Only two countries in Europe have the single transferable vote system (Malta and Ireland). It works here and we are not bothered about one-man-one-vote systems in other countries.The List System disqualifies some from entering elections. What we have is not perfect, but it works. You don't have to be in a political party so why force people join one if they want to get involved in politics? Like it or not, the Healy-Rae's will fight for Kerry while other politicians there watch the grass grow and ignoring those who voted for them. Who is getting things right? My money is on the Healy-Raes.
The List system is again raising its head because our main political parties (well Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael, Labour) this time round cannot come to terms with what we call democracy. So, they might want to change what we have just to suit the party representatives. They want a closed shop much more closed. The message is clear and simple, work for the people who voted you to power.
We have just endured an election where one third of the voters stayed away, considerable amounts of voters voted for no-hopers, many spoiled their votes, some voted through party lines, some spread their votes. Others just voted 1 and failed to use the floating vote. Ireland is growing up and at last is not prepared to keep single party government. This is the way it should be and we have it, like it or not.