Political Parties, What Good Are They?

[JackLuis]

I'm not asking this to find out which is better, but if any party is relevant today?

http://2d0yaz2jiom3c6vy7e7e5svk.wpengine.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/Republican-elephant-and-Democratic-donkey-2016-election-300x161.jpg​

Our political parties are indifferent to young voters — and young voters are returning the favor

I read this and wondered if Parties are serving a useful purpose or are they just ways for the "Establishments" to control the masses?

How many of you are active in a party? How many of you will vote for the least bad candidate among the liars nominated?

 

[Hard_Rom]

I have voted all 3 ways up here over the years. Only once for fed Conservatives. I really wanted nuke subs (for Arctic sovereignty patrols). Should have known the bastards would back out of promise of nuke subs.

Con or Lib Provinciallly.

Lib or NDP Federally.

usually

I like the fiscal conservatism at provincial level and liberal socialism at the federal level.

They're all as bad or good as on another. Just a few degrees of separation in their policies. None up here are really radical enough to be noticeably different except in rhetoric.

Rhetoric is the usual way to tell them apart.

 

[BotanyBoy]

I'm not asking this to find out which is better, but if any party is relevant today?

I read this and wondered if Parties are serving a useful purpose or are they just ways for the "Establishments" to control the masses?

How many of you are active in a party? How many of you will vote for the least bad candidate among the liars nominated?

They are serving a useful purpose, they are there to fuck the voter out of their choice.

Look at the GOP, sinking Trump.

DNC is doing all they can to get Sanders out of the race and even if he wins the popular vote by 10% the DNC is going to ram (R)odham down our throats.

I have voted all 3 ways up here over the years. Only once for fed Conservatives. I really wanted nuke subs (for Arctic sovereignty patrols). Should have known the bastards would back out of promise of nuke subs.

Con or Lib Provinciallly.

Lib or NDP Federally.

usually

I like the fiscal conservatism at provincial level and liberal socialism at the federal level.

They're all as bad or good as on another. Just a few degrees of separation in their policies. None up here are really radical enough to be noticeably different except in rhetoric.

Rhetoric is the usual way to tell them apart.

Somebody didn't read the Question....

 

[patient1]

Well, historically churches and political parties are formed to do good, but once they are established power structures, those with ambitions/and or agendas are going to use them.

I have been a party precinct worker in the past, and an activist in an independent campaign, mostly in the previous century.

This year I'm following things really closely, but don't intend to be active. The trouble is, that may change. I have no idea who I'll vote for. It may be voting against a candidate who disregards The Constitution. I do that in presidential elections.

What a bizarre year. A Lying Lawyer, a Sincere Socialist, a NeoCon, a TheoCon, and a CEO-Con. What is this, some kind of a joke?

I think I'm really hoping for some party fracturing and re-alignment.
If that means we get Clinton Croneyista Republicrats and FDR Socialists instead of Democrats,
and Libertarians and Theocons instead of Republicans, I can live with that.

For that matter, I think I'd crack a cork on some White Star! At least then the parties would have have competing ideas rather than competing power structures .

Politics would be more about ideas and consensus building than us vs. them.

So I guess that boils down to-
1) No useful purpose for the people.
2) Just power structures
3) No longer active, but fractured parties could change things.
4) I'll probably vote for least bad, but I may vote "false choice" and go with a candidate/party which expresses my views.

To be fair- delusional though he may be, I think Sanders has principals and isn't in the same liars league as the usual presidential candidates.