[Election-Methods] Partisan Politics

[Fred Gohlke]

Good Morning, Juho

re: "... I'm more inclined to see the parties still as units that still 
get their strength and mandate to rule from the citizens themselves (and 
from their lack of interest to make the parties better and control them 
better)."

Although I (obviously) don't share your view, I will agree that the 
parties get their strength from the subset of the electorate that 
supports them.  My dissent is based on (1) the fact that the so-called 
'mandate' comes from a tiny subset of the electorate, (2) the 'mandate' 
results in destruction of the separation of powers intended to protect 
us from improper concentrations of political influence, and (3) it is 
maintained by the absolute suppression of alternatives.  Instead of 
democracy, a tiny minority of the people provide the "strength and 
mandate to rule" that dictates the choices available to the rest of us.


re: "Strong emphasis on the regional representation and close contacts 
between the representatives and voters may to some extent also reduce 
the need to offer full political proportionality."

We should consider the possibility that focusing on 'regional 
representation' and 'proportionality' are misleading.  An electoral 
method that empowers each and every member of the electorate to the 
extent of their desire and ability is regional and proportional, by 
definition.

Fred