[bluecalm]

It's not like we can do anything. We don't have democracy - we can't vote on issues and we (in most countries) can't even vote on people. We just vote on 2-3 non-fringe parties and they choose people and policies. You may formally put an X next to some name but it's just a chosen party official. They need to walk party line and be in good standings with the leadership to even get on the list.

There is just nothing you can do really in that system other than pursue career in politics which is a no-go for most people for obvious reasons.

[blfr]

Yeah, we can: I am from Poland and precisely through this mechanism our MEPs/delegates/nominates know that supporting this would be a disaster for their political group right here back home regardless of direct voting.

[josmar]

Only Switzerland has a true democracy

[dgellow]

We also have representatives. We call it semi-direct democratic system. There is no such thing as a „true democracy“, it’s a set of principles

[basisword]

>> We don't have democracy - we can't vote on issues

This is how democracy works pretty much everywhere. You vote for parties or people based on their policies.

[bluecalm]

There are too many levels of indirection. At least in some countries you can vote on a person representing your town/area. This is one level of indirection less and allows people who aren't just chosen party members to win and then they have incentives to help the region.

In "standard" party democracy there is just nothing that can be done. Calling it democracy as in rule of the people is a disgrace.