Role of an MP

[overthere]

There was a mildly intereresting interview with veteran MP Ralph Goodale, a lonely Liberal MP from Regina serving for 40 years in a sea of Tory seats.

He had this to say about his role as an MP:

I think it probably applies to every member of Parliament, is always remember to get your priorities in the right order, and you are always the representative of your constituency in Ottawa; you are not Ottawa’s representative in your constituency.

This is a view clearly not shared by many in the House of Commons.

Is Goodale right?

http://ottawacitizen.com/news/national/mp-ralph-goodale-talks-about-serving-the-two-trudeaus#

[Moonbox]

He's right, but he's also wrong. The way it should work, he's has it right. The House should be a group of representatives engaged in looking after the interests of their constituents, free of partisanship jockeying etc etc. In reality, the electorate is too ignorant and too apathetic about what goes on, what the issues are and what the effects are on them for that to be true. It mostly ends up being the opposite as a result. The party is a brand, and the representative is there to present him/herself and the brand in the best light to the constituency.

[Moonlight Graham]

He's right, but he's also wrong. The way it should work, he's has it right. The House should be a group of representatives engaged in looking after the interests of their constituents, free of partisanship jockeying etc etc. In reality, the electorate is too ignorant and too apathetic about what goes on, what the issues are and what the effects are on them for that to be true. It mostly ends up being the opposite as a result. The party is a brand, and the representative is there to present him/herself and the brand in the best light to the constituency.

Sadly, this is right in a way. People are too lazy to stay informed, and be active in what their MP is doing, so they often vote for a brand, not an individual MP.

[eyeball]

Blaming the failings of Canada's governing system on voters is more like blaming victims.

[cybercoma]

Blaming the failings of Canada's governing system on voters is more like blaming victims.

Not really. Most people can run for office. If there are no choices that appeal to you, then you ought to run and be the change that you want to see. If you don't want to run, then you should join a party and vote at their conventions to get a party to be the change that you want to see. A citizen's responsibility doesn't just end at casting a ballot. If (s)he sees a problem, then (s)he should actively seek a way to fix it.

[Michael Hardner]

Blaming the failings of Canada's governing system on voters is more like blaming victims.

Maybe we shouldn't blame the people, but who else is going to change things ? You don't think that "they" will do you ?

[Topaz]

In my view, there are many reasons and I agree with Goodale but things have change somewhere down the line. The voter is the centre of the problem. Some always vote party line, some vote for the person, some vote for the leader. Then , we have protest voters, some not voting at all. The one main issue is that has a different opinion, does the MP rep their constituents or the leader? It seems the only time the leader of the party and the MP , agrees with the constituents is when voters raise their voices of what is happening in Ottawa. I like to see changes in the House and one being no half truths or lies and the constituents comes before the leader.

[jbg]

There was a mildly intereresting interview with veteran MP Ralph Goodale, a lonely Liberal MP from Regina serving for 40 years in a sea of Tory seats.

He had this to say about his role as an MP:

This is a view clearly not shared by many in the House of Commons.

Is Goodale right?

http://ottawacitizen.com/news/national/mp-ralph-goodale-talks-about-serving-the-two-trudeaus#

He should be partially right. An MP should ideally be the voice of his/her riding in the caucus. He/she also must be an advocate for what's good for Canada. This is particularly true since the MP's in theory pick the PM. It is true that Trudeau (the smart one) said that Parliamentarians were insignicant a short distance from Parliament Hill. Such an arrogant attitude ideally should result in a periodic leadership revolt. Chretien learned that the hard way. Trudeau didn't.

[Moonbox]

Blaming the failings of Canada's governing system on voters is more like blaming victims.

No, it's nothing like that at all. Blaming the system for apathy, laziness and stupidity is called just making excuses. The logic behind the idea that voters aren't voting because they don't like the options is completely idiotic. Voter turnout isn't standard across demographics. It's particularly low in particular groups, and their priorities (watching TV instead of voting, or learning the issues) ensures that their needs and interests are mostly ignored, which leads to their disenfranchisement and subsequent complaining. There's an easy fix to this. Take 10 minutes a day to read the news. Can't do that? Nobody's fault but yours.

Edited June 26, 2014 by Moonbox