I write to urge you to back a mixed proportional representation
system similar to that presently used in New Zealand.
The key argument in favour of proportional representation is that
it can give to all voters the sense that their views are
represented in Government. At present, by contrast, the views of a
large fraction of the BC population are not significantly
represented in Government. This failure engenders a sense of
cynicism, alienation, political distrust, and political apathy
especially among younger voters which is bad for the Province.
There are many different sectors of political opinion in this
Province. They all deserve to be heard in the corridors of power.
Good government requires that those contending views be applied to
each piece of legislation, which is, thereby, perfected to
accommodate the wishes of as large a segment of the population as
possible. Democracy cannot guarantee that each voter will agree
with all legislation passed. No system can do that. Sometimes my
view will prevail; other times, it will not. But, what democracy
needs to provide to all of its citizens is the sense that their
view is a part of the process of give-and-take that leads to
legislation.
It is not enough that I can express my opinion every 3 to 5 years
to vote for a single candidate. Depending on the make-up of my
particular riding, this may not offer me any way of having my views
reflected in government. I want my views to be part of the process
all the time, even when they may be minority views in my riding.
In addition to giving to more people a sense of participation in
their own governance, such a system has at least two other
significant benefits. First, it will lead to better legislation,
since each piece of legislation will be properly scrutinized from
many different perspectives before enactment. Second, it might end
the destructive folly of polar alternation which has plagued the
Province in recent years.
In fairness, the single-riding winner-takes-all model has some
advantages, too. Mainly the sense that I am voting for a particular
individual, who is, thereby, in some sense responsible to me and
responsive to my views. Politics succeeds when it does because
individuals are willing to take on the job of representing their
communities for the public good. It is hard work. One of the
benefits is a special connection with the represented community.
The mixed proportional representation system with 50% of all seats
directly elected and the remaining 50% distributed according to the
overall popular vote seems to me the best way to have the benefits
of both proportionality and individuality. Let's try it.
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