vision2020
RE: Legal System Not Ruled By Christian Bible
Greetings -
Having a strong interest in how my government is run, I have found that
there are principally three types of representatives.
1) A representative that votes along constituency lines. This type
represents and actively supports the beliefs of those who voted him/her into
office (the constituency).
2) A representative that votes along party lines. This type represents and
actively supports the dictates of his/her party without consideration for
his/her constituency.
3) A representative that votes along his/her own convictions/beliefs. This
type represents and actively supports his/her own beliefs in right and wrong
without consideration for neither his/her constituency nor his/her party.
Depending upon the time, place, and belief system of a constituency, any of
these three types can (and do) get elected into office.
Take care,
Tom Hansen
Moscow, Idaho
-----Original Message-----
From: Sunil Ramalingam [mailto:sunilramalingam@hotmail.com]
Sent: Friday, July 26, 2002 12:46 PM
To: dmcourtn@moscow.com; vision2020@moscow.com
Cc: amfulfer@uidaho.edu
Subject: RE: Legal System Not Ruled By Christian Bible
Dale,
Your willingness to jump to conclusions is surpassed only by your zeal in
proclaiming them.
'The counsel members represented their constituency -- not themselves and
not their own "standards."'
That's a debatable position to take, and certainly not eternally true. Do
we elect people to listen to what we want and vote accordingly? Or do we
elect people we trust to listen to us and then make the decision they think
is right? Both are possible in our system, and they're not the only
possibilities. My view is that the latter is what representative democracy
is about, but I don't believe I'm right about everything.
Some council members may vote as you claim, on the assumption that they know
what all their constituents want. Of course, in doing so they cannot please
all their constituents. Others may always vote their own conscience, with
or without your approval. Either way, if enough of their constituents don't
like their decisions, they'll get rid of them.
"You can ask them if you like -- but the *overwhelming* sentiment that they
received was for public modesty and upholding the ordinance."
That would be accurate if they had taken public comments at the third
meeting. Sorry Dale, you're on the dock watching the boat sail away on this
one.
"Funny how a very vocal minority can make it appear completely opposite."
Hmmm...
Sunil
>From: "Dale Courtney" <dmcourtn@moscow.com>
>To: <vision2020@moscow.com>
>Subject: RE: Legal System Not Ruled By Christian Bible
>Date: Fri, 26 Jul 2002 12:10:22 -0700
>
>Sunil Ramalingam wrote:
> > 'Whose standards will prevail?' Well, as far as the topless issue is
> > concerned, it's the standards of four out of five council members.
>They got
> > elected, and they got to pass the ordinance. If enough people are
>unhappy
> > with this, and want to do something about it, maybe councilmembers
>with
> > different standards will make the decision next time.
>
>Sunil, you missed the boat again.
>
>The United States is governed by a representative form of government (to
>be precise, a constitutional republic), not a democracy.
>
>The counsel members represented their constituency -- not themselves and
>not their own "standards."
>
>You can ask them if you like -- but the *overwhelming* sentiment that
>they received was for public modesty and upholding the ordinance.
>
>Funny how a very vocal minority can make it appear completely opposite.
>
>Dale Courtney
>Moscow, Idaho
>
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