The Liberal Democrats?

Question

Are they a help or hindrance to our democracy ?

I don't really know what the Lib Dems stand for. They just seem to be there to give the 'don't knows' a chance to vote. I just don't believe there are too many philosophies in polictics, your either a toff Tory or a Socialist Labourite (with a lot of poetic license) - so what are you if you vote Lib Dem?

I think we've got cross country confusion here. Americans our Liberal Democrats are not the same as your 'liberals' -

Tangerine: Yes exactly !

Everybody read Tangerine's answer and comment on that please.

Answer 1

Yes that answer is typical of the type of political brainwashing there is in America. If there are several parties and each have a share of the vote and hence a share of MPs and /or senators, then megalomaniacs like Bush wont get a mandate to attack innocent civilians across the globe.

It was the Labour "landslide" that allowed TB to join in. Having said all that the LD are good for the above reasons and more people should vote for them. Policies are a bit rough though because some sound like sheer fantasy. a bit like the BNP (fantasy that is).

Answer 2

For some of you answerers that don't know, the Liberal Democrats are the third largest political party in the UK. These are not the same Democrats as in the US.

I don't think they are a hinderance to the democracy at all. They represent their supporters just like the Labor and Conservative parties do. If you look at the US, there are two major parties and a bunch of insignificant minor parties. Everybody is pretty much pigeonholed into voting for a major party if they want their vote to matter. In the UK anything more than two parties is great because there is less pigeonholing, and people can vote for who represents them better.

I don't think the Lib Dems are a threat to the Labor party though. Tony Blair made the Labor party look GOOD and that image is gonna stick with them a while.

Answer 3

I know that you're referring to the Liberal Democrats in the UK, but I'm afraid you're going to get a lot of responses from Americans, because many of them will automatically assume you're referring to the Democratic Party in the US. Regarding my opinion, though, I have to say that as an American, I really wonder how effective the third parties are in the UK. After all, you have several, such as the Liberal Democrats, the BNP, the Scottish Nationalists, and Plaid Cymru. Granted, my knowledge of British politics is very limited, but I wonder if they ever prevent a majority rule. At least in a two-party democracy it would seem that there would be a better chance of there being a majority rule.

Answer 4

Hinderance...... big fans of the E.U. + the Global warming swindle + political correctness (all the things that are sending the UK downhill)....... too soft on alot of things..... and if you think taxes are bad with this Labour lot, the Lib Dems seem to be planning to make them a whole lot worse in the unlikely event they get into power.

Answer 5

They are very annoying.

They do not stand for anything in particular and are quite unwilling to make an alliance with the Conservatives, which would be the only way they could get into power.

Answer 6

They are against the Terrorism Bill and keeping people in detention over up to 90 days. They are also against the surveillance society that is encroaching on our civil liberties.
So in conclusion I would say they are the most democrat party there is.

Answer 7

Koalatcomics cracks me up. You ask about liberal democrats and he takes the opportunity to slam Clinton. Yeah I can see where lying about a b.j. is much worse than rigging two presidential elections, ignoring warnings of a terrorist attack, wrecking the economy, screwing the poor, enriching the rich, ruining our international reputation, invading a sovereign nation for...? That bastard, Clinton I say we impeach him again.

Answer 8

The Republicans have have used their power over the last 6 years to subvert the Constitution, defy the laws and destroy America's reputation around the world. The Democrats have expressed the will of the people in putting the brakes on this behavior. What could be a greater contribution to democracy?

Answer 9

I don't necessarily guess it's the Democrat part, but the Liberal mindset that goes with Democrats, with the Modern Liberalism of today, you have all this multiculturalism (ACLU, NOW, NAMBLA, CAIR etc,etc,) that goes with it, and that is bad, and all the multiculturalism has led to division in our Nation, and due to this, there will never be any unity in America again.
Modern Liberalism is the greatest threat to our way of life today.

Answer 10

All points of view add to a democracy. the more points of view there are, the healthiest the democracy.