Submission MILLER-0258 (Online)
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Submission By | Jack Miller |
Address | Port Clements, BC, |
Organization | |
Date | 20040502 |
Category | Electoral system change |
Abstract
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With the MMP system, there would be a recognisable chance
of small parties being elected, which in turn
might force in-depth public discussion of issues, hopefully smoking
the other parties out and into policy debate. [2 pages]
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Submission Content
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I am in favour of the MMP system of voting. In the last three
Federal elections and the last five Provincial elections, I have
either defaced my ballot, or voted for a nonsense party both
options being considered legitimate, registered forms of
protest.
In my opinion, the only parties today that run on a clearly defined
set of policies are the small ones, such the Green Party, or the
various Christian ones. Alternatively, the three main parties the
NDP, the Liberals, and the Conservatives strive very hard to look
like each other, all seeking that perhaps only legendary
middle-of-the-road voter who won't be frightened by so-called
radical policies.
The result of that process is seen in BC's so-called Liberal
Government which ran on a conciliatory, middle-of-the-road election
platform, but which once in power, enacted the extreme, right wing
policies of its MLAs who couldn't have gotten elected if they had
run as the Socreds or Reformers they really are. A similar
potential exists with the Federal Reform/Alliance-now-Conservative
Party, which is being very very careful not to make public it's
extremist beliefs. While I don't consider the NDP's policies
extremist, they are similarly chary of broadcasting them, and you
will perhaps notice Mr. Martin is being pretty vague himself.
On what basis, then, is the voter to make a choice between these
people? As I noted above, the smaller parties run on clearly
defined platforms. With the MMP system, there would be a
recognisable chance of their being elected, which in turn might
force in-depth public discussion of issues, hopefully smoking the
other parties out and into policy debate instead of name calling.
Similarly, once elected, small parties could force the focusing in
on issues if for no other reason their goals might be achieved
through coalitions.
I am not the first to note our democratic process has become so
degraded by the bread and circuses style of today's politics that
it is illusory for any citizen to put any faith in it. Until
recently, I put public apathy as the cause. I now see that is only
the effect.
The MMP voting system presents an opportunity to change that, and
we should take that opportunity.
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