Horrible abuse of democracy

[khaltek]

http://poetv.com/video.php?vid=58999

Seriously, wtf?

[Jyn]

Saw this a year ago, give or take. Might have even posted it here...

All I know is that I was angry about it then, and I'm still angry about it now. "We have to go to the bathroom. Blah blah. It's hard sitting there for all that time blah blah." These people have apparently forgotten what it's like to have a real job. They all need to be replaced and not allowed back into politics so that they can start to remember.

Anyone in that video who was recorded pushing someone else's button should be in jail, regardless of reason and regardless of whether they actually had permission from the absentee or not.

They were elected to be present to vote for their constituency and only their constituency. That is all they have been authorized to do. Why are they even allowed to not be present during any votes in the first place?

[leira]

Yeah, that's pretty ridiculous. I guess 3/4s of them had to go to the bathroom at the same time.

[Jidoe]

Several years ago, when I was in officers' course, we were taken to Jerusalem to see some of the government facilities there, and especially the parliament. I was very embarrassed for my country when I saw there were about 4-5 people (out of 120) in the plenum. One was holding a speech, one or two were listening, one was playing Freecell and one was sleeping on the table.

That was before I understood how the parliament actually works and that being in the plenum is just a very small part of those parliament members' job. I would elaborate on it, but the systems may be a little different in different places, so it might be moot.

As for voting for someone else - while I agree it is wrong, there are a few very important distinctions that need to be made: Did the representative vote for another representative because he asked him to, or similarily - did the other representative know someone was voting for him (the latter being a little worse than the first for obvious reasons). If you vote for a complete "stranger" or a rival, then it is absolutely wrong, but if that person is from your camp, then it is mostly a moral problem and not necessarily a reliability problem.

[khaltek]

If you vote for a complete "stranger" or a rival, then it is absolutely wrong, but if that person is from your camp, then it is mostly a moral problem and not necessarily a reliability problem.

True, but it's also against the rules.

[Jyn]

Originally posted by Jidoe

As for voting for someone else - while I agree it is wrong, there are a few very important distinctions that need to be made: Did the representative vote for another representative because he asked him to, or similarily - did the other representative know someone was voting for him (the latter being a little worse than the first for obvious reasons). If you vote for a complete "stranger" or a rival, then it is absolutely wrong, but if that person is from your camp, then it is mostly a moral problem and not necessarily a reliability problem.

There is no distinction to be made. These people were elected to represent those who elected them. Only that person has the authority to represent their respective community/district/etc.

Beyond that, it is also obvious in the video that there are members basically racing to hit an absentee's button, and turning to find someone else's once they're beaten. In one of the instances, a guy turned around to hit the desk of an absentee behind him before hitting his own button. When he turned back to hit his button, someone else had already pushed it in plain sight, despite his being present. I mean, come on!

[Kerrin]

If what was happening was what it appeared was happening on that video then that's absolutely dishonest, immoral, and wrong - they should all be kicked out of office immediately and barred from holding any public office.

[Jidoe]

Originally posted by Jyn
Beyond that, it is also obvious in the video that there are members basically racing to hit an absentee's button, and turning to find someone else's once they're beaten. In one of the instances, a guy turned around to hit the desk of an absentee behind him before hitting his own button. When he turned back to hit his button, someone else had already pushed it in plain sight, despite his being present. I mean, come on!

In that instance I completely agree. I was merely trying to suggest that in other cases, it may be different and the law distinguishes between voting for someone without their consent and voting for someone because they asked you to.