"Conviction" versus "Obstinance" - let's settle this.

[Porsche-O-Phile]

So many of the political threads on here come down to the following series of questions:

When should a politician/elected representative take a stand against his/her constituency? Is this ever appropriate?

When an elected official does take a position on an issue that is in dramatic contrast to the opinion of his/her constituency, at what point does this stop being "conviction in one's beliefs" and start being "bull-headed obstinance"?

Finally, looking at the number of problems created/perpetuated by "career politicians" and bureaucrats, does anyone else believe that perhaps it's time to concede failure of the "representative democracy" form of government and instead try to push for a governmental model that's more directly democratic?

Discuss. Hopefully this will make for some interesting debate.

[nostatic]

you're a poopy head

[scottmandue]

Originally posted by Porsche-O-Phile

When should a politician/elected representative take a stand against his/her constituency? Is this ever appropriate?

When an elected official does take a position on an issue that is in dramatic contrast to the opinion of his/her constituency, at what point does this stop being "conviction in one's beliefs" and start being "bull-headed obstinance"?

With the general public being such a grab bag of opinions how can a representative know what their constituencies opinion is? Take California or Oregon for example, both presumed to be liberal states by many people however with lots of conservatives residents.

I suppose we could go with the idea that representative should stick to the policies they backed to get elected... but whoa... that's just crazy talk!

[scottmandue]

Originally posted by nostatic
you're a poopy head

You super double poopy head to infinity!

[Porsche-O-Phile]

Well your mother eats kitty litter!

[Icemaster]

Darts

[on-ramp]

so have we settled it yet?

[Tim Hancock]

Originally posted by Icemaster
Darts

Hopefully not as in Butt

[nostatic]

butt

[Lothar]

It is always in the best interest of career politicians to claim to have made progress with respect to various problems.

It is never in the best interest of career politicians to claim to have actually solved problems.

Solved problems provide no further opportunity to tax, regulate or legislate, the means by which politicians steal more money, power and influence from hard-working Americans.

[Icemaster]

Leave my butt out of this.

[the]

This one is easy.

If a politician takes a position in dramatic contrast to YOUR opinion, that is conviction.

If a politician takes a position in dramatic contrast to MY opinion, that is obstinance.

[imcarthur]

Finally . . .

A political thread that doesn't make me want my click back.

Oan