tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8086033.post4498650849573149195..comments2023-11-05T13:07:03.784+02:00Comments on foreign notes: Disfunction at the topScott W. Clarkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04047386631227542689noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8086033.post-55959223065452328552008-04-21T09:49:00.000+03:002008-04-21T09:49:00.000+03:00Indeed. With the present system of party discipli...Indeed. With the present system of party discipline.Blair Sheridanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16810149970525727624noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8086033.post-82783156678075388662008-04-18T07:40:00.000+03:002008-04-18T07:40:00.000+03:00During her speech in Strasbourg to the Council of ...During her speech in Strasbourg to the Council of Europe recently Tymoshenko said the following:<BR/><BR/>– Мені не треба вам пояснювати, що парламентська республіка має переваги над будь–якими потужними монополізованими системами влади, –<BR/><BR/>The report is at Ukrainian Pravda.<BR/><BR/><BR/>http://www.pravda.com.ua/news/2008/4/17/74837.htm<BR/><BR/><BR/>Her statement reflected support for a parliamentary type republic.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8086033.post-39215462043886447342008-04-17T10:33:00.000+03:002008-04-17T10:33:00.000+03:00The party list system is, in my view, hideous. Un...The party list system is, in my view, hideous. Under this system, party discipline is all-important and, even if a party were to fundamentally change its platform, an individual deputy would have no choice but to go along with it, or be stripped of his/her mandate. And, let's face it, that's what YT wants, as she said only yesterday, in defending her position on the imperative mandate at PACE. She wants it written into the Constitution, so YT is foursquare for the list system, I'm afraid.<BR/><BR/>In addition, of course, the party list system means that deputies are not accountable to any readily identifiable constituency. They're only beholden to those who put them on the list (for a fee, we can assume) and can coast through their time in the Rada, selling their influence, enjoying immunity and sucking up to their higher-ups, in search of committee chairs and more influence.<BR/><BR/>With that being so, I don't think we can expect the politicians to change the system. It's in the interests of the electorate, but certainly not in those of the politicos. Party leaders love it, as they get the "sign-up fees" and "party dues" from their members, and are able to control the latter with an iron hand. WHen YT talks about her "штыки" - she ain't kidding: her deputies might as well be a mass, a troop of soldiers, for all of the intiative they show. Not that I'm singling her out - they're all like that. <BR/><BR/>Deputies love it since they can afford to be lazy and get rich (and a pension) while doing nothing that's too taxing or of use to the electorate, as long as they don't rock the boat.<BR/><BR/>It's pathetic.Blair Sheridanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16810149970525727624noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8086033.post-64178422804499704812008-04-16T04:32:00.000+03:002008-04-16T04:32:00.000+03:00I would like to propose an idea.NONE of the politi...I would like to propose an idea.<BR/><BR/>NONE of the politician ought to be in any sort of commission regarding constitutional reform.<BR/><BR/>It's just a bunch of pigs at the trough, jockeying for position.<BR/><BR/>That changes nothing.<BR/><BR/>Indeed, there ought to be a commission created. But it ought to consist of neutral "intellects," with the best interests of Ukraine at heart - and not the interests of the various pig-oligarchs who simply want to perpetuate the pig-trough system of corruption and oligarchy that now exists in Ukraine.<BR/><BR/>Indeed, one serious and major reform ought to be the elimination of the "party list" system of voting for the piggies in the Rada.<BR/><BR/>(That having been said, I firmly believe that Tymoshenko, Lutsenko and Yatseniuk have the best interests of the country at heart.)<BR/><BR/>There is no doubt that systemic reform is needed. However, it is essential to take the pigs out of further monkeying with their little pig trough (лавочки).Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com