as some will know I've been spruiking the abandonment of the party system in parliament.
the reasons for which include, but not exhaustively:
- party politicians are welded to party decisions and policy.
- there is a blanket rule of parties that they do not publicly disagree with party policy/decisions
- they are bound by rules to comply with the party line
- this means very rarely can a MP 'cross the floor' or have a conscience vote
- such compliance poses the problem, as some refer to such limitations, as 'hive-mind' or 'group-think'
- parties chose candidates for reasons other than intelligence or integrity
- preferred qualities are fund-raising, networking and the ability to deliver a rousing speech (rhetoric)
this means we get MPs who are devoted to the party and so represent the Party's interest to the electorate, not the interests and concerns of the electorate to the Party. this results in decreased democratic representation.
the alternative that is happening with the rise of independent candidates/MPs is due to the realisation that political parties are not suitable as representatives of the community. and people are unhappy with the representation the party MPs afford us ordinary people.
there is an elitism granted to party members which results in such MPs thinking they have more rights than anyone else. they therefore feel able to bend laws, if not break them entirely. and in Parliament they have parliamentary privilege, which means what they do or say in the House is covered by a kind of immunity from prosecution, civil or criminal.
but what would happen if independent MPs dominate the House of Reps? who and how would Govt be formed? would anyone be in charge or would it be anarchy and dissolution by Gov General decree?
- firstly the constitution mentions political parties only once, in reference to replacing absent/missing, retired or sacked Senators. theres therefore no compulsion to have parties in politics
- independent MPs represent the electorate by canvassing the community to understand what people want and their views on matters before parliament, eg Zali Stegggal and Andrew Wilkie.
- they vote according to information and conscience rather than a bloc vote according to party rules.
- there are no guidelines in the constitution to determine how parliament provides a leadership and cabinet.
- this would demand of the MPs to debate new standing orders to create the means of forming government.
- my guess as to how they might form such is by popular vote to elect a leader and cabinet. this would work as long as independents hold a majority. if the community are dissatisfied with the result they can vote independents out and parties in at the next election, which could be called early if necessary.
- independent MPs would be able to hold a more structured debate in matters before the House as there would be less of the childish behaviour that typifies the adversity that is so obnoxious in our current system.
- this would result, imo, in better decisions being made due to the absence of power of what we all often enough refer to as dim-witted dopes on the "other" side.
this is just a rough outline but we need to discuss this as its becoming increasingly likely that an independent parliament will form within the next decade, IF political parties don't learn from the rise of independents.
welcome
@Fact Finder. .
