# How should a political party set its policies?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-should-a-political-party-set-its-policies/412696>\
**Category:** Great Debates\
**Created:** [July 21, 2007, 7:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-should-a-political-party-set-its-policies/412696 "2007-07-21T19:27:32Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 8\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Small\_British\_Shop\_Owner](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e56c9b/32.png) [@Small\_British\_Shop\_Owner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Small_British_Shop_Owner)\
**Post date:** [July 21, 2007, 7:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-should-a-political-party-set-its-policies/412696/1 "2007-07-21T19:27:32Z")

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Imagine a continuum, at one extreme the party setting its policies entirely by ideology, and at the other extreme the party setting its policies entirely by what will get the party into power.

Where should a party choose its policies from on this continuum?

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**Author:** ![chowder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/977dab/32.png) [@chowder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chowder)\
**Post date:** [July 22, 2007, 9:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-should-a-political-party-set-its-policies/412696/2 "2007-07-22T09:05:15Z")

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Mein Fuhrer ring a bell?

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**Author:** ![Small\_British\_Shop\_Owner](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e56c9b/32.png) [@Small\_British\_Shop\_Owner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Small_British_Shop_Owner)\
**Post date:** [July 22, 2007, 12:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-should-a-political-party-set-its-policies/412696/3 "2007-07-22T12:07:13Z")

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[QUOTE=chowder]  
Mein Fuhrer ring a bell?  
[/QUOTE]

Not in answer to the question, no.

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**Author:** ![chowder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/977dab/32.png) [@chowder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chowder)\
**Post date:** [July 22, 2007, 12:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-should-a-political-party-set-its-policies/412696/4 "2007-07-22T12:16:31Z")

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50+ views, one answer, mine, answers it perfectly

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**Author:** ![Small\_British\_Shop\_Owner](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e56c9b/32.png) [@Small\_British\_Shop\_Owner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Small_British_Shop_Owner)\
**Post date:** [July 22, 2007, 12:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-should-a-political-party-set-its-policies/412696/5 "2007-07-22T12:24:04Z")

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[QUOTE=chowder]  
50+ views, one answer, mine, answers it perfectly  
[/QUOTE]

You haven’t given an answer at all.

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**Author:** ![chowder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/977dab/32.png) [@chowder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chowder)\
**Post date:** [July 22, 2007, 12:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-should-a-political-party-set-its-policies/412696/6 "2007-07-22T12:25:42Z")

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Why am I doing this?

DNFTF

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**Author:** ![kellner](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/c2a13f/32.png) [@kellner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kellner)\
**Post date:** [July 22, 2007, 12:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-should-a-political-party-set-its-policies/412696/7 "2007-07-22T12:45:58Z")

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[QUOTE=chowder]  
Why am I doing this?

DNFTF  
[/QUOTE]  
Where would you place the Führer on this continuum?

I think that’s actually an interesting question. He doesn’t occupy one of the ends but the exact position is certainly debatable.

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**Author:** ![chowder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/977dab/32.png) [@chowder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chowder)\
**Post date:** [July 22, 2007, 12:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-should-a-political-party-set-its-policies/412696/8 "2007-07-22T12:48:47Z")

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Please don’t \*\* kellner\*\* SBSO is …well…you know