Author: m1n1conomy
Translator: marcelbuter
Saying goodbye to the People’s Council is closing in quickly. The discussion no longer is about if the Parliament is to be reinstated, but more in which form it is reinstated. The people who are for the plan presented a beautiful castle in the sky, while the people against it are shining by not showing up for the discussion. Where there were already doubts if the change of the political system has any purpose, this is not said out loud. However as the person who thought up this plan, I feel obligated to mention a few points of criticism.
The problems around the parliamentary system are not solved. In the last ten to fifteen years with a Parliament we saw a structural decline of political parties and candidates. Two votes, one from yourself and one from an alter-ego were usually enough to become a Member of Parliament. Even with this incredibly low threshold the trading period usually ended with an inactive Parliament due to the fact that there were not enough members to vote on and approve law proposals and motions. There is no reason to believe that this problem has solved itself in the meantime. The people for the change back to the parliamentary system that do not want to believe that the same problems will return are either naive or blind to the reality of the matter.
A Parliament is no more fair or democratic than the People’s Council. Trading period after trading period more people have applied for the People’s Council than could ever have been members of Parliament. Not only the same politicians that shared power for years, but also smaller and new traders applied. Because of the low threshold it is not hard for them to make their vote be counted. You won’t see them in discussion about boring subjects like justice, education, or another law proposal, but you do see them in discussions about the budget for example.
The main argument for the people for the change back to the parliamentary system is political parties. A political party seems to be a safe haven for the to-be politicians to learn how the trade works, and it is an effective way to discuss matters with people who think the same way. Honestly I have to admit that this does sound logical.
The question that is not asked by the same people though, let alone answer, is: Why are there no political parties now? It is easier than ever to start a political party since there are no demands for the number of members or the need for issues. Besides the legal exceptions all members of the party can enter the People’s Council. If parties actually add to politics then they would exist still.
Why do normal and intelligent politicians then choose for the return of the Parliament? Not because the Cabinets of the People’s Council are less effective, in the contrary. Not because the current system doesn’t function, in the contrary. Not because the People’s Council is undemocratic, in the contrary.
Maybe I am subjective, maybe I wrongly judge the matter. On the other hand, maybe I haven’t been in Cyberian politics for long enough to realize that people want to go back to an elitist situation where politics is in the hands of a select group of people. People though seem to want to neglect practical and principal road blocks that come in their path.