Rubber stamp 'parliament'

[-:Undertaker:-]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=dKQAEFPg7PU

Amazed by this video thats just come out (notably towards the end of the video which proves his point) - it shows 'voting' in the European Parliament in which its going so fast they're basically just rubber stamping everything to go through on the nod.

You know, its no surprise Margaret Thatcher famously refused to call it a parliament and instead called it an assembly... this being one of the reasons why its not worthy of the title of parliament. Thoughts?

[Chippiewill]

I really don't see the issue, there's no point having an hour long discussion on a matter everyone is going to vote yay on. I'd rather see the time go to important issues.

[GommeInc]

I really don't see the issue, there's no point having an hour long discussion on a matter everyone is going to vote yay on. I'd rather see the time go to important issues.
It does defeat the point of calling it a Parliament, and how do they know they all agree if no discussion is being made? It arguably defeats the democratic process and puts an end to serious debate, seeing as this is where those important issues you mention are going through. Time isn't being spent on important issues, which is the problem :P

[Chippiewill]

I expect the US congress doesn't spend too long talking about post office naming either, they certainly discuss the larger issues though.

[-:Undertaker:-]

I expect the US congress doesn't spend too long talking about post office naming either, they certainly discuss the larger issues though.

The US Congress is also halfway towards being a fraud aswell, seeing as (as Ron Paul and others have said) the political parties propose bills the night before - everybody goes to bed and they vote on it in the morning without anybody reading it or even having the chance to read it. As seen here with the EU Parliament though, votes are going to quickly that it's basically a rubber stamp chamber - from the video I don't even know if the votes are being given enough time to be counted and processed properly.

On the distinction between the US Congress and the EU 'Parliament' though because I wouldn't class the Congress as low - at least the Congress has the proper function of a parliament whereby it proposes legislation - unlike the EU where the unelected Commission proposes legislation.

[GommeInc]

I expect the US congress doesn't spend too long talking about post office naming either, they certainly discuss the larger issues though.
In some ways that's testament to how useless it is, if they're discussing trivial things like that then there is something gravely wrong with the system. Quite a few issues relating to competition law get rushed through all too quickly. Google, Microsoft and Apple have all seen their fair share of problems where discussions in the EU Parliament are getting rushed through causing problems when those very issues actually arise.

I think the MEPs get bored of having to sit in such a dreary building surrounded by people they honestly couldn't care less about for an organisation that doesn't really make much sense. You can see it whenever they're in session.