Raise the Hammer

It's not about love or like or hate or dislike. It's the system of electoral execution that we use. It works. Often the results get trashed because a certain group or groups don't like the outcome. My contention is the exercise itself is what is important. If you don't like the results, work to change them at your next opportunity.

To me, PR is no different than telling our kids that winning in sports doesn't matter and handing out trophies for participation. It's not supposed to work that way. Parties put out platforms, candidates stump that platform in their riding, if the constituents buy into that vision in enough numbers, that candidate goes to Parliament, whether he/she is in goverment or opposition. If he/she is in government, there is an opportunity to represent the riding from within government. If in opposition, the MP now must work for the riding through committee work, while at the same time participating as Her Majesty's Loyal Opposition. (Read keeping the government honest). It works. That's why governments change. If the party a person happens to support has never formed a government, maybe it needs to rexamine its vision, its message and how it delivers it.

I live in a riding that I don't think ever.... (maybe John Munro) has had an MP in government and regularly elects a person I have never and would never vote for. Not because he isn't a good guy or a dedicated MP, but because his views and his party's views don't represent mine or my interest or my priorities. I'm not moving. I'm not going to stop voting, and I don't think my vote is wasted.

Our system isn't broken. It's neglected, and ignored by the people that are supposed to be its guardians. Us. Don't tell me FPTP is broken when less than 60% of people vote. I don't believe for one minute that they don't vote because of any large scale exasperation, or frustration with government or a sense that democracy is a lie or it doesn't matter how they vote. People don't vote because they take the right for granted and they can't be bothered. Those of us that care can point our fingers at the politicians all we want for the failings or grievous wrong that is being done or perceived to be being done depending on your point of view. The electorate bears as much or more responsibility for it.

Moving to a PR system in the current climate of voter apathy isn't going to change a thing. It will in fact IMO make things worse. Niche parties may gain some seats, core established party voters won't change, so we end up with a Baskin Robins Parliament where no one can get anything of any import accomplished. But we've achieved some facade that we are more democratic, or our political system is more fair. Fair has nothing to do with it. Politics is warfare with words and strategies and alliances of convenience and practicality. It involves debate, discourse, compromise, and sometimes means standing on principle. But it is anything but fair.

Comment edited by Shempatolla on 2011-04-14 00:10:45