How do you feel?

scrjnki · 02-08-2010, 12:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by garysher

There are advantages in having Royalty which does NOT answer to the people and isn't dependent on votes, fundraising etc. But doesn't have direct decision-making power.

Instead of a Monarch you could have an elected President (Chairman) and an elected Prime Minister (CEO).

Most western republics are organised like that, Israel, Italy, France, Ireland, etc.

Of your examples, Israel, Italy and Ireland have policy-steering PM's but presidents with virtually no power. France's president is the head of state, and few if any could name their PM. Much of the power is not in the position but in the person's personal juices, i.e. Putin & Medvedev. Who would you say is really in charge there?

Most PM's rise to the position not from receiving more votes than another candidate for PM, but rather from their party (or coalition in those multi party countries like Italy) gaining a majority. In this way, a PM is more like a Speaker of the House, or the Senate Majority Leader. If their party loses a majority, they are out.

You have to really have strong party loyalty and discipline to have a parliamentary system with a PM instead of a president.

I think the USA has an inherently healthy mistrust of central power, and like that the president can stifle the congress and vice versa. Gridlock is good for liberty.

These sheep like to ditch the shepherd every now and then and run free.

hot dragon · 02-08-2010, 02:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mr. Harris

Ladies and Gentlemen, for years and years the politics have been run by either Democrats or Republicans. Now both have good ideas and bad ideas, but why are we so focused on what party we are but rather our own ideas and what we can do to help our fellow citizens. Now I am not against Republicans or Democracts but simply trying to get away from the whole party agenda. What about the others, what about the people who make this country? Why do we care so much about our ego yet care so little about our people? Thats why I believe that we should have an Idependent President, thats why it is and always will be my dream to try and do so. Please reply to this on your thoughts, concerns, issues, and whatever else for me to see people first hand and to see if people are willing to stand up for the Independents.

isnt this done, frequently? i have heard of independents in many presidential elections, and they dont get many votes.

one advantage of the party structure is that extremists on any side get reigned in at least a bit. a party allows dissent within the party, allows debate and discussion, but this is within the party. only in public is the party united.

the other issue is money. who can afford to stage an election campaign? an independent cannot function without being insanely rich or letting themselves be 'bought' by some kind of sponsor, and a sponsor is going to ask for payback eventually.

australia has independents and representatives of minor parties in every state and federal parliament. however, we have a system of compulsory voting and we have proportional representation (something similar to 'instant runoff voting') these things make electing an independent much easier. independents tend to be a bit unpredictable and they are often act rashly. still, having them there keeps the major parties on their best behaviour.

and about egos, independents have egos every bit as combersome as big names in the major parties. they are no less media sluts, no less convinced of their righteousness. i think it is politics that attracts the egos, not parties.

hot dragon · 02-08-2010, 02:19 AM

as this thread has gone in this direction, Queen Elizabeth is the queen of australia and technically our head of state. her face is on our coins, new citizens swear an oath to obey the Queens laws. but she is a totally irrelevant consideration to any political or policy decision. when royalty visit australia, there are some nice photos, maybe a military parade, they might ceremoniously open the next sitting of parliament, but then they leave and spend their time visiting fetes and attending charity events. when the british prime minister visits, they spend almost all their time with cabinet ministers.