Would governments be better [without] political parties?

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   Originposted 13 years ago

   I thought about this years back, because it seems like a lot of people vote for whatever their political party is voting for, even though they may not entirely agree with it. What's your thoughts? Do you think if political parties didn't exist that governments would be better off?
   
   With that said, I'm not talking about a single-party state, but instead a no-party state. I know it would be tough to do, because I think it's a part of human nature to gather and organize, so even if there were no official parties, hidden and secret ones would probably still exist. Anyhow, whats your thoughts?

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      LarasMamaposted 13 years agoin reply to this

      I don't see how this could work without being a dictatorship. Someone once said that a committee is a life form with many legs and no brain.

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         Doug Hughesposted 13 years agoin reply to this

         The quote I know from Heinlein is many stomachs and no brain.

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            LegendaryHeroposted 13 years agoin reply to this

            There are many versions of it.

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      rhamsonposted 13 years agoin reply to this

      You think we have it bad you should check out Italy.
      
      The People of Freedom (Il Popolo della Libertà)
      Democratic Party (Partito Democratico)
      Lega Nord (North League)
      Italy of Values (Italia dei Valori)
      Union of Christian and Centre Democrats (Unione dei Democratici Cristiani e di Centro)
      [edit] Minor parties
      Having a minor representation in elective bodies, at national or regional level, or having scored less than 4% in the 2008 general election:
      
      Alliance for Italy (Alleanza per l'Italia)
      Italian Radicals (Radicali Italiani)
      Movement for Autonomies (Movimento per le Autonomie)
      Left Ecology Freedom (Sinistra Ecologia Libertà)
      Communist Refoundation Party (Partito della Rifondazione Comunista)
      Party of Italian Communists (Partito dei Comunisti Italiani)
      Five Star Movement (Movimento Cinque Stelle)
      We the South (Noi Sud)
      The Right (La Destra)
      UDEUR Populars (Popolari UDEUR)
      Italian Socialist Party (Partito Socialista Italiano)
      Federation of the Greens (Federazione dei Verdi)
      Tricolour Flame (Fiamma Tricolore)
      Italian Republican Party (Partito Repubblicano Italiano)
      European Republicans Movement (Movimento Repubblicani Europei)
      Italian Liberal Party (Partito Liberale Italiano)
      Liberal Democrats (Liberal Democratici)
      White Rose (Rosa Bianca)
      Alliance of the Centre (Alleanza di Centro)
      Federation of Christian Populars (Federazione dei Cristiano Popolari)
      Workers' Communist Party (Partito Comunista dei Lavoratori)
      New Force (Forza Nuova)
      Critical Left (Sinistra Critica)
      Citizens' Political Movement (Movimento Politico dei Cittadini)
      Italian Democratic Socialist Party (Partito Socialista Democratico Italiano)
      [edit] Regional parties
      More than 1% in a previous regional election (or at least 2 regional councillors):
      
      Aosta Valley
      Valdotanian Union (Union Valdôtaine)
      Autonomy Liberty Participation Ecology (Autonomie Liberté Partecipation Ecologie)
      Edelweiss Aosta Valley (Stella Alpina Val d'Aosta)
      Autonomist Federation (Fédération Autonomiste)
      Rainbow Aosta Valley (Arcobaleno Vallée d'Aoste)
      Lega Nord Valle d'Aosta (North League Aosta Valley)
      Piedmont
      Lega Nord Piemont (North League Piedmont)
      Moderates for Piedmont (Moderati per il Piemonte)
      Lombardy
      Lega Lombarda (Lombard League)
      Lega Alleanza Lombarda (Lombard Alliance League)
      Alto Adige/Südtirol
      South Tyrolean People's Party (Südtiroler Volkspartei)
      The Libertarians (Die Freiheitlichen)
      Greens (Verdi–Grüne–Vërc)
      South Tyrolean Freedom (Süd-Tiroler Freiheit)
      Union for South Tyrol (Union für Südtirol)
      Lega Nord Sud Tirolo (North League South Tyrol)
      Unitalia (One Italy)
      Citizens' Movement (Bürgerbewegung)
      Ladins Political Movement (Moviment Politich Ladins)
      Trentino
      Union for Trentino (Unione per il Trentino)
      Lega Nord Trentino (North League Trentino)
      Trentino Tyrolean Autonomist Party (Partito Autonomista Trentino Tirolese)
      Loyal to Trentino (Leali al Trentino)
      United Valleys (Valli Unite)
      Democrats for Trentino (Democratici per il Trentino)
      Administer Trentino (Amministrare il Trentino)
      Ladin Autonomist Union (Unione Autonomista Ladina)
      Veneto
      Liga Veneta (Venetian League)
      North-East Project (Progetto Nord-Est)
      Liga Veneta Repubblica (Venetian Republic League)
      Veneto for the EPP (Veneto per il PPE)
      North-East Union (Unione Nord-Est)
      Friuli-Venezia Giulia
      Lega Nord Friuli-Venezia Giulia (North League Friuli-Venezia Giulia)
      Citizens for the President (Cittadini per il Presidente)
      Slovene Union (Slovenska Skupnost)
      Emilia-Romagna
      Lega Nord Emilia (North League Emilia)
      Lega Nord Romagna (North League Romagna)
      Liguria
      Lega Nord Liguria (North League Liguria)
      Tuscany
      Lega Nord Toscana (North League Tuscany)
      Campania
      Federalist Democracy (Democrazia Federalista)
      Democratic Populars (Popolari Democratici)
      Basilicata
      United Populars (Popolari Uniti)
      Apulia
      Apulia First (La Puglia Prima di Tutto)
      I the South (Io Sud)
      Southern Action League (Lega d'Azione Meridionale)
      Sardinia
      Sardinian Reformers (Riformatori Sardi)
      Sardinian Action Party (Partito Sardo d'Azione)
      Sardinian Democratic Union (Unione Democratica Sarda)
      Red Moors (Rosso Mori)
      Independence Republic of Sardinia (Indipendèntzia Repùbrica de Sardigna)
      Sardinian People's Party (Partito del Popolo Sardo)
      Sardinia Nation (Sardigna Natzione)
      [edit] Parties of the Italians abroad
      More than 15% in one constituency in the 2008 general election (or at least 1 MP):
      
      Associative Movement Italians Abroad (Movimento Associativo Italiani all'Estero)
      Italian Associations in South America (Associazioni Italiane in Sud America)
      [edit] Former parties
      [edit] Coalitions
      Having scored at least 15% in a general election (or at least 30 MPs):
      
      Pact for Italy (Patto per l'Italia)
      Pole of Good Government (Polo del Buon Governo)
      Alliance of Progressives (Alleanza dei Progressisti)
      Pole of Freedoms (Polo delle Libertà)
      The Olive Tree (L'Ulivo)
      The Union (L'Unione)
      House of Freedoms (Casa delle Libertà)
      [edit] Parties
      Having scored at least 1% in a general election (or at least 5 MPs):
      
      Italian Revolutionary Socialist Party (Partito Socialista Rivoluzionario Italiano)
      Italian Labour Party (Partito Operaio Italiano)
      Radical Party (Partito Radicale)
      Constitutional Democratic Party (Partito Democratico Costituzionale)
      Democratic Liberal Party (Partito Liberale Democratico)
      Independent Socialist Party (Partito Socialista Indipendente)
      Reform Democratic Party (Partito Democratico Riformista)
      Party of Combatants (Partito dei Combattenti)
      Economic Party (Partito Economico)
      Party of Italian Peasants (Partito dei Contadini Italiani)
      Italian Social Democratic Party (Partito Democratico Sociale Italiano)
      Italian Reform Socialist Party (Partito Socialista Riformista Italiano)
      Communist Party of Italy (Partito Comunista d'Italia)
      Italian People's Party (old) (Partito Popolare Italiano)
      United Socialist Party (old) (Partito Socialista Unitario)
      Fascist National Party (Partito Nazionale Fascista)
      Labour Democratic Party (Partito Democratico del Lavoro)
      Action Party (Partito d'Azione)
      Uomo Qualunque Front (Fronte dell'Uomo Qualunque)
      Italian Socialist Workers' Party (Partito Socialista dei Lavoratori Italiani)
      United Socialist Party (Partito Socialista Unitario)
      Socialist Autonomy (Autonomia Socialista)
      National Democratic Alliance (Alleanza Democratica Nazionale)
      People's Unity (Unità Popolare)
      Monarchist National Party (Partito Nazionale Monarchico)
      People's Monarchist Party (Partito Monarchico Popolare)
      Unified Socialist Party (Partito Socialista Unificato)
      Italian Socialist Party of Proletarian Unity (Partito Socialista di Unità Proletaria)
      Italian Democratic Party of Monarchist Unity (Partito Democratico Italiano di Unità Monarchica)
      National Right (Destra Nazionale)
      Proletarian Unity Party (Partito di Unità Proletaria)
      Radical Party (Partito Radicale)
      Rainbow Greens (Verdi Arcobaleno)
      Green Lists (Liste Verdi)
      Italian Communist Party (Partito Comunista Italiano)
      Proletarian Democracy (Democrazia Proletaria)
      Christian Democracy (old) (Democrazia Cristiana)
      Italian Liberal Party (old) (Partito Liberale Italiano)
      Italian Socialist Party (Partito Socialista Italiano)
      Italian Social Movement (Movimento Sociale Italiano)
      Democratic Alliance (Alleanza Democratica)
      Liberal Democratic Foundation (Fondazione Liberaldemocratica)
      Federalists and Liberal Democrats (Federalisti e Liberaldemocratici)
      Federalist Italian League (Lega Italiana Federalista)
      Italian Socialists (Socialisti Italiani)
      Union of the Centre (Unione di Centro)
      Democratic Party of the Left (Partito Democratico della Sinistra)
      Movement of Unitarian Communists (Movimento dei Comunisti Unitari)
      Labour Federation (Federazione Laburista)
      Social Christians (Cristiano Sociali)
      Republican Left (Sinistra Repubblicana)
      Union of the Centre (Unione di Centro)
      Christian Democrats for the Republic (Cristiani Democratici per la Repubblica)
      Democratic Union for the Republic (Unione Democratica per la Repubblica)
      Movement for Democracy – The Net (Movimento per la Democrazia – La Rete)
      Democratic Union (Unione Democratica)
      Union for the Republic (Unione per la Repubblica)
      Pannella List (Lista Pannella)
      Federalist Party (Partito Federalista)
      Italian People's Party (Partito Popolare Italiano)
      Italian Renewal (Rinnovamento Italiano)
      The Democrats (I Democratici)
      Christian Democratic Centre (Centro Cristiano Democratico)
      United Christian Democrats (Cristiani Democratici Uniti)
      European Democracy (Democrazia Europea)
      Patto Segni (Segni Pact)
      Bonino List (Lista Bonino)
      Autonomists for Europe (Autonomisti per l'Europa)
      Democrats of the Left (Democratici di Sinistra)
      Democracy is Freedom – The Daisy (Democrazia è Libertà – La Margherita)
      Italian Democratic Socialists (Socialisti Democratici Italiani)
      Forza Italia (Forward Italy)
      National Alliance (Alleanza Nazionale)
      [edit] Regional parties
      Having scored at least 1% in a regional election (or at least 2 regional councillors):
      
      Aosta Valley
      Aosta Valley Regional Rally (Raggruppamento Regionale Valle d'Aosta)
      Italian Democratic Group (Gruppo Democratico Italiano)
      Valdotanian Rally (Rassemblement Valdôtain)
      Valdotanian Democratic Union (Union Democratique Valdôtaine)
      Progressive Valdotanian Union (Union Valdôtaine Progressiste)
      Valdotanian Craftsmen and Traders (Artigiani e Commercianti Valdostani)
      Popular Democrats (Democratici Popolari)
      Free Zone List (Lista Zona Franca)
      Autonomist Union (Union Autonomiste)
      Autonomists Democrats Progressives (Autonomistes Démocrates Progressistes)
      Independent Autonomists (Autonomisti Indipendenti)
      For Aosta Valley (Pour la Vallée d'Aoste)
      Autonomist People's Alliance (Alleanza Popolare Autonomista)
      Autonomists (Autonomistes)
      Forward Valley (Alé Vallée)
      Valdotanian Renewal (Renouveau Valdôtain)
      Lively Aosta Valley (Vallée d'Aoste Vive)
      Piedmont
      Piedmontese Union (Union Piemontèisa)
      Lombardy
      Lega Nuova (New League)
      Liguria
      New Liguria (Liguria Nuova)
      Alto Adige/Südtirol
      Union of Independents (Unione Indipendenti)
      Tridentine Autonomy (Autonomia Tridentina)
      Italian Union (Unione Italiana)
      Tyrolean Homeland Party (Tiroler Heimatpartei)
      Social Progressive Party of South Tyrol (Soziale Fortschrittspartei Südtirols)
      Social Democratic Party of South Tyrol (Sozialdemokratische Partei Südtirols)
      Party of Independents (Partei der Unabhängigen)
      New Left (Nuova Sinistra–Neue Linke)
      South Tyrolean Homeland Federation (Südtiroler Heimatbund)
      Freedom Party of South Tyrol (Freiheitliche Partei Südtirols)
      Democratic Party of South Tyrol (Demokratische Partei Südtirols)
      Democratic Union of Alto Adige (Unione Democratica del Alto Adige)
      Trentino
      Anti-Autonomistic National League (Lega Nazionale Anti-Autonomistica)
      Alliance of Independents (Alleanza Indipendenti)
      Independent Autonomists (Autonomisti Indipendenti)
      Craftsman-Farmer Alliance (Alleanza Contadina Artigiana)
      New Left (Nuova Sinistra–Neue Linke)
      Union of Independents for Trentino (Unione Indipendenti per il Trentino)
      Trentino Tyrolean People's Party (Partito Popolare Trentino Tirolese)
      Trentino Tyrolean Autonomist Union (Unione Autonomista Trentino Tirolese)
      Integral Autonomy (Autonomia Integrale)
      Lega Autonomia Trentino (Trentino Autonomy League)
      Alliance for Trentino (Alleanza per il Trentino)
      Integral Autonomy (Autonomia Integrale)
      Trentino Autonomists (Autonomisti Trentini)
      Trentino Tomorrow (Trentino Domani)
      Daisy Civic List (Civica Margherita)
      Taverna List (Lista Taverna)
      Veneto
      Union of the Venetian People (Union del Popolo Veneto)
      Lega Autonomia Veneta (Venetian Autonomy League)
      Fronte Marco Polo (Marco Polo Front)
      Friuli-Venezia Giulia
      List for Trieste (Lista per Trieste)
      Friuli Movement (Movimento Friûl)
      Lega Autonomia Friuli (Friuli Autonomy League)
      Friuli-Venezia Giulia Autonomist Party (Partito Autonomista Friuli-Venezia Giulia)
      Giulian Front (Fronte Giuliano)
      Reform Popular Centre (Centro Riformatore Popolare)
      Freedom and Autonomy (Libertà e Autonomia)
      Molise
      Christian Inspiration Populars (Popolari di Ispirazione Cristiana)
      Campania
      Democratic Republicans (Repubblicani Democratici)
      Basilicata
      The Democrats (I Democratici)
      Calabria
      Mancini List (Lista Mancini)
      Southern Democratic Party (Partito Democratico Meridionale)
      Sicily
      Sicilian Independence Movement (Movimento Indipendentista Siciliano)
      Social Liberal Union Autonomy Sicily (Unione Liberale Sociale Autonomia Sicilia)
      Social Christian Sicilian Union (Unione Siciliana Cristiano Sociale)
      Sicilian Spring (Primavera Siciliana)
      New Sicily (Nuova Sicilia)
      Autonomist Democrats (Democratici Autonomisti)
      Sardinia
      Sardinian Socialist Action Party (Partito Sardo d'Azione Socialista)
      Sardinian Independence Party (Partidu Sardu Indipendentista)
      New Movement (Nuovo Movimento)
      Democratic Federation (Federazione Democratica)
      Sardinia Project (Progetto Sardegna)
      Sardinian Autonomist Populars (Popolari Autonomisti Sardi)
      
      The only positive thing I can see in their system is that the parties have to form an alliance to get anything done.

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         Brenda Durhamposted 13 years agoin reply to this

         Wow and whoa.
         Are those actually legitimate political Parties, or just groups/committees underneath?   Like the U.S has Caucuses and Committees and a bunch of other groups that have a lot of political power....

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            rhamsonposted 13 years agoin reply to this

            Some may only represent a few hudred but many have enough clout to make it hard on the opposing party.
            
            There is a regional factor involved as well as to their importance on larger elections.

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               Brenda Durhamposted 13 years agoin reply to this

               So...you say they have to work with the other Parties, or some of the Parties, in order to get things done?
               
               ...Maybe that would be better than the Party in majority power being able to change laws and put laws in effect at the drop of a hat.....

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         LegendaryHeroposted 13 years agoin reply to this

         This actually ties into something I learned in my world regions class yesterday. In the world political spectrum the republicans and democrats aren't really that far apart. The only things that they really disagree on are social issues. Both of them pretty much accept our political system and the basis of our government.
         
         Elsewhere in the world, like this great example from Italy, the political parties are all across the political spectrum, they disagree greatly on social and political and governmental issues.
         
         Also, I believe that political parties allow for a more efficient form of elections and government. People naturally group together too, so if you got rid of all political parties people would still form them.

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      Brenda Durhamposted 13 years agoin reply to this

      I think we need the political Parties.
      But they need reform.
      For instance, they and their Candidates need to be vetted properly ahead of time,  and
      after anyone takes Office, there needs to be a better system to hold them accountable for breaking their Oaths of Office instead of them being able to say "Hey, I WON, so get over it".
      They need to be more accessible to the general public including individual citizens.    I for one get pretty tired of calling my Senator or Representative's office and getting to only speak with an assistant.  While I know the Officials are busy, at the same time, seems to me they're "busy" catering to only a few rich people or famous people and the only time the average citizen gets their ear is when they're involved personally in some case about civil rights or have a case that should be in a court instead of making it a sweeping example that the government can use to change laws on everyone else.

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         rhamsonposted 13 years agoin reply to this

         I think more than allowing the two party system to become a glorified gang interaction I think we have to take a serious look at why the parties are so easily corrupted.
         
         The money that is exchanged by the "Slime on the Hill" is what is at the heart of the problem.  The whole system is corrupted by the candidates fund raising abilities and the time it takes them away from governing.  Lobbyists add to the fray by making the money making easier for the representative but also has hooks in the money by requiring some consideration which is many times contrary to the representatives  constituency interests.
         
         Campaign finance, term limits and lobbying reform is where the meat of the matter lies and everything else is merely a speed bump for the lobbyists to get over.

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      prettydarkhorseposted 13 years agoin reply to this

      I think political parties exist to simplify matters, I am just thinking a multi-party system unlike a dual party system is more chaotic?? there are more interests?

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      tony0724posted 13 years agoin reply to this

      I actually really like the Idea. Even though we all know it will never happen. I like the Idea of a candidate having to stand on their merits as opposed to the backing of a party machine. I am pretty conservative and I don't always agree with everything a conservative candidate says. Out here in California the land of Democrats many vote for a candidate simply because they are democrats. And as a result over the course of the last 25 to 30 years one of the largest economies on the planet has now gone into the toilet with way to much regulation and unions owning the Dems in Sacramento. So now we have the results , a burgeoning third world country on the West Coast. But they will vote Democratic anyway , in spite of the evidence. A no party election would actually give the power back to the people.

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      SparklingJewelposted 13 years agoin reply to this

      ...well, think about it...I believe that is what the US Constitution is "suppose" to be about.
      
      The Constitution is a definition of the answer...if people would just see and become able to live through their "highest conscience"... God, if you will, or whatever that LOVE and PEACE of God is to those that choose to not believe in God
      
      That we can all govern our selves in peace and in an ethical life, and state or federal government is only suppose to help with a limited parameter of laws...not take over...
      
      politicians are suppose to only represent the people in a limited government
      
      political parties just compound the egos of humanity, in their lack of conscience

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      leebertteaposted 13 years agoin reply to this

      I think people would be better off if governments didn't exist. What do people fight over? Politics, religion, sex, and money. Get rid of three of them and we'd have 1/4 of the problems we have now! (I'll keep the sex thank you very much!)

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   Uninvited Writerposted 13 years ago

   That only happens when you have a minority government like currently in the UK and Canada.
   
   But it also requires more of the opposition than just saying no to everything.

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   Rafiniposted 13 years ago

   Its difficult to say without it actually happening.  First off, is it even possible to have a no-party government? (without it becoming a one-party government)
   
   On the positive side - I say yes, government would be better without political parties.  Why?  Because, hopefully, everyone would be thinking for themselves rather than following the leader in order to have the entire group watching their backs when the need arises.
   
   Negatives - With so many different opinions being thrown into the pot when would anything get done? (I imagine never-ending debates due to multitudes of opinions needing to be discussed)

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      Caine39posted 13 years agoin reply to this

      Were every citizen involved in direct democracy (as was classical Greece), absolutely nothing would get done. With 300 million people all clamoring for their own opinions to be honored, they would simply HAVE to form political parties in order to pass legislation. Theoretically, a political party is a group of people who share similar ideals and use their collective voting power to pass the laws and tax code that they believe is the correct course for the country. Even with Washington's Farewell Address beseeching the country not  to engage in forming political parties, in a nation this large it is simply the most efficient way to get things done.
      
      However, for all practical purposes the party system is simply not honoring the will of the people. Democrats and Republicans are simply too similar, primarily because our Congressional representatives are politicians, and politicians have a tendency to vote themselves more power. Neither party appears to be adverse to constantly increasing the size of the federal government, or voting themselves pay raises despite historic levels of disapproval of the goings-on in Congress.
      
      I believe instituting term limits would be a significant counter to this. Without the ability to "serve" in Congress indefinitely, the likelihood of politicians abandoning their limited-government principles and "going native" in DC would almost certainly be reduced. Also by reducing federal regulation of the economy, there would be no purpose to the lobbying that corrupts so many politicians once they're in Washington.
      
      Another necessity that would be helpful is decapitating the campaign-finance laws. For example, Ronald Reagan- greatest president this century- despised the kind of constant fund-raising that plagues most modern politicians. The ability for individuals to give great sums of money to him was what enabled him to become president in the first place. One would assume Democrats would not mind this, inasmuch as the wealthiest individuals in America almost always possess liberal politics- trial lawyers, George Soros, 99% of Hollywood and others in the entertainment industry, business moguls. Wall Street gives the majority of its money to Democrats (Goldman & Sachs, and its employees, gave a record-breaking amount to Obama). And, of course, the core of the first amendment is free political speech, which campaign finance laws violate.
      
      Just some thoughts.

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   Arthur Fontesposted 13 years ago

   Imagine a politician trying to earn your vote simply by their words and actions.  Imagine voters having to make an informed decision about a candidate. 
   
   Would the majority of voters be able to differentiate a left/right politician without someone telling them.
   
   It might be too difficult since many voters just vote for the label without ever knowing what the actual person stands for.

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      leebertteaposted 13 years agoin reply to this

      The flip side of that is every politician running for office would actually have to explain what they stand for and then have a voting record to support that! Now, what politician really wants that? I think they like the idea of labels because it allows them the ability to parse their positions.

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         Arthur Fontesposted 13 years agoin reply to this

         This is true.  Right now 40% vote right and 40% vote left, leaving politicians to only campaigning to the undecided 20%.
         
         Imagine a politician having to earn each and every vote.
         
         Sounds good to me.

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   ilmdamailyposted 13 years ago

   I'm not sure it's possible.
   
   Political parties are only the formalising of the tendency of opinions broadly similar opinons to coalesce and coagulate around each other.
   
   it's a "herd mentality" heuristic that keeps us functioning properly. That's not to disparage it of course - it's the  reason we don't wake up and immediately think on the most profound philosophical problems of existence. Sometimes it's just more necessary to stop asking "why", and start figuring out "how." Political Parties are an example of that.
   
   I guess that's what the "silent majority" is - most people, believing mostly the same thing, most of the time.
   
   I'm not sure it's possible to eliminate parties - not without changing people fundamentally. We've always had families and tribes - and still do, even if they all wear suits now.
   
   But how about this: rather than eliminate parties and keep the government, let's eliminate the government and keep parties!
   
   Cocktails anyone?

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