So no MP is allowed to speak out on issues that they believe in. Doesn't sound like useful political representation and I would fathome a guess that most Canadians probably agree.
Party Politics Has Ruined Political Representation in Ottawa.
Fri, 2018-08-17 11:57
#1
Party Politics Has Ruined Political Representation in Ottawa.
Fri, 2018-08-17 15:36
#2
So no MP is allowed to speak out on issues that they believe in. Doesn't sound like useful political representation and I would fathome a guess that most Canadians probably agree.
So, they're allowed to speak out on issues, but only as long as they don't believe in them?
Fri, 2018-08-17 17:23
#3
I suppose the alternative could be interesting: every MP an independent, campaigning on his/her own beliefs (or, what they believe their potential constituents believe). Every vote, effectively, a free vote. It could lead to a lot of interesting outcomes, some of them desireable and some of them much less so.
But I think that a lot of people, regardless of how they feel about party unity and whipped votes and whatever, would feel a bit adrift without a party to love and others to hate. Who would we blame for the latest bill or law, if they aren't from the same (or ANY) party?
Are we ready to say "I'm in support of everyone who voted for that thing I wanted, but for that other dumb law I'm really mad at these 180 individuals, 94 of whom I thought were heroes when they voted the way on wanted on that third thing!"?
I think that to take parties out of Federal or Provincial politics would make all levels of government basically "municipal", just with different powers and reach.
Of course we could also keep parties, but allow MPs/MPPs to speak their minds (and perhaps always vote their conscience) but that would kind of defeat the purpose of parties. Hands up whoever would be fine with a few NDP MLAs asking honest and heartfelt questions about whether life begins at conception, or openly tweeting that unions have outlived their purpose.
Fri, 2018-08-17 18:01
#4
alan smithee
Is this a veiled sympathetic defense of Maxime Bernier? If so...nevermind
Fri, 2018-08-17 18:08
#5
What if it's of Paul Manley? Would that change anything?
One would hope it's a defense of EVERY representative who wants to spit truths, yes?
Fri, 2018-08-17 18:11
#6
progressive17
We could do direct democracy on each issue, and have the plusses and minuses cancel each other out until we find the general will of what is for the greater good of all. Then we enforce it in the name of equality and mutual love. If you disagree, we can take a leaf out of the Stalinist book. Send you up north and let the people up there use you for target practice, or let them work you to death.
Fri, 2018-08-17 19:31
#7
until we find the general will of what is for the greater good of all.
TBH, I don't think it would be a "race to the greater good". I think it would be a race to the bottom. But YMMV.
Fri, 2018-08-17 20:43
#8
progressive17
Isn't all ideology for the greater good?
Fri, 2018-08-17 21:44
#9
Depends who you ask.
But as long as there are two conflicting and opposite ideologies -- about anything! -- I don't know how they can all be necessarily for the greater good.
Sat, 2018-08-18 01:14
#10
I suppose the alternative could be interesting: every MP an independent, campaigning on his/her own beliefs (or, what they believe their potential constituents believe). Every vote, effectively, a free vote. It could lead to a lot of interesting outcomes, some of them desireable and some of them much less so.
The most likely outcome can be seen with a look south of the border. Party affiliations matter a little bit, but the most a party leader can do is, on occasion, withhold funds from your reelection campaign. You're beholden to nobody but the lobbyists who most recently bought you, and every bill gets passed by absurd depths of horse-trading.
Sat, 2018-08-18 03:00
#11
There is one reason we have political parties and it is designed by the rich and powerful to stay rich and powerful. The corruption temptation is so large in every country on the planet that is almost impossible to be a honest person and be involved in party politics. With political parties the ability to hide corruption and blame others for government failure is high whereas if you were just a single MP representing your constituents you would have to focus your energy on just doing that
Let’s face it our governments have failed us and it time for some radical changes in our societies if we are even to survive as a species for an extended period of time
Sat, 2018-08-18 17:29
#12
Let’s face it our governments have failed us and it time for some radical changes in our societies if we are even to survive as a species for an extended period of time
Well, people could surely start by voting for independent candidates.
I know there've been more than a few win a seat. But I wonder how many of those were "true" independents? By that I mean, always an independent, not a Party MP/MPP who got turfed or quit to run as an independent incumbent.
It sure is fun to say "the rich and the powerful forced political parties on us to maintain their stranglehold on richness and powerfulness!!!" but the rich and powerful aren't the real problem when it's actually the electorate who prefer parties.
It's still slightly odd to me -- a Torontonian -- that Vancouver seems to effectively have municipal parties.