Just on the "government" bit.
In Oz, if you have a look at the actual numbers of people who "preselect" via Labour, Lib or Wooduck party membership the "candidate" for your electorate, I suspect you'd be surprised.
Typically, "the candidate" is chosen by just a few dozen (OK tens of dozens in some cases)... for an electorate with 50k to 100k voters??
Sorry I digress.... Bring back cracker night!
