Forwarded with permission from Paul Isaacs <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
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On 14-Jan-99, Colin Stark wrote:
{ snip }
>1Would you rather have dictatorship, or "indecisiveness"
>2If three parties have, say, 42%, 35%, and 23% of the popular vote (or
>make up your own numbers), which is more fair:
>athat one party have a virtual dictatorship?
>bthat the 42% party should form a coalition with the party of its choice,
>and govern in some kind of a compromise?
>cother (I personally prefer "other", which would include Direct Democracy,
>but will reserve further comment till I hear from others)
>What do YOU think??
So much talk about political parties and representation and fairness. But:
- what political party is democratic internally?
- what political party would not sell its soul, and its principles such as
they may be, to win "power"?
- what political party is not beholden to its big time monetary contributors?
- what political party exists for any purpose beyond winning election?
- what political party will take a vote losing stand on any issue or
principle?
Which leads to:
- who would want a political party representing them?
- who would propose entrenching such shallow and profoundly corrupt
institutions at the heart of the democratic process - the vote?
I personally do not believe that fairness, representation, democracy, civility
or the objective of good government would be served by having representatives
chosen on the basis of political party.
If one is to promote the concept of Direct Democracy, the case against
political party represenation becomes even stronger because one is asserting
that individual citizens are sufficiently cognizant of governmental issues to
have their say directly. They do not need a political party of any form to
represent their views.
Political parties are very unintelligent and opportunistic animals. If we have
any sense, we will recognize them for the anachronism that they are and
dispose of them post haste.
Political parties are a detriment to civil society. THAT'S what I think.
Paul Isaacs
