Party Politics

[nemafakei]

This should be an interesting debate, given the number of dutch, with their PR system, and the American and British first-past-the-post system.

How much do you agree or dispute that Party Politics in systems whereby Politicians stand for seats, not just for parliament (i.e. US/UK system) stops good decisions being made, and stops politicians representing the views of their electorate? And why?

How much is this true for Proportional Representation systems (As used by many European countries), and why?

(on a side note, do you have party whips in the US, who ensure that members vote according to the party?)

[TMA_1]

Though america has had political parties since early after it's creation, and other european nations as well that use a parlamentary type systems, I totally disagree with them. They create a state of closed thinking. Groups either vote for one party or another. Many times the various parties spout off their issues and you cant vote for anything you personally believe, you just have to go with a person that you find goes with your beliefs the most. It is like settling for second best. You cant vote for "outsiders" either because they will usually not win because of the various big business', interest groups, and politicians who so support a certain party, that they create a monopoly of power. I just think that they close the doors of the mind and pander to people who want power. Or to people that believe so much in their issues that they block out all other opinion.