[Election-Methods] Partisan Politics

[Fred Gohlke]

Good Morning, Juho

re: "Good rules, voting methods etc. are there waiting to be discovered 
and generally approved."

And that is what we are attempting in this discussion.

We are trying to learn from our mistakes.  We have no shortage of 
lessons, whether of ideologies suppressing ideologies, nations 
dominating nations, tribes slaughtering tribes, or of religions 
exterminating religions.  They teach us that antagonism begets 
antagonism.  We are learning the dangers of political systems based on 
partisanship.

We are seeking an alternative to such discord.  We are trying to 
overcome the childishness of getting our own way by building massive 
armies, whether of voters or of soldiers.  When we grasp the futility of 
trying to dominate our fellow man, we can put our minds to 
de-emphasizing our partisan differences.  We can employ our reason to 
devise an electoral method that empowers the best of our people rather 
than the worst.


re: "(I need to add here that in addition to fighting against the rules 
of jungle we need to fight against the growth of bureaucracy (and 
excessive control of the system) too. In the US set-up this seems to be 
particularly relevant due to the discussions on the required strength of 
Washington.)"

Bureaucracy is an outgrowth of partisanship.  Politicians make jobs for 
their supporters, like the former public official in New Jersey (and 
candidate for the U. S. Senate) who pled guilty "to blocking an FBI 
probe into bribes and placing campaign workers on the county payroll." 
(Newark Star-Ledger, April 17, 2008).  Over the years, the practice 
became so obnoxious that we passed laws to inhibit it.


re: "It is also true that during a war ... it is better to just work 
together and wait for the time after the war and then discuss what would 
be a good approach to the global conflicts."

We did that in the 1920's and the 1940's and 50's.  We had noble 
intentions but the institutions we created were dictated by 
partisanship.  We live with the result.


re: "... it might be good to find some ways to reduce the spending a bit 
(=> better chances to all candidates, less dependences in the direction 
of the donators)."

The spending is welcomed by politicians and those who support them for 
the precise reason that it eliminates challengers.


re: "One could also try to arrange some more serious discussions about 
the policies (maybe more frequent, with less preparation) rather than 
leaving it to a free style marketing campaign."

Yes, but how?  I've suggested one method and I'm sure there are others. 
  We need to hear them and examine them.

Fred