[Election-Methods] Partisan Politics

[Fred Gohlke]

Good Morning, Juho

re: "... not having parties or other groupings may also cause problems 
to the voters since they have hard time finding out what each individual 
candidate stands for."

The purpose of Active Democracy is to guarantee that individual 
candidates are required to explain their positions to the most critical 
audience possible ... other candidates.

re: "Some small parties could get together under a common umbrella 
organization."

That is exactly how the major party system works in the U. S., right 
now.  Fringe groups align themselves with major parties to influence the 
party's platform.  The down side is exactly what you described in an 
earlier message:  The large devour the small.

A small group can insist that the party install one of their number in a 
position of power, but the effectiveness of that approach depends on (at 
least) two things:  (1) whether the small group is large enough to 
adversely affect the party if the party refuses, and (2) whether the 
party strategists feel the small group's representative will enhance the 
party's prospects.  Since few of the smaller groups have enough strength 
to influence the party, the party usually pays lip service to the small 
group's adherents while ignoring their interest.  From the small group's 
perspective, this is beneficial because the lip service publicizes their 
position and provides a rallying point for adherents ... "much ado about 
nothing".

re: "Having no parties may be impossible."

It is impossible.  Partisanship is natural for humans.  We seek out and 
align ourselves with others who share our views.  Through them, we hone 
our ideas and gain courage from the knowledge that we are not alone in 
our beliefs.  Partisanship gives breadth, depth and volume to our voice. 
  In and of itself, partisanship is not only inevitable, it is healthy. 
  The fault lies, not in partisanship but in allowing partisans to 
control government.

Fred