I was wondering what people think of having a party created JUST for the sake of pushing through electoral reform? I've often wondered if one registered the "ELECTORAL REFORM PARTY" if people would go for that given how broken our current system is?
A electoral reform party?
Sat, 2011-04-16 13:15
#1
A electoral reform party?
Sat, 2011-04-16 13:22
#2
N.Beltov
There are already a number of smaller parties, of differing perspectives, that support such reform. Things really have progressed quite a bit.
Both the Greens and the NDP support reform at the Federal level. (provincially, the NDP in provinces such as Manitoba fail to be as enlightened as their federal counterparts. They refuse to lead when the Libs and Cons refuse to lead in other provinces.) However, governing parties have not, to date, shown a willingness to support electoral reform (such as PR in particular).
Those that benefit from the lack of reform typically form governments.
Sat, 2011-04-16 13:24
#3
N.Beltov
This is a problem in several of the English speaking "Western" countries: the UK, the US, and Canada. Perhaps Anglophones are dumberer. lol.
Sat, 2011-04-16 13:25
#4
I was wondering what people think of having a party created JUST for the sake of pushing through electoral reform? I've often wondered if one registered the "ELECTORAL REFORM PARTY" if people would go for that given how broken our current system is?
What a great idea: let's split the vote some more.
We already have the Green Party and the NDP agreeing on this. The NDP platform says:
- We will propose electoral reform to ensure Parliament reflects the political preferences of Canadians. To this end we will propose a new, more democratic voting system that preserves the connection between MPs and their constituents, while ensuring parties are represented in Parliament in better proportion to how Canadians voted. Your vote will always count.
(This is clearly a reference to the Mixed Member system that the NDP policy book spells out, consistent with the Report of the Law Commission. )
Some Liberals also understand they need PR everywhere outside the GTA. Getting them to say so is a little harder, but some will do so.
Sun, 2011-04-17 11:58
#5
Re: Electoral Reform Party
I really sympathize with that idea. Last election I thought the same thing, wishing Fair Vote could have a party which could either publicly withdraw before the ballot or advertise that we don't want anyone to vote for us, just so we could have a voice at every debate and put the hard questions of why every vote should not count and why 2/3 of people in my riding should be "represented" by someone they don't want in front of the candidates. I don't think more than half a percent would vote for a one issue party, so I see the "splitting the vote" concern in principle, but not too worried on a practical level except in the closest races. The biggest barriers in my mind were where we would get enough quality candidates willing to sacrifice their time and money to run in enough ridings across Canada to really make an impact on this without just coming across as a fringe group. In many ways it is better to have the NDP and Greens pushing this, and to keep encouraging those who vote Liberal and support PR to speak up (I believe there are many, especially among youth).
This time around, in my riding, which is one of the closest races in Canada and a target of the "strategic voting" campaigns, there was no need for an electoral reform party. More than 300 people packed the local candidates debate. There were 7 candidates running. The independent candidate spoke first, and stated his primary point in running was to support PR, and he had brought Fair Vote Canada pamphlets. PR got a lot of air time during questions and statements, and 5 of the seven up there (the Liberal and Conservative being the silent exceptions) were very vocal in support of it. If we could isolate them and exert the same positive pressure on on a national level as I saw during my local debate, that would be wonderful.
Anita
Sun, 2011-04-17 12:47
#6
This time around, in my riding, which is one of the closest races in Canada and a target of the "strategic voting" campaigns, there was no need for an electoral reform party. More than 300 people packed the local candidates debate. There were 7 candidates running. The independent candidate spoke first, and stated his primary point in running was to support PR, and he had brought Fair Vote Canada pamphlets. PR got a lot of air time during questions and statements, and 5 of the seven up there (the Liberal and Conservative being the silent exceptions) were very vocal in support of it. If we could isolate them and exert the same positive pressure on on a national level as I saw during my local debate, that would be wonderful.
Welcome to Babble, Anita. Lots of electoral reformers here.