Collective Responsibility -v- Individual Responsibility.

[DanaC]

We have no legitimate responsibilities that we haven't willingly accepted for ourselves. We have no obligation, responsibility, or duty to "society" unless we've willingly and knowingly accepted it.

I think standing for election pretty much counts as accepting that wider duty and responsibility.

However, what I was looking at in this thread was where responsibility to 'party' and the responsibility to electorate meet. In a party system, what is the point of being in, subscribing to and then standing for a political party if you are then going to act as an individual, rather than a component part of the party under whose banner you've been elected? I realise that this is unlikely to be a position you'll find youself in Radar, given your libertarian approach to politics.

Most people here vote for the party first and the individual second. In order to be accepted onto the Party ticket, you have to first accept that you are a part of that Party. In my own case, I believe our group were contravening the party's political agenda. But, there are many instances of good and honourable politicians voting against their own personal views in order to maintain that collective responsibility and there are many instances of good and honourable politicians breaking that collective responsibility. It's one of the little conundrums that comes with a collectivist approach to politics (left and right wing).