With Israel’s elections being held today, it’s helpful to take a look at how their system works.
IT’S WORTH CONSIDERING
While we in America vote for a person for President, Vice President, House and Senate, Israelis vote for a party. There are no individual names on the ballot, only parties, and there can be as many as 12 or more on the ballot. Their system is a Parliamentary Democracy, and their Parliament is called the Knesset. Within it are 120 seats. The winning party determines who will serve on the Knesset.

To receive a majority vote, a party must receive 61 votes. With 12 or more parties in the mix, it is extremely difficult for any one party to receive 61 votes. In fact, it has never happened. Here’s how it works. Each party receives a percentage of the total vote. It is common for the leading party to have received only about 25% of the total votes. The President has one week to determine which party will have the opportunity to combine with another party or parties in order to form a coalition representing at least 61% of the vote. The party he appoints has 40 days in which to form a governing coalition. Click here to see how the vote has been distributed in recent years.

AS I SEE IT
I’ve been trying to imagine what would happen in America if we would try Israel’s system just once. We would have none of the disgusting negative ads and character assassinations since no names would be on the ballot. Party platforms would be paramount in differentiating one party from another. Principle would trump personalities. Values would be more important than an individual’s record.

Am I suggesting that Israel’s system is better than ours? Not at all. I believe that our founders labored to come up with a God-honoring and Bible-honoring system that would survive the test of time. Our problem is not with our system. Our problem can be seen in the following quote:

“There is no government armed with power which is capable of continuing with human passion if those passions aren’t bridled by morality and religion… Our Constitution was made for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate for the government of any other.” – John Adams

I think this says it all. America is no longer a moral and religious people. Yes, there is a “remnant,” but the remnant has not influenced the nation as it should have. I’m talking about the Church. We have no one to blame but ourselves. Lost people are always going to act like lost people. Saved people should be influencing the lost people. Lost people should be envious of the peace, love and compassion displayed by saved people. Saved people should be living for their Savior and looking for opportunities to bring glory to Him.

RELATED ARTICLES

ON THE LIGHTER SIDE
Egyptians are busy drafting a new constitution. Why don’t we just give them ours? It was written by some really smart guys, it has worked for over 200 years, and we’re not using it anymore.