Why not abolishing the parties?

[windjammer]

I believe that the problem with this game is basically the parties. People don't vote for the candidate, but for his party.

For instance, in the  Northeast, in both the sawx vs Barnes and the Bore vs Matt match up, the far-left will probably side with Barnes and Bore, who are both more moderate than Sawx and Matt, and the center-left/right will probably vote for Sawx and Matt, even if they're both more "progressive" than Bore and Barnes. And why? Because Sawx and Matt are members of TPP, and Barnes and Bore are members of the Labor Party, and TPP is considered as more moderate than Labor. The situation in the Northeast is purely, well, ludicrous?

Of course, even if the parties dissolve, "friendship" between players will remain, but I believe that could significantly improve this game. Candidates would have to focus more on programs and on their record.

What do you think about that?

(oh and, there is absolutely no attack against any of the candidates of the Northeast, I really like the four candidates!)

[Mechaman]

I believe that the problem with this game is basically the parties. People don't vote for the candidate, but for his party.

For instance, in the  Northeast, in both the sawx vs Barnes and the Bore vs Matt match up, the far-left will probably side with Barnes and Bore, who are both more moderate than Sawx and Matt, and the center-left/right will probably vote for Sawx and Matt, even if they're both more "progressive" than Bore and Barnes. And why? Because Sawx and Matt are members of TPP, and Barnes and Bore are members of the Labor Party, and TPP is considered as more moderate than Labor. The situation in the Northeast is purely, well, ludicrous?

Of course, even if the parties dissolve, "friendship" between players will remain, but I believe that could significantly improve this game. Candidates would have to focus more on programs and on their record.

What do you think about that?

(oh and, there is absolutely no attack against any of the candidates of the Northeast, I really like the four candidates!)

A National Duh Award Winner is you!

Unfortunately, this will never happen Mr. Washington.  I hope you enjoyed your stay in Philadelphia.

-Mechaman

[Marokai Backbeat]

The extent to which political organizations can become powerful and potentially damaging is a bummer, but accepting for the sake of argument that getting rid of them is ideal, there's really no practical way for that to operate. As human beings we naturally congregate and would just form some other de-facto party system instead.

It's just on us to make sure we remember this is a game and to keep things relatively chill.

[windjammer]

Mecha: thank you for this award .

Marokai:
Well, of course, friendship will never be abolished and that's not my intent. But I believe the current situation of this game will significantly improve if people would not vote because the chairman of their party would tell them to do do.

Without any party, people would have to build themselves their own organization if they want to be elected to something instead of using political organization.  That would be cool to watch that.

Parties have become too powerful, no one can deny that.

[DemPGH]

It's a very noble idea, but my honest opinion? Things would get far worse. I think that parties and platforms are not only kind of natural, but perhaps help to hold in check the personal allegiances and the inclination for heroics that are roiling underneath the party structure. Remove the party and platform structure, which basically provide some semblance of order, and we'd pretty much have a free-for-all. I'd never want to deal with something like that.

We have a Right and a Left and residual elements in between that seek to form alliances. That's very lifelike, and I think should probably be embraced.

[ZuWo]

When they become registered voters most people choose to affiliate with either Team A, B, C or D and then usually cheer and vote for candidates of their own team. Factors such as qualification, activity and ideology generally don't matter as much as they should. This holds true for real-life politics and is particularly apparent in Atlasia. So what you described is hardly a new thing; whether we like it or not, it's the way this game has always worked.  

My solution: We need more independents and should implement a secret-ballot voting system which both retains the most important feature of Atlasian elections we all enjoy (i.e. the ability to follow the outcome of an election in real time) and does away with voting patterns that are all too partisan.

[Filuwaúrdjan]

Because it's a terrible idea, Sir Douchebag.

[windjammer]

It's a very noble idea, but my honest opinion? Things would get far worse. I think that parties and platforms are not only kind of natural, but perhaps help to hold in check the personal allegiances and the inclination for heroics that are roiling underneath the party structure. Remove the party and platform structure, which basically provide some semblance of order, and we'd pretty much have a free-for-all. I'd never want to deal with something like that.

We have a Right and a Left and residual elements in between that seek to form alliances. That's very lifelike, and I think should probably be embraced.

But the problem is that the current system clearly doesn't work: the Northeast.
That would be funny if everyone would be independent. People would have to build themselves, not to use their party machine!

-----------------------

When they become registered voters most people choose to affiliate with either Team A, B, C or D and then usually cheer and vote for candidates of their own team. Factors such as qualification, activity and ideology generally don't matter as much as they should. This holds true for real-life politics and is particularly apparent in Atlasia. So what you described is hardly a new thing; whether we like it or not, it's the way this game has always worked. 

My solution: We need more independents and should implement a secret-ballot voting system which both retains the most important feature of Atlasian elections we all enjoy (i.e. the ability to follow the outcome of an election in real time) and does away with voting patterns that are all too partisan.

Hmmmm, the secret ballot could be interesting.

-----

Because it's a terrible idea, Sir Douchebag.

But why Al?

[Talleyrand]

In absolutely no circumstances could I support an abolishment of political parties. As Al has repeatedly pointed out, the parties originated well before any government in Atlasia and remain pivotal to the organization of this game, which is fundamentally based off of elections.

Yes, ideally people would take into account ideology and activity more into consideration when voting, but there's no way to ensure that at all.

I like ZuWo's idea of secret ballots, and if there's a plausible way we can allow for them, while simultaneously allowing citizens to view results in real time, I'd wholeheartedly support that.

[Queen Mum Inks.LWC]

In order for this to work, everyone would have to want to abolish parties, which would mean some people lose control over the process.  Those who benefit from parties wouldn't want this; thus, you cannot get to a system without parties unless you mandate it, which would be completely unenforceable.

[Adam Griffin]

I published a way to handle secret ballots some time ago, but it'd require about 10x more work be put into the actual voting booth/elections process than is currently required.

[sentinel]

I published a way to handle secret ballots some time ago, but it'd require about 10x more work be put into the actual voting booth/elections process than is currently required.

Two step verification?

[Adam Griffin]

I published a way to handle secret ballots some time ago, but it'd require about 10x more work be put into the actual voting booth/elections process than is currently required.

Two step verification?

I don't know where it went (within the past year), but it was a hefty dissertation on the matter.

[Cincinnatus]

I can't even imagine the awful turnout and general lack of interest that would result.

[Fmr President & Senator Polnut]

Because it's a terrible idea, Sir Douchebag.

I cannot think of anything worse than government by Independents.

[Spamage]

I'd argue parties do more good than bad for Atlasia. Not only do they help spur activity so long as they're run correctly, but their interactions with one another (whether friendly or hostile) foster debate and gets people motivated.