As to importance, whenoriginallyidentifiedas distinct, the archaea, too, wereregarded as marginal-yet their methane-generatingproperties are now a factor in climate-change calculations.
The current system also increases the importance of the 100-150 marginal seats where most campaigning is concentrated, and electoral reformers argue that it means the voters in the remaining 400 seats are regarded as irrelevant.
As to importance, when originally identified as distinct, the archaea, too, were regarded as marginal yet their methane-generating properties are now a factor in climate-change calculations.