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Your thoughts on a 'virtual' party?

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Wed, 2014-01-01 11:03

#1

Otavano

Your thoughts on a 'virtual' party?

I was mulling the concept of a 'virtual' party recently.

In short, it would be an online website presenting itself as a hypothetical political party which would give honorary membership to candidates in an election who meet the stated objective standards of this hypothetical party (i.e. who would have met the standard for membership had it been a real party).

It would essentially serve as an objective educational website, a little like political compass.

As an example, let's say this virtual party decided to name itself the Party for the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, and had a site like pudhr.ca or something of the sort, and gave honorary membership to any candidate in an election whose election platform did not conflict with the UDHR in any way and was advancing at least one of its principles, it would be a quick way for voters to learn about their candidates on one convenient website.

Of course other variant 'virtual' parties could exist too, such as the Party for the X, Y, or Z, all based on the some kind of objectively verifyable criterium. Any ideas on this idea?

Wed, 2014-01-01 12:29

#2

oldgoat

A political party with the quality of virtue. How novel. I fear that over time the quality of virtue would be strained.

Wed, 2014-01-01 13:38

#3

Otavano

Nice play on words, oldgoat. I hadn't even noticed that. :)

Bearing in mind of course that we're not talking here of a real political party, but more of an educational website presenting a kind of hypothetical party to show what MPs would meet the standard to join if it were a real party.

Wed, 2014-01-01 15:12

#4

genstrike

A virtual party? Well, the NDP is virtually new and democratic...

And the Liberals are virtually liberal...

Wed, 2014-01-01 15:14

#5

genstrike

But seriously, how is this any different from the various organizations dedicated to one issue or another who from time to time make endorsements of individual politicians and political parties during elections?

Wed, 2014-01-01 16:55

#6

Otavano

genstrike wrote:

But seriously, how is this any different from the various organizations dedicated to one issue or another who from time to time make endorsements of individual politicians and political parties during elections?

Depending on the virtual party in question, there may or may not be much of a difference. If it's based on an extremely narrow issue, then not much different. If however we're talking about some kind of human rights document like the UDHR which is still a few pages long and covering a wide range of issues (employment, education, property rights, family, etc.), then it could serve as a useful non-partisan and objective site for those voters who are not aligned to any party but just want to see where a candidate stands on human rights for example or whatever else the virtual party in question is dedicated to.

Again, it's a general concept though there could be different kinds of virtual parties. I guess the idea is to present an objective view of candidates on a particular matter without the issue being too narrowly defined by just one issue.

Wed, 2014-01-01 18:26

#7

6079_Smith_W

I think someone beat you to it. See digital province:

http://www.cbc.ca/thisisthat/episode/2012/11/16/bc-timber-drive-quarters...

Wed, 2014-01-01 21:02

#8

felixr

party discipline would prove entertaining.

Thu, 2014-01-02 14:10

#9

Slumberjack

Virtual party eh? I'm kinda partial to the idea of an "Imaginary Party."

Quote:
The political and moral significance of thinking only appears in those rare moments in history when “things fall apart; the center cannot hold; mere anarchy is loosed upon the world,” when “the best lack all conviction, while the worst are full of passionate intensity.” At these moments thinking ceases to be a marginal affair in political matters. When everyone is swept away unthinkingly by what everybody else does and believes in, those who think are drawn out of hiding because their refusal to join is conspicuous and thereby becomes a kind of action.” Hannah Arendt - Thinking and Moral Considerations

ETA: Here's a good spot for one of those emoticons Caissa.