Democracy in Switzerland, 1973.

[theweaselking]

"Men of Appenzell, Switzerland, gather to vote on public issues at the annual Landsgemeinde (constitutional assembly). Most Swiss cantons have abolished the Landsgemeinde in favor of anonymous written ballots, but a few Landsgemeinde are still held, continuing this 600-year-old tradition of direct democracy."

Comments

[rgovrebo.livejournal.com]

Ok, what's the context on this eerily nazi-rally thing?

[theweaselking.livejournal.com]

National Geographic took the picture in 1973.

"Men of Appenzell, Switzerland, gather to vote on public issues at the annual Landsgemeinde (constitutional assembly). Most Swiss cantons have abolished the Landsgemeinde in favor of anonymous written ballots, but a few Landsgemeinde are still held, continuing this 600-year-old tradition of direct democracy."

[corruptedjasper.livejournal.com]

Note the deliberate use of the word 'men'.

Incidentally, the region makes one mean cheese.

[theweaselking.livejournal.com]

I updated the post itself, because the context is kinda cool.

[stormkami.livejournal.com]

Awesome pic! The idea behind it isn't bad either ;-)

Anonymous voting on one hand seems to protect voters, on the other it puts the issues in the shadows, behind closed doors - you know, the same places the votes are counted (or miscounted in America).

-Ry