How should Congress vote?

[white_wolf]

Do you think members of Congress should vote strictly based on polls and what the stats say the people of their district want or should they vote based on the greater good of the country? Say if you had a vote for Single-Payer and the swing vote was in the hands of a progressive whose district for whatever reason opposed Single-Payer, how do you think he should vote in this hypothetical scenario?

[xoom]

1. isnt the reason we vote so OUR voice can be heard?

If our Rep votes how they want they why should I vote?

[inademv]

2. It's a key flaw in the execution of a Representative Democracy

It assumes good faith on the part of the representative, something that isn't even possible when considering ideological roadblocks that are placed on most issues these days especially scientific issues such as climate change and stem cell research.

[xoom]

3. so we either have good faith in our reps or let them vote for the greater good?

[inademv]

5. Or have in place better systems of control

over the reps to ensure that they are acting in accordance with the interests and views of those they represent. Of course this could only worth with a better educated public (I laughed as I typed that), and a MUCH larger representative body (down to at most thousands being represented by a single elected official instead of millions like we currently have).

[hughee99]

4. Voting based on polls?

aren't they even easier to manipulate than elections?

[inademv]

6. Yep, just ask Frank Luntz

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

7. “Always vote for principle, though you may vote alone

“Always vote for principle, though you may vote alone, you may cherish the sweetest reflection that your vote is never lost." John Quincy Adams