DA 'swallowing' other parties: FF Plus

joelus said:
What they should be interested in is representation
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Representation equates to power. Power to change things, power to do good.

The word 'Power' is neutral. It's what you do with that power that makes you good or bad.
 
Less than 50% is just not realistic IMO. We can dream, though...
 
sox63 said:
He has a point. IMO, historically speaking all parties that have been absorbed by a bigger one, have never had the unanimous support of their constituents. Think of the ANC/NP merger for one, leaders get incorporated into ANC, but supporters split into many parties. Those people have either found political homes or not, it cant be said for sure, so their votes are indeed "lost".

Democracy would have been better served if those parties continued their respective existances and grown their bases. If they had, ANC would have battled to keep 50%+, but thats just my opinion, no stats to back it up
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Divide and conquer is a strategy you approve of I see :)
 
joelus said:
DA is only interested in power
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A political opposition party focusing on gaining power! Stop the presses!

Next you're gonna tell me that De Beers is just interested in diamonds!
 
Garyvdh said:
Representation equates to power. Power to change things, power to do good.

The word 'Power' is neutral. It's what you do with that power that makes you good or bad.
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With great power comes great responsibility.

Vote for Uncle Ben.

Spiderman for Vice President.
 
Garyvdh said:
Representation equates to power. Power to change things, power to do good.

The word 'Power' is neutral. It's what you do with that power that makes you good or bad.
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No, power in a political sense means you have more power than the other guys. When we say the ANC is in power we are not being neutral we are saying they have a majority over other parties and are therefore in power.
This might help:
In a democracy like ours in which members of the National Assembly (NA) are elected in terms of a pure proportional representation electoral system...
The system may also lead to forced co-operation between political parties when none of the parties are able to secure an outright majority – which regularly happens where parties gain seats in direct proportion to their electoral support – forcing coalitions to govern the country.
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http://constitutionallyspeaking.co.za/dagangs-break-up-the-finer-sticking-points/

When political parties are interested in 'power' rather than 'representation', their aim is to secure an outright majority in order to avoid having to co-operate with other parties and to form coalitions.
This is the precise reason why the DA absorbed the ID and tried to absorb Agang. They want to be the one big opposition party so that at some point they can achieve a 'majority' and be in power.
A party interested in equatable representation would not feel a need to absorb other parties in order to grow but would be willing to form coalitions and to attempt to cooperate with each others to form a government where no party has an outright majority.
 
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