tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6257578024925559189.post4558522187677599197..comments2023-08-03T03:59:01.255-04:00Comments on Democratic Voting Canada: The two kinds of voting reform Canadians supportRon Wallerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08120060083437508997noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6257578024925559189.post-7187350436926991072014-03-28T17:28:12.713-04:002014-03-28T17:28:12.713-04:00I agree that would be a good idea.
The two moder...I agree that would be a good idea. <br /><br />The two modern forms of PR are Single Transferable Vote and Mixed-Member Proportional. <br /><br />STV has many MPs per large riding and already uses a ranked ballot to elected MPs.<br /><br />MMP is a hybrid of our existing system (single-member ridings) plus party-list seats to ensure seats are awarded proportional to the vote. So it makes sense to have directly-elected seats done with the ranked ballot. That way constituents don't get saddled with politicians they don't want and didn't vote for.<br /><br />But there's a big difference between what's ideal and what's practical.<br /><br />The fact is the corporate-owned media is fiercely opposed to PR. They prefer single-party dictatorships to multi-party democratic governments (the norm in the developed world) because they are easier to lobby and influence.<br /><br />So if a citizen's assembly is commissioned and it comes up with the ideal voting system, and that voting system is overwhelmingly rejected by voters in a referendum (which happened in BC, Ontario and PEI) then we're screwed.<br /><br />This is why a three-way referendum is extremely important. Odds are very good that either ranked ballot voting (single member) or PR will get chosen. If RBV gets chosen, corrupt FPTP would be out of the picture for good. Then PR supporters can fight to make the system more proportional (and voters will have direct experience with voting reform and will be more receptive to their message.)<br /><br />Fact is RBV is close to proportional for major parties (Lib, Con, NDP.) It's unfair for small parties (like the Greens,) yet it gives Green voters more leverage with their alternative votes (especially with 2-way competition for these votes between Liberals and NDP.) <br /><br />So I think voting reformers need to think practically above all else, and work incrementally if it's required. Otherwise we can end up cementing corrupt FPTP as the democratic choice of Canadians -- which is something the vast majority of Canadians don't want (who feel our voting system is broken.)Ron Wallerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08120060083437508997noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6257578024925559189.post-37460819142361458982014-03-28T16:32:57.643-04:002014-03-28T16:32:57.643-04:00Ron, I believe we can have both RBV and PR. There ...Ron, I believe we can have both RBV and PR. There is no reason why we cannot have RBV at the ballot box and PR at the national level based upon those results.<br />I would be interested in you thoughts on this.Ruralhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11814103548500393628noreply@blogger.com