kentuck
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Thu Jun-10-04 11:46 AM
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Would we be better off if there were no political parties....? |
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And candidates had to run on ideas only? Would the majority of voters support workers rights over employer rights? Would most voters support individual choice over government intervention? Would most people support regulation if it was for public safety reasons? Would most people support huge taxcuts if they knew it was going to lead to huge deficits and higher interest rates?
If there were no Parties, would people be more inclined to vote in their own interest, rather than for the Party? Just a thought.
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tom_paine
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Thu Jun-10-04 11:47 AM
Response to Original message |
1. If we didn't have Political Parties, they would still coalesce |
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Edited on Thu Jun-10-04 11:47 AM by tom_paine
It is human nature. No, I don't think it's possible, practically speaking, for such a change to occur.
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evil_orange_cat
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Thu Jun-10-04 11:48 AM
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2. Yes... we should have listened to Washington |
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George that is. ;) He warned against political parties. I think the country would be better off without them.
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IA_Young_Dem
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Thu Jun-10-04 11:50 AM
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5. No parties sounds like an interesting idea, but it would never happen. |
ewagner
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Thu Jun-10-04 11:52 AM
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7. Was going to post the same thing |
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Washington saw the rise of political parties as a very damaging influence on the nation.
I suspect, if he was around now, a big I told you so would be in order.
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camero
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Thu Jun-10-04 11:48 AM
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3. Multiple parties would be better |
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Edited on Thu Jun-10-04 11:49 AM by camero
Then we can have a better view of the spectrum. The debate of ideas are too narrow with just two big parties and both parties seem more and more like the other with each election.
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dolo amber
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Thu Jun-10-04 11:49 AM
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4. Even fewer people would vote |
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if that were the case...They'd have to actually pay attention to the *ideas* and form some sort of opinion for themselves. :eyes:
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kentuck
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Thu Jun-10-04 11:52 AM
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6. You mean like, "Do you think the minimum wage should be increased.."? |
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..to $10 per hour? If there was no Party there to preach to them that an idea like that would cause more people to be laid off, then they would not be inclined to vote for something that might be in their interest? Same for healthcare.
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no_hypocrisy
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Thu Jun-10-04 11:58 AM
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8. An election for local counsel was run w/o party affiliation with the |
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exception of incumbents vs. non-incumbents. The ideas took precedence over party sponsorship or voting for the party instead of the candidate/ideas. It was refreshing, but I don't see how this experience could be expanded to state or national elections.
Money donations from corporations would still find their way to the candidates instead of their organizations. Corruption under a different name.
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Yupster
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Thu Jun-10-04 01:37 PM
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9. Would only vote if we went back to |
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the constitutional idea of legislatures picking electors who would then vote for great men for president.
Once you get the general population involved in the voting, you need a mass movement of volunteers and partisans speaking for the candidates, which means political parties by one name or another.
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sangh0
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Thu Jun-10-04 01:39 PM
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10. We'd definitely be better off if there were no earthquakes |
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but I don't see those going away anytime soon, either.
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Zolok
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Thu Jun-10-04 01:53 PM
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11. Democracy can't function without political parties... |
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because elections aren't organized solely around "ideas". Boons, perks, benefits, or revenge all inform the political experience. If we abolished political parties tomorrow we'd have some loud mouthed demagogue like Bill O'Reilly elected president this fall....and we'd all end up behind barbed wire.
www.chimesatmidnight.blogspot.com
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Thu May 02nd 2024, 03:49 PM
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