How far should politicians compromise to get into power?
|
Tuesday, 9 Sept. 2010
|18:00 - 19:00 GMT
Is compromise a necessary part of politics?
The Liberal Democrat party in the UK certainly thinks so. Earlier this year they went into a coalition government with the Conservative party - the first time any coalition has occurred in Britain since the Second World War.
Now their leader Nick Clegg has told party members that two heads are better than one, and the political system works better with two parties in power, even if they disagree with each other on key policies.
But is that really true? Or is something inevitably lost when political parties have to bargain their way into power?
Charles-Alexandre Albin - compromise is the only way to solve problems and negotiate. If there is no compromise, there is no negotiation, if there is no negotiation, there will be some people unhappy (usually a lot)
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18:16
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horsephoto on the blog - In the US it seems compromise is a dirty word. Thus the extreme polarization and lack of progress in dealing with issues.
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18:15
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Guido on the blog - Nick Clegg has a special problem. He has to prove that coalition government works in Britain to get the reform of the election system the LibDems dream of.
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18:15
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Jodie in Virginia on the blog - I think the British model of compromising coalition members has real integrity, but the way the ultra-conservatives are refusing compromise and undermining the coalition in the present Israeli government misses the point of coalition and makes for a dysfunctional government.
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18:14
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gary indiana on the blog - Without trying to be cute, politics requires compromise where this is possible and conviction when it is required. Getting these right isn’t too difficult, though getting them wrong occurs so often many people consider it an impossible task.
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18:13
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Henry Tokula - you want to get anything done in politics,you have no choice but to be flexible and that means compromise.
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18:13
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Chidozie Nwankwo - How do you choose between being in power and trying to change things from within; and forever attacking government as an opposition? That is why I feel sorry for the Nick Cleggs and Morgan Tsvangirais of this world. They seem to be in a lose-lose situation.
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18:12
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Steven Hirlston - Politicians have to compromise to get things done. Sen. Ted Kennedy was a great example of this. Unfortunately, we're getting so polarized here in the States that there's now a scorched earth mindset where everyone has to curry to his or her base, so nothing can actually get done.
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18:11
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Kondwani Kwame Chirwa - why not, there shouldn't be condemnation, everyone in life in everything deserves a second chance. Dont we think there could be other politicians without convictions waiting to strike?..
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18:11
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Gary Paudler on the blog - The UK's apparently thoughtfully-compromising Clegg and Cameron are a refreshing, if sometimes frustrating, contrast to our scorched-earth zero-sum blood baths in the US where the only winners are the corporations and billionaires who pay for representation. I'll take respectful compromise over rigid ideology any day.
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18:08
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Peter Mpande - Politicians with convictions! Now where are they to be found? I would like to go and live tbere!! Or perhaps you meant convictions as in Lord Geoffrey Archer - criminal convictions?
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18:06
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Emmanuel Adegoke - If the people vote without a clear-cut winner especially in a parliamentary democracy. they just have to put up with an alliance of parties in government.
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18:04
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Ros has posted a video explaining today''s show:
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18:04
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I'm ready to go on @成人论坛_WHYS with Jeremy Browne, Ming Campbell & @normanlamb
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17:59
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Hello from Ben S in London and the WHYS team in Liverpool at the Liberal Democrat party conference. We''re asking if compromise is a necessary part of politics? Have your say here.
How far should politicians compromise to get into power?
| Tuesday, 9 Sept. 2010 | 18:00 - 19:00 GMT
Is compromise a necessary part of politics?
The Liberal Democrat party in the UK certainly thinks so. Earlier this year they went into a coalition government with the Conservative party - the first time any coalition has occurred in Britain since the Second World War.
Now their leader Nick Clegg has told party members that two heads are better than one, and the political system works better with two parties in power, even if they disagree with each other on key policies.
But is that really true? Or is something inevitably lost when political parties have to bargain their way into power?
Your comments
Comment sent via Facebook
Charles-Alexandre Albin - compromise is the only way to solve problems and negotiate. If there is no compromise, there is no negotiation, if there is no negotiation, there will be some people unhappy (usually a lot)
Comment sent via BLOG
horsephoto on the blog - In the US it seems compromise is a dirty word. Thus the extreme polarization and lack of progress in dealing with issues.
Comment sent via BLOG
Guido on the blog - Nick Clegg has a special problem. He has to prove that coalition government works in Britain to get the reform of the election system the LibDems dream of.
Comment sent via BLOG
Jodie in Virginia on the blog - I think the British model of compromising coalition members has real integrity, but the way the ultra-conservatives are refusing compromise and undermining the coalition in the present Israeli government misses the point of coalition and makes for a dysfunctional government.
Comment sent via BLOG
gary indiana on the blog - Without trying to be cute, politics requires compromise where this is possible and conviction when it is required. Getting these right isn’t too difficult, though getting them wrong occurs so often many people consider it an impossible task.
Comment sent via Facebook
Henry Tokula - you want to get anything done in politics,you have no choice but to be flexible and that means compromise.
Comment sent via Facebook
Chidozie Nwankwo - How do you choose between being in power and trying to change things from within; and forever attacking government as an opposition? That is why I feel sorry for the Nick Cleggs and Morgan Tsvangirais of this world. They seem to be in a lose-lose situation.
Comment sent via Facebook
Steven Hirlston - Politicians have to compromise to get things done. Sen. Ted Kennedy was a great example of this. Unfortunately, we're getting so polarized here in the States that there's now a scorched earth mindset where everyone has to curry to his or her base, so nothing can actually get done.
Comment sent via Facebook
Kondwani Kwame Chirwa - why not, there shouldn't be condemnation, everyone in life in everything deserves a second chance. Dont we think there could be other politicians without convictions waiting to strike?..
Comment sent via BLOG
Gary Paudler on the blog - The UK's apparently thoughtfully-compromising Clegg and Cameron are a refreshing, if sometimes frustrating, contrast to our scorched-earth zero-sum blood baths in the US where the only winners are the corporations and billionaires who pay for representation. I'll take respectful compromise over rigid ideology any day.
Comment sent via Facebook
Peter Mpande - Politicians with convictions! Now where are they to be found? I would like to go and live tbere!! Or perhaps you meant convictions as in Lord Geoffrey Archer - criminal convictions?
Comment sent via Facebook
Emmanuel Adegoke - If the people vote without a clear-cut winner especially in a parliamentary democracy. they just have to put up with an alliance of parties in government.
Comment sent via host
Ros has posted a video explaining today''s show:
Comment sent via Twitter
I'm ready to go on @成人论坛_WHYS with Jeremy Browne, Ming Campbell & @normanlamb
Comment sent via host
Hello from Ben S in London and the WHYS team in Liverpool at the Liberal Democrat party conference. We''re asking if compromise is a necessary part of politics? Have your say here.