Extremist political parties

[nonconformist]

In Germany, the Nazi Party (The Nationalist Sozialist Deutsch Arbeiter Partei, or the National Socialist German Worker's Party) is banned, and has been for many years. So is the swastika and what has become to be known the "Hitler Salute".But it doesn't actually stop extremist parties. There are very well neo-Nazis who get around the salute by saluting only with the uindex and middle finger.
There is no way to stop extremist parties, so what is your view? Do you support the banning of them, or is it morally and democratically wrong?

 

[The Last Conformist]

There being no option for that they shouldn't be banned on pragmatical grounds, I voted they shouldn't on moral ones.

 

[CurtSibling]

Any nation that allows the growth of hate-driven political parties is setting themselves up for trouble.

 

[nonconformist]

What do you mean on pragmatical ground?

 

[amadeus]

I'd say any state that bans a party is more likely to boost it's membership by doing so.

 

[downtown]

oh my God. for what Im sure might be the only time in my short stay here...I agree with rmsharpe

 

[The Last Conformist]

What do you mean on pragmatical ground?

Outlawing the bastards drives them underground, and tends to make the even more extremist. Alternatively, they hide their true colors just well enough to avoid banishment. Either causes more trouble, I deem, than allowing them to operate openly.

Such folks are likely to break laws anyway, so not outlawing them does not mean you can't legally harass them.

 

[Goober]

They should not be banned unless they directly threaten the integrity of the country, such as wanting to kill all people of a certain race, or something that is a crime against Humanity such as that. It might be seen as stifling, but those kinds of parties, IMO, should be banned.

 

[joycem10]

Once you start banning parties and ideas you open the door to banning any party or idea. The communist who argues for the banning of the Nazi part has no argument when his own party is banned.

There are very well neo-Nazis who get around the salute by saluting only with the uindex and middle finger.

I always thought that the cub scouts were a little shady.

 

[BassDude726]

Extreme political parties have their uses. The founding fathers of America were considered extreme.

 

[SeleucusNicator]

I'd love for, say, the Greens to be banned here, but to do so would be neither democratic nor wise. I don't support such measures.

I must say it disturbs me to see how many members here would support banning a political party -- and then still say that they support democracy.

 

[nonconformist]

I'd like to know who only voted leftwingers...it wasn't RMSharpe, which surprised me slightly

 

[BassDude726]

Haha... well if everyone votes to ban the party... ain't that the democratic way?

 

[Goober]

I hope I made my point clear, I would only ban Parties that threatened the ideals of democracy! How is that anti-democratic, trying to make sure that the ideals of democracy are not challenged. Also, those parties which just encourage violence have no part in our society. Once again, I fail to see how that is anti-democratic.

 

[amadeus]

I'd like to know who only voted leftwingers...it wasn't RMSharpe, which surprised me slightly

I believe that they should be allowed to make fools of themselves in public.

 

[SeleucusNicator]

I hope I made my point clear, I would only ban Parties that threatened the ideals of democracy! How is that anti-democratic, trying to make sure that the ideals of democracy are not challenged. Also, those parties which just encourage violence have no part in our society. Once again, I fail to see how that is anti-democratic.

It removes the ability of the electorate to vote for whom they please. Democracy is about choices.

 

[dgfred]

I believe that they should be allowed to make fools of themselves in public.

- I am with you sir.

 

[downtown]

I must say it disturbs me to see how many members here would support banning a political party -- and then still say that they support democracy.

you mean all two of them?

 

[Goober]

It removes the ability of the electorate to vote for whom they please. Democracy is about choices.

Well, ok then, I believe in democracy, and I am all for it, but with the minor exemption that I stated above. I guess everyone has a bit of authoritarianism in themselves, and this is mine. I don't want to have parties around that would threaten the very ideals of democracy and social justice and freedom for all that we enjoy today.

 

[SeleucusNicator]

If people want to vote themselves out of a democracy, so be it. It's their call.