PEOPLE NEED TO GET BACK INTO THE POLITICAL GAME
en español
Canadians and Americans know in their hearts, and minds, that there is something wrong as we watch the environment
and world deteriorate. We seldom, if ever, understand how the situation continually worsens. We collectively shrug our
shoulders, and shake our heads, in resignation and frustration. Many believe that a way of addressing the situation is
by looking at our electoral system - the root source of our democracy.
There are two big problems with Canada's electoral system. The first problem is that the people themselves have
limited their participation in the political system to one decidedly simply thing - casting their ballot. Their ballot
is cast for policies, candidates and leaders, over which they had no influence.
Remarkably few people decide the fate of this country. About two or three percent of our population is involved with
a political party. This number includes all that financially contribute to a party. Not everyone who contributes money
participates actively in a local Constituency Association(CA). This number is further divided amongst all of the
political parties.
As the common people abandoned the CAs, they left openings for others to
step in and gain influence. This is where the problem lies. Those with their
vested interests have filled the void. This is not undemocratic in itself,
it simply means that those remaining represent a very narrow band of
society. It also sets the tone for the government's domestic and foreign
policy.
While the majority of the population ignores the political parties, they do
continue to support Non-Governmental Organizations (NGO) with their cash
donations. They hope that their views will somehow be represented without
really having to participate themselves. It is unfortunate, but the ability of NGOs to influence government from the
outside is very limited.
Democracy is a way of governing in which the individual citizens take charge of their own affairs. People simply must
get back in the game.
Our second problem is Canada's electoral system itself. Both Canada, and the
US, inherited it from Great Britain, through colonial government.
The system has degenerated into a decidedly undemocratic dilemma - perhaps
even more so south of the border.
Our system is called "First Past The Post" (FPTP). It is just one of eight
types of democratic voting systems used in established democracies. It is
also the least popular because of the way it dramatically distorts voters'
preferences.
Most established democracies have progressively abandoned FPTP for one of
the several based on the Proportional Representation (PR) models. (New
Zealand being the most recent) Approximately 45 democracies around the world
now use a form of PR.
Many of our concerns could be resolved if we changed the electoral system.
If I may quote a few who agree.
Liberal MP Dennis Mills wrote, " We must address issues about the reform of
the Senate and the idea of a national debate on proportional representation
versus the FPTP system."
Michele Landsberg, Toronto Star columnist, "It's time, folks. It's time we
joined much of the civilized world (even Scotland, Ireland and Wales) and
moved toward a new system called proportional representation....Forcing a
gradual change will be up to us, the alienated, unsatisfied and antagonized
voters of all stripes."
"It's absolutely ludicrous when the voting system hands two-thirds of the
seats to a party that was rejected by 60% of the voters," says Larry Gordon,
director of Fair Vote Canada.
Howard Hampton said, "Voter cynicism, low voter turnout in elections and
legislation's that don't reflect voter choice, can all be addressed by
adopting a system of PR in Ontario. It provides value-added voting. Unlike
the FPTP system, PR means a voters preference is guaranteed to be reflected
in the seats a party holds in the legislature."
Dr. Paul Lucardie of Holland spoke in Cambridge recently. In response to my
email he said, "I'd say tolerant countries opt for PR, as it gives a voice
to minorities. Even the brits are beginning to realize this, at least they
are trying it out in Scotland."
David Orchard (PC leadership candidate) said in a response to my email, "The
issue of PR will definitely continue to be an ongoing part of my campaign.
It is an issue I have championed for close to a decade."
PR may not be a panacea to all our problems, but it will help to improve our
system. At the very least, a greater segment of society would have a voice
in our destiny.
Have a nice day.
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