Ironworks Gaming Forum - View Single Post

Azred · 11-29-2003, 04:39 AM

Party unity plays an extremely important role when campaigning for office. Unless your platform mostly matches the platform set by the National Committee, you won't probably get a confirmed nomination; the exception to this is if you are Famous. Once elected, all bets are off--most politicians vote either as they need to for their local base or as they have to in order to get something in the future (the usual "you scratch my back and I'll scratch yours" scenario).
In short, voting against the party line too much will likely cause you to lose the next election becuase you weren't "loyal" but voting the party line not enough means you will lose the next election because you "refuse to compromise". Catch-22, anyone? [img]tongue.gif[/img]

The real problem is this: even though a representative is sent to Congress to do for his constituency what they want, what the people want might not always be in their best interest.

The fundamental problem with the modern two-party system is that national policy is decided using a "top-down" approach rather than a "ground-level up" approach. These days Washington is all about maintaining the status quo, not "government of the people, by the people, and for the people".

[ 11-29-2003, 04:40 AM: Message edited by: Azred ]

11-29-2003, 04:39 AM	#5
Azred Drow Priestess Join Date: March 13, 2001 Location: a hidden sanctorum high above the metroplex Age: 55 Posts: 4,037	Party unity plays an extremely important role when campaigning for office. Unless your platform mostly matches the platform set by the National Committee, you won't probably get a confirmed nomination; the exception to this is if you are Famous. Once elected, all bets are off--most politicians vote either as they need to for their local base or as they have to in order to get something in the future (the usual "you scratch my back and I'll scratch yours" scenario). In short, voting against the party line too much will likely cause you to lose the next election becuase you weren't "loyal" but voting the party line not enough means you will lose the next election because you "refuse to compromise". Catch-22, anyone? [img]tongue.gif[/img] The real problem is this: even though a representative is sent to Congress to do for his constituency what they want, what the people want might not always be in their best interest. The fundamental problem with the modern two-party system is that national policy is decided using a "top-down" approach rather than a "ground-level up" approach. These days Washington is all about maintaining the status quo, not "government of the people, by the people, and for the people". [ 11-29-2003, 04:40 AM: Message edited by: Azred ] __________________ Everything may be explained by a conspiracy theory. All conspiracy theories are true. No matter how thinly you slice it, it's still bologna.