Reasoning Required

[andrewducker]

[Poll #1160784]

I ask because the recent outcry over free votes on the embryology bill has me feeling conflicted. On the one hand, I want people to stand up for their opinions at all times, but on the other hand, I have _no_ idea who my local MP or MSP is, and voted entirely based on the stated principles of the party they represent. This goes even further with list MSPs, who were voted in purely on party votes, and thus surely represent some kind of platonic ideal of the party, rather than any acknowledgement of their personal morals.

Comments

[accordingly.livejournal.com]

I can understand voting for the party {I generally do- like you said, list MSPs}, but how can you *not* know who your MP or MSP is?! For such an intelligent person who likes to keep up with things, I find that quite astonishing!

[andrewducker]

Put it down to a huge gob of "Don't care."

I have a general interest in politics, voting systems, etc. on an abstract level.

But my belief in the effects of any one person is pretty damn slim, even if said person is an MP, so I don't tend to worry about who my local representative is, because they don't seem to have any tangible effect on my life.

[andrewducker]

Oh, and I _did_ feel slightly embarassed writing it above, and part of the reason for this post was to see if people could reason me into paying more attention to loca politics...

[accordingly.livejournal.com]

My local MP is Alistair Darling..!

He definitely has a tangible effect on my life {although admittedly not just because of his constituency work}.

[andrewducker]

But does knowing about him affect your voting patterns?

[accordingly.livejournal.com]

Yes, I would say knowing him as an individual definitely affected and will continue to affect who I vote for.

By the way, your MP is Gavin Strang and these are your MSPs.
Interestingly enough Margo McDonald is in there. She's a perfect example of people voting for the person rather than the party!

Mixy mixy

[lizzie-and-ari.livejournal.com]

I wouldn't vote for someone who was in the BNP for example, however nice they were and seemed to have good policies. So I guess I would examine party policies first.

But given the choice between, say, Labour, SNP and Lib Dem(which to me seem very broadly the same - I know I am opening myself to a barrage of criticism there, I say broadly) I would go down to the individual. If there wasn't much choice I'd refer back again to party policies. Of course there should always be a broad overlap between the two - there's a reason they represent a given party.

I am also very surprised that you don't know who your MP is - because you can influence them. It's not over at voting. Take this current example - if a Catholic MP wanted to vote against the HFE bill, knew he shouldn't, but had significant contact from his constituents asking him to vote against it, that should sway him. On the other hand, if he's a good MP he should* vote for the bill despite personal objections if his constituents have asked him to.

I don't think Gavin Strang (my MP also) is a Catholic. This means he will vote for the bill. Is voting one way due to religion, any different from voting the otehr way because you're told to, if the constituents still don't know about it? I studied the HFE bill on my law course, and don't seem to have strong feelings either way, but if I did I'd damned well tell him. It makes a difference - no, not one person, but people acting together.

Lxxx

*I know I'm an idealist. I will never stop.

Re: Mixy mixy

[andrewducker]

"Religion" in this case is the guiding thing behind their morality.

To give a different example, there was a rebellion over going to war in Iraq - because some MPs were against it, despite their party affiliation.

Would you rather they voted the party line, or the way they felt was morally right?

[matgb]

Oh, really? Any chance you could persuade a few of your local pubs to join the "Ban Darling" campaign?

To topic: At the last election, I voted for Adrian because he's Adrian, I know and like him, and since then have started doing some work for him. The time before that I was in a different constituency, and voted tactically to stop a noisome Tory, so it wasn't in any way a positive vote and the recipient (Ben Bradshaw) is someone I mostly loath.

So I would normally have voted by party, but ticked personal because that's the answer, it's Adrian. Next time will be harder. But then one of the local PPCs might become a client so...

Having said that, if the incumbent doesn't retire as currently planned, then I might be torn, she's a damn fine MP with a good record on rebelling against the idiocy.

Re: Mixy mixy

[matgb]

Would you rather they voted the party line, or the way they felt was morally right?

They should always vote with their conscience, and always be answereable to us for it. Party line is there as a guidance, but parties sometimes get it wrong, and the Parliamentary system of Govt doesn't work if MPs don't have the guts to rebel.

I like the principle of the system, but regret the currently supine House.

Re: Mixy mixy

[lizzie-and-ari.livejournal.com]

I would rather they voted for what their constituents wanted.

I realise this is a safe one as the majority of people were against the war so yay I win, but unless they genuinely have some kind of priviledged information, they should do as they're told by the people who pay their wages (ie us).

So long as it's within the sphere of human rights of course. If some kind of new cult or media frenzy had everyone convinced we should lock up all the Jews/blacks/gays/neds, then, no, fuck off.

So is the HFE act a human rights issue? Well this is why there is legitimate debate and MPs should have to be extremely intelligent and not just popular.

Conclusion: I should run the country. Of course.

Lxxx

[the-magician.livejournal.com]

I have always lived in areas where Labour have such a majority that whichever way I voted would not have any noticeable affect on the outcome of the election.

When I vote I choose either a party that has the ideals I want, or occasionally a single issue candidate if I want to send a message that the local hospital (or whatever) is important to me.

[theweaselking.livejournal.com]

I voted party-line last time, on the grounds that regardless of my personal opinion on my choice ("gormless twit"), the other local candidates were worse AND their parties are so far divorced from reality that trusting them with power is the act of a flatly insane man.

[nmg.livejournal.com]

Broken poll - I base my vote on both criteria.

[andrewducker]

No ontology can accurately map onto reality.

That's what comments are for :->

Re: Mixy mixy

[missedith01.livejournal.com]

How do they find out what their constituents want?