Comment 62586

By moylek (registered) - website | Posted April 22, 2011 at 09:24:53 in reply to Comment 62584

The reasons for MPs being subservient to party positions are to be found in 18th and 19th C history. Parliament as we know it is not a designed system but rather something which evolved. Party discipline and cabinet confidentiality came about in response to problems with maintaining a stable government.

While it's lovely to imagine a parliament of independent legislators speaking their minds and voting the consciences (or "values", I suppose), I think that that particular experiment (in a highly restricted form) was found to be a failure. I'm very happy that it seems to work at the municipal level - but I note that even cities tend toward party politics when their governments are large enough.

Parliament continues to change and I dare say must do so if it is to continue to be a successful form of government. Both the proponents of the way things are meant to be and the defenders of the way things are would do well to keep history in mind.

Comment edited by moylek on 2011-04-22 09:32:51

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