Many have reacted to an email sent out recently to come to the
rescue of MMP. I am, or was in this group because I thought that
the purpose was essentially the same as the Citizens' Assembly,
that being to find the best system to replace our terrible FPP
method. It appears now that there is an agenda in this group to
have a plain MMP (closed list) system, and the email was acted on,
I think, by many without checking the proposal that they were
criticizing, that of Nick Loenen, (see Loenen
0035, Loenen
0875).
I would like to have both local representation and to remove the
party influence. Any system that allows the party anywhere near the
influence they have now. A closed list system keeps the reigns in
the party leaders hands, is totally unacceptable to me.
I did give a presentation for Mixed Proportional with an Open
List, and I would add to that that the Party Leader, should be
selected by the elected caucus and from within the caucus. By
having the leader selected by the party at large, he / she is above
the party, and has undue influence, and powers of discipline.
Instead I would propose something like a Chairperson, who could
easily be removed by that caucus if they were found to be going
well off course (Remember Lady Margaret Thatcher).
I have read Mr. Nick Loenen's Proportional Plus proposal, and
find that he has found a very flexible system which makes selection
of party representatives much more democratic. It
removes much of the party influence and does encourage the MLA to
be far more accountable to their Constituents, and less accountable
to the party.
There is no perfect system but, Mr. Loenen has put forward by
far the best proposal from my point of view.
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