabs. The Coalition had increased their seat count to 47.
In this election, the National Party (the Country Party but renamed) won only 27.88% of the vote, the least out of the three major parties.
Despite this, because of the Bjelkemander, they won 39 seats, the most of the three major parties.
Despite this, because of the Bjelkemander, they won 39 seats, the most of the three major parties.
Labor got 36.03% of the vote, the most of any party, but only won 11 seats.
When you combine the 30 seats that were won by the Liberal Party, that gives you a total of 69 out of 82 seats held by the Coalition.
When you combine the 30 seats that were won by the Liberal Party, that gives you a total of 69 out of 82 seats held by the Coalition.
They held nearly 85% of the seats, despite not even winning 60% of the popular vote.
And this drastic and sudden increase in blatantly fraudulent electoral practices happened in just five years.
And this drastic and sudden increase in blatantly fraudulent electoral practices happened in just five years.
Under B-P, Queensland became notorious for political and police corruption.
The Premier gained a reputation for being a "law and order" politician (hmm who else uses such a phrase?), frequently using police force against any demonstrators.
The Premier gained a reputation for being a "law and order" politician (hmm who else uses such a phrase?), frequently using police force against any demonstrators.
Bjelke-Petersen only resigned after a royal commission made the police corruption too public to deny anymore.
By that point he had become the longest-serving Premier of Queensland and the second-longest serving head of government in all Australian history.
By that point he had become the longest-serving Premier of Queensland and the second-longest serving head of government in all Australian history.
The Coalition held on to power for just over two years more, until they were defeated in the 1989 election.
By that time, they had been in power, under one premier or another, for 32 years, 3 months, and 25 days.
And a large portion of that time was due to the Bjelkemander.
By that time, they had been in power, under one premier or another, for 32 years, 3 months, and 25 days.
And a large portion of that time was due to the Bjelkemander.
Since the 1989 election, only two Premiers have been part of the Coalition.
One of those, Rob Borbidge, only came to power after an independent MLA, Liz Cunningham, decided to side with them over the then-incumbent Labor Premier, Wayne Goss.
One of those, Rob Borbidge, only came to power after an independent MLA, Liz Cunningham, decided to side with them over the then-incumbent Labor Premier, Wayne Goss.
Even then, if you combine the terms of Rob Borbidge and Campbell Newman, they still only add to just over 5 years.
As if further proof was needed of the disproportionality and fraudulence of the elections during the Coalition's long reign.
As if further proof was needed of the disproportionality and fraudulence of the elections during the Coalition's long reign.
"But Dale," I hear you ask, "this is all very fascinating, but why the hell are you telling me all this?"
To prove a point.
All the malapportionment and tampering you're seeing from the Trump Administration is not unprecedented.
To prove a point.
All the malapportionment and tampering you're seeing from the Trump Administration is not unprecedented.
These things can and have happened in Western democracies before.
More importantly, things can and will get worse if Trump wins this election.
And they can get worse very quickly.
More importantly, things can and will get worse if Trump wins this election.
And they can get worse very quickly.
It only took 5 years for the Coalition to increase their share of seats from 57 to 84% using the Bjelkemander.
So please, I implore you.
Vote Trump out on November 3, or whenever you cast your vote, for the sake of democracy.
So please, I implore you.
Vote Trump out on November 3, or whenever you cast your vote, for the sake of democracy.
I can assure you, you don't want a country that looks like 1950s-1980s Queensland.
