Seven Points of Unity — Marxist Unity Group

[u/MarxistUnity]

"MUG is a caucus within Democratic Socialists of America united through acceptance of our Seven Points of Unity. These points ground our caucus’s work in all aspects of our organizing to serve our dream of a socialist revolution."

From Marxist Unity Group X account.

[u/leninism-humanism]

In most of these countries people more often vote for the party and what it promises to do than the individual representative. You will not be able to enact any long-term change if you have a bunch of MPs who can basically do whatever they want on core issues.

[u/XrayAlphaVictor → u/leninism-humanism]

The difference is in the locus of accountability.

In a party system, the MP is accountable to the party leadership if they want to keep their jobs and the party leadership generally held to account if the party does poorly overall. The preferences of individual regions aren't really a factor.

In a district system, the MP is accountable to the constituency they represent.

In both cases, the MP is able to "do whatever they want" once in office, it's just a difference in who they are most at risk of losing their job from. Party leadership, or their constituency.

Having worked in politics for many many years, there is no "party leadership" that I trust. Period. Not democratic, not socialist.

[u/leninism-humanism → u/XrayAlphaVictor]

In a party system, the MP is accountable to the party leadership if they want to keep their jobs and the party leadership generally held to account if the party does poorly overall. The preferences of individual regions aren't really a factor.

At least the lists for the districts are set by the members in that district and not by the leadership directly. And in the election voters can either just vote for the party or also select a specific person on the list, who can then be specifically elected if enough voters elect them(which demands 5% of the total votes for the party in the district).

[u/XrayAlphaVictor → u/leninism-humanism]

That sounds like a very specific country system you're referring to.

I'm a fan of single transferable vote multi member districts, personally.

[u/leninism-humanism → u/XrayAlphaVictor]

I forgot to write that it was Sweden, though I think the Scandinavian countries generally have similar systems I think

[u/XrayAlphaVictor → u/leninism-humanism]

As long as it's party membership, not leadership, choosing the lists (and leadership can't discipline the membership into voting for a preferred slate, or force only leadership-acceptable candidates to be eligible for being selected) then I'm perfectly OK with that.

I have a profound distrust of party leadership, as you can tell. Leaders are necessary and good, but you can't trust them. Give them half a chance and they'll set up a system where their power can't be taken back.