. When you enter into a polling station to vote you vote for a person, the party name is nowhere to be seen. If I had my way all MP's would vote for the best interests of their constituents rather than towing the party line all the time.
Yes, you are correct that you vote for a person, but the majority of voters will vote for a person who best meets their political beliefs and therefore would vote for the candidate standing for the party that the voter is most inclined to support.
While I would say that I don't blindly vote for a certain party, for example a candidate that may be mired in controversy or suspected of some sort of dishonesty (before anyone mentions it is an oxymoron to suggest there is such a thing and an 'honest' politician!) would not get my vote. I don't also vote for the individual who has rescued 400 puppies, gives 50% of his income to charity and opens up his basement as a drop in shelter! I vote for the person who has the same political ideals that I believe in.
Zeig heil.
In the US Congress they don't have to cross a floor. They just don't vote the party line if their constituents don't agree.
I've been talking to American colleagues about what's going on up here, and as difficult and messed up the system is they are battling, they still say by their standards it's crossing the line and would not be tolerated.
Americans might bust unions, but they *never* bust pensions.
It's an investment issue.
You are sadly mistaken if you have that much faith in the US congress and Senate.......there is just as much pressure for these individual when it comes to their vote and unfortunately in the States they tend to vote more for who is going to provide them with re-election funds and that's namely the lobbyists.......don't trust that the US politicians will vote what their constituents want, but rather they will vote for what the lobbyists supporting their campaigns want.