Proportional Representation (PR) is a green value thing in and of itself. We greens like PR because it gives voice to smaller parties and allows the expression of newer ideas. It is more democratic in the populist sense and, since giving voice to all people is within the the green value set, we naturally support Proportional Representation.
Our current system is a First-Past-the-Post (FPP) system which is essentially a winner take all system of democracy. For example, if Greens received 51% of the vote in all ridings in Canada and the Conservatives received 49% of the vote in all ridings then Greens would end up with 100% of the 308 parliamentary seats. Hence, 49% of the population is unrepresented. We who like PR say that this type of result is unjust.
BC and PEI have both rejected PR-variant systems. I'm sad about that. But I am also glad. I'm glad because the PR systems proposed were so complicated that only a computer could figure out who won what.
Democracy should be simple and obvious to everyone. The political types diddled with the PR-variants to such an extent that only they were happy -- they were happy because they got the opportunity to diddle -- the people were confused and frustrated.
Even the Green Party of Canada seems to prefer a Proportional Mixed Member Representation (PMMR) system. Again, it is some kind of hybrid system between PR and first-past-the-post (FPP).
I'm a simple guy and I'm simple minded, too. I like the purity of a straight PR system. If the Greens get 10% of the vote then they would constitute 10% of the members of parliament -- that's about 30 MPs: constituted by the leader and the next 29 highest (by percent) vote-getting Green candidates. Simple. Simple. Simple.
I like straight PR because I can understand it right from the git-go. I can understand why BC and PEI rejected the more complicated and convoluted PR-variants proposed. Even the dialogues leading up to the PR-variant votes was impossible to follow. Easy to turn off the population. Yes, the diddlers love this kinda thing but I think the people just see it as the machinations of those surreal.
And what would happen with just straight PR and no surreal crap -- I think the leader of the Green Party of Canada would be in parliament, he would be in the debates, and we would have members from Calgary and Victoria sitting in parliament, which is proper, as that is where the GPC votes came from.
Hey, simple PR works for me.Recommend to those in the know.
Thursday, December 08, 2005
Proportional Representation
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4 comments:
I agree Herb. Though I'm glad folks are out there trying it out at least theoretically, I'm hoping that means further evolutions and ultimately, an outcome.
Hey Herb I am only interested in the best political system available and here is how I view PG governments
http://angryroughneck.blogspot.com/2005/08/proportional-representation.html
Thanks for the link, Herb!
I notice from your post on proportional representation that you are calling for a simple party list system. Indeed, most of the 80 or so countries with proportional voting use straightforward list systems, although most of them use provincial or regional lists, rather than a national list. People want guaranteed regional representation. In fact, in Canada, we have a formula in the constitution that says how many seats go to each province, so we could not have a national list without changing the constitution.
But in Canada we are also used to voting for a local member, so both types of system talked about for Canada (Mixed Member Proportional and Single Transferable Vote) allow people to vote for local members while achieving proportional representation. Are these systems too complicated for Canadians to understand? Well, it's not clear that Canadians fully understand the implications of our current system, but in any case, the voters of Germany, New Zealand, Scotland, Wales, Australia, Ireland, and others are using these types of system successfully. Are they smarter than Canadians?
Wayne Smith, President
Fair Vote Canada
www.FairVote.Ca
http://fairvotecanada.blogspot.com/
"we have a formula in the constitution that says how many seats go to each province"
Wuduhya ya talkin about? Sounds like diddlin to me.
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