[Election-Methods] Partisan Politics + a method proposal

[Juho]

On Jun 12, 2008, at 21:01 , Fred Gohlke wrote:

> As a very good friend wrote me recently about what would happen if  
> members of parliament in his country were selected by such a  
> method ...
>
> "When people in parliament form cliques, they (would be) building  
> majority opinions on specific issues.  They (would not be) bound by  
> manifesto or indebtedness to backers.  I would expect different  
> cliques (to) form, in response to each issue raised. ... Before  
> election, cliques are formed to get power, not to solve problems."

I see also some benefits in being "bound by manifesto and  
indebtedness" and having related "cliques" already before the  
election. The cliques certainly serve also as tools to get power but  
they may also clarify the political field to the voters. If there are  
plenty of candidates it is very useful to know what each candidate  
stands for (and is morally bound to).

(This need not mean a traditional flat party structure (and large  
parties) but can also be e.g. a tree like structure that makes it  
possible to identify the "green republicans" and to support some of  
those candidates or that whole block.)

Maybe the key idea is to avoid situations where the parties start  
dominating the political life, candidate nominations, their opinions  
etc. more than what is ideal for the society (and thereby making the  
society more stagnant and causing citizens to lose trust and interest  
in governing the future of their own society).

> Of course, as you pointed out, that implies a relatively high  
> turnover of elected officials at each election.  So, while that  
> makes the system very dynamic and makes it difficult for rot to  
> find a sticking place, it also makes it difficult for those who  
> take time out of their lives to serve in public office, for they  
> have no career guarantees.  Such people must be afforded salary  
> continuation and something similar to the G. I. Bill of Rights ...  
> advanced education, career training, small business loans, and so  
> forth ... to ease their transition back to private life.

In many places high turnover would be good. There are also rules e.g.  
on how many terms a president can serve. Keeping half and changing  
half of the representatives may also work in many cases.

Juho





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