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Author | Topic: Political Parties | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Jon Inactive Member |
What are the benefits of political parties? Are such things detrimental to the successful operation of true democracy (representation of the people by those elected by the people acting in the best interests of the people)? Should the formation of political parties be outlawed? When a representative swears to uphold the interests of the people yet aligns themself with (and works for) only a fraction of the people regarded collectively as a 'party', do they go against their representational duties and rightly-so forfeit their capacities to act on behalf of all the people?
Why do we still use these silly things? Or, am I just mistaken on their function and benefits? Jon "Can we say the chair on the cat, for example? Or the basket in the person? No, we can\'t..." - Harriet J. Ottenheimer "Dim bulbs save on energy..." - jar
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crashfrog Member (Idle past 1489 days) Posts: 19762 From: Silver Spring, MD Joined: |
What are the benefits of political parties? Fundraising and consensus-building.
When a representative swears to uphold the interests of the people yet aligns themself with (and works for) only a fraction of the people regarded collectively as a 'party', I don't get the sense that any elected officials in the United States see themselves as "working only for the people of their party." Republican or Democrat I think that elected officials see the purpose of their office as one where they represent and govern on behalf of their entire constituency, not just the ones that voted for them (or are going to.) I don't think Barack Obama considers himself only President of the Democrats.
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Jon Inactive Member |
All representatives have the power to represent the entire constituency, but do all work for what is really in that constituency's best interest or just for what is in the best interest of their party? They may represent everyone, but that does not mean they act on behalf of everyone's interests.
I don't get the sense that any elected officials in the United States see themselves as "working only for the people of their party." Republican or Democrat I think that elected officials see the purpose of their office as one where they represent and govern on behalf of their entire constituency, not just the ones that voted for them (or are going to.) I don't think Barack Obama considers himself only President of the Democrats. What they think they're doing is different from what they actually do. If political parties allow to form a disconnect between these two things, then their value is negative and they should be gotten rid of. Jon "Can we say the chair on the cat, for example? Or the basket in the person? No, we can't..." - Harriet J. Ottenheimer "Dim bulbs save on energy..." - jar
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crashfrog Member (Idle past 1489 days) Posts: 19762 From: Silver Spring, MD Joined: |
They may represent everyone, but that does not mean they act on behalf of everyone's interests. It's not possible to act on behalf of the interests of an entire group of people that, among themselves, have dozens of competing interests. Ultimately you're going to have to either ignore those competitions entirely or take a side with one faction.
What they think they're doing is different from what they actually do. I don't think Barack Obama has acted like President of Just Democrats, either. He hasn't done Republican stuff (well, except that he has, I guess) but that's not what he was elected to do. He was elected to enact the Democratic agenda, but the benefits of that agenda don't apply just to Democrats.
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Coragyps Member (Idle past 757 days) Posts: 5553 From: Snyder, Texas, USA Joined:
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You ain't from Texas, are ya, Frog? Our Rethuglicans down here sure don't think that way.....
Humor: Two old ladies, Louise and Mabel, were out for a Sunday afternoon drive when they saw two young men ferociously masturbating under a tree in a pasture. After a very quiet moment, Mabel asked, "Louise, did you see those two Democrats jackin' off in that field?" Louise said, "Mabel!! That is such a vulgar expression! But yes, I did see those two perverted men abusing themselves. What on Earth, though, makes you think they are Democrats?" Mabel answered, " Well, Louise, if they'da been Republicans they'da been fuckin' somebody else!"
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Omnivorous Member Posts: 3985 From: Adirondackia Joined: Member Rating: 7.2
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That ain't humor, that's a full blown parable.
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DavidOH Junior Member (Idle past 4477 days) Posts: 11 From: Cincinnati, OH, USA Joined: |
I think that the politicians would say they are always working on behalf of their full constituency. If you ask most people about particular actions, the people would say that the policitian is working for the party or a special interest.
My opinion is that the politician is obviously working for the party when the party leadership threatens/influences members of Congress to vote the "party line." The parties can deny Representatives committee leadership positions, campaign support, etc. Another obvious situation is when one politician campaigns on behalf of another. I love the concept of campaigning for office. I would love to be paid by my current employer to interview, etc. for my next, better paying job. How well did Senators Biden, McCain, and Obama and Governor Palin represent their constituents while traveling the country campaigning & fund raising?
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frako Member (Idle past 328 days) Posts: 2932 From: slovenija Joined: |
i think things could be made better and simpler if a polititian acts against the interests of the people say laundering money stealing money making it easier for the rich to get richer and the poor to get porer he should be tried for treason and hung or shot. if this where implemented the parties in power would not hold so much power.
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Coyote Member (Idle past 2128 days) Posts: 6117 Joined: |
if this where implemented the parties in power would not hold so much power. The parties in power make all the rules. I would guess they wouldn't be in favor of this. Religious belief does not constitute scientific evidence, nor does it convey scientific knowledge.
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frako Member (Idle past 328 days) Posts: 2932 From: slovenija Joined: |
i know tough in my country it could probably be done witout the support from a party by means of a referendum 4000 signatures to get the support from the state to gather 40 000 signatures and after that the peopole would decide, there is a loop hole in this though cause tis would mean they only haveto debate the law and then decide to pass it or not but if a high enough % of the people would wote on the referendum and a high number in favor of it 80% and above it would mean politicale suecide not to pass the law, so they would probably send it to the high court where they would say its not constitutional so the politicians could wash their hands from the proposal.
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caffeine Member (Idle past 1046 days) Posts: 1800 From: Prague, Czech Republic Joined: |
What law are you actually proposing though? I think it's probably alredy illegal to steal and launder money.
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frako Member (Idle past 328 days) Posts: 2932 From: slovenija Joined: |
it is ilegal but i would propose that it would be considerd treason if a politician di it.
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onifre Member (Idle past 2973 days) Posts: 4854 From: Dark Side of the Moon Joined: |
The parties in power make all the rules. The class in power makes all the rules. - Oni
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