They're not voting because...
- Any political party that has a leader...
Any political party that has a leader is automatically undemocratic, because the leader, who in effect is doing the thinking for the membership, can override decisions made by that membership. Can anyone tell me what the is legal position of a party "leader" ? Is it in fact a legal position like chairman, general secretary or treasurer?
written 30th Apr 2005
Responses
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Pete replies: Fraid your logic is flawed.
The membership i.e. the individual MP's can vote against the leader and frequently do - student top up fees being one such example, where several Labour MP's voted with the opposition against the Government (which still won the vote albeit with a narrow majority).
written 30th Apr 2005 -
Max replies: I was referring to the membership, not the MPs.
written 30th Apr 2005 -
Pete replies: Your logic is still flawed.
The leader alone cannot override the decisions of the membership.
It requires the leadership + the appropriate number of MP's.
If the Labour Party had decided not to institute top up fees, but Tony Blair had decided he wanted to, it would have required him to gain enough support from Labour MP's + opposition MP's in order to enact his desires.
written 30th Apr 2005 -
Max replies: Then what is the point of having a leader? If he does your bidding, then he isn't a leader. Leaders are chosen by the membership (in the case of Labour, the affiliated trade unions too), not just MPs and in some cases the party in question may have no MPs. Can anyone tell me what a political party leader's official position is (i.e. his terms of reference)?
written 30th Apr 2005 -
Pete replies: The leader is there to lead the party.
It's like the captain of a ship. He controls the ship, but still needs the support of the crew.
written 30th Apr 2005 -
Max replies: If you know what you want and know how to get it, why do you need leaders? OK, so a captain has certain skills that the crew do not, and he does have a *legal* position.
written 30th Apr 2005
I would still like to know what the terms of reference of a political leader are. -
sean replies: "Democracy is the worst form of government - except for all the others"
written 1st May 2005 -
nico replies: "I must find out where my people are headed so that I can lead them." no leader thinks like this, or should.
written 2nd May 2005 -
Max replies: If people choose a leader to do their thinking for them, then they should be prepared to accept the consequences. They have given up their right to do their own thinking.
written 2nd May 2005 -
tiger43 replies: For all its flaws, it seems to work. I don`t think I would wish to live in a country that isn`t a democracy, as I say with its flaws.
My father fought for it in the last war, and thats good enough for me.
written 2nd May 2005 -
Nick replies: This is a valid point. More than anything at this election, I should like to vote *against* The Liar. But only the people of Sedgefield get that option.
written 2nd May 2005