To paraphrase Winston Churchill’s often-quoted remark: “Proportional representation is the worst form of democracy, except for all others.”
Divide and rule is the minority’s battle cry; unite and lead is the watchword of the wise. In British Columbia, the liberal-minded majority vote Green or NDP. The conservative-minded minority supports a party that calls itself B.C. Liberal. Confused? Welcome to B.C.
The right-wing propaganda machine has kicked into overdrive. Its job is to sell the notion that common people don’t have the knowledge and experience to vote intelligently on electoral reform. Better the devil you know than the devil you don’t.
First-past-the-post voting systems allow laissez-faire oligarchies to dismantle the social safety net and pass legislation that favours the well-to-do.
An honest democracy must provide political equality. The open marketplace of ideas and diversity of thought makes proportional representation more representative. The more voices being heard, the better it is for democracy.
Hard-fought-for adult suffrage ushered in modern-day parliamentary democracy. If you want to have your voice heard, be sure to vote.
Doug Poole
Courtenay
