yet an overwhelming majority of my constituents were pro life, and a bill were proposed to ban abortion........ethically speaking, how do I vote? My conscience? Or to represent my constituents?
2007-09-03 15:46:42 · 10 answers · asked by Cherie 6 in Politics & Government ➔ Politics
Ethically speaking, you would vote how the majority of your constituents want you to vote. You are their representative, there to express their views.In most cases though, that is not the way our representatives vote. They vote their consciences. Most candidates are chosen on the basis of their views overall, not one issue.
2007-09-03 16:04:58 · answer #1 · answered by Slimsmom 6 · 1⤊ 1⤋
I cannot answer for you
In my experience, each elected official has their own 'take' on how and when to directly reflect their constituency and when their own conscience is in contradiction, when to disagree with the people back home.
An issue and a vote like this can end a political career. These decision are not made in a vacuum - many vote against their conscience if only to maintain the office to further their hearts' calling (or desire)
vote pro-life but tack on a bunch of free condom riders
ultimately, what is your desired result? To maintain the 'right' of a woman to choose - or to prevent shattered lives of women and children because of unwanted pregnancies?
its a compromise,and like most compromises its not satisfying to either agenda
2007-09-03 16:31:14 · answer #2 · answered by mike c 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You vote your conscience and expect to be thrown out of office. That way you will also please your constituents.
Moral dilemma #1- Do what you believe or what someone else tells you to do. Answer, do what you believe. That's why we have a representative Government.
Moral dilemma #2- Do what you believe is right knowing people trusted you to make the right decision and not kill babies. Since we have a Representative form of Government I still say vote for what you believe is right.
Moral dilemma #3- Try to fool your electorate and not tell them at the outset while you are running for office that you are a baby killer. Or get elected, without them knowing what you truly believe, just so you can have political power. In any event, your vote should not be a surprise to your constituents
It's hard to be a politician.
2007-09-03 16:10:44 · answer #3 · answered by Homeschool produces winners 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Please correct me if I`m in error but your scenario would never happen. I am pro life but I feel the need to clear the air
as I see it .
1 abortion was never banned in the US only a few states
2 Roe v wade took this power away from the states .
3 if roe were overturned it would just put the issue back into
state courts.
4 abortion would then stay legal because country is considerably more permissive than it was in the 1970s
Everyone is passionate about this subject and I respect that
but I feel some have manipulated this for their own purpose.
If those like myself who are opposed to this are to have any
influence it will be in people hearts and minds.
I don`t think the law was ever on our side
2007-09-03 19:42:07 · answer #4 · answered by Henry J 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Time for another history lesson. A representative democracy works on the concept of electing a representative and then NOT telling them what to do. If you are pro choice, you should vote pro choice. We elect leaders not followers. Your job is to lead!!! Look at why there is a Senate. It is to let there be a distance between the people and their representatives
If we wanted our representatives to do nothing but present the thoughts of the represented then we could do away with the representative altogether and have frequent votes. There would be no debate, no forum for perception and thought and argument.
I don't want my representative to ask me what he should think. I want him to tell me what he has learned and why he voted the way he did.
2007-09-03 16:14:46 · answer #5 · answered by Matt W 6 · 2⤊ 1⤋
Well here is how it works. Do the people who voted for you know you were pro-choice?? IF they did and that's how you stood on the issue then you vote pro=choice.
However if you ran on a pro-life and got elected that way then you need to vote pro=life.
2007-09-03 16:26:30 · answer #6 · answered by wondermom 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Your constituents voted for you and for you to make the right decisions . Therefore you vote your conscience . They / We trusted you to do so when you got our votes .
Now will you please run for governor in my state. . . Michigan ? We got a real doozy of a Governor in Jennifer Granholm .
2007-09-03 17:14:08 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
That would be why they would call you a Representative. You represent your constituents. Anyway you would for one term.
2007-09-03 15:54:10 · answer #8 · answered by ohbrother 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
You'd pander to the loony left like the rest of the bone head democrats.
2007-09-03 16:00:58 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 4⤋
I'm sorry, but anyone who wants to see women butchered and killed by back-alley illegal abortions does not deserve to be called "pro-life".
Anti-choice is more properly descriptive.
2007-09-03 15:52:47 · answer #10 · answered by marianddoc 4 · 3⤊ 4⤋