Since I first worked on an election campaign in 1960 (Pat McGeer, Liberal, Point Grey) I have been involved in every election: federal, provincial and local.
Almost all that time, I have voted for the candidate I thought most worthy of my vote, the party notwithstanding. (And I have worked on his or her campaign.)
The campaigns for the current referendum have reinforced my opinion: Political parties suck. The campaigns are all led by parties or their supporters. Parties don鈥檛 care about the voter, they want to get elected. Period.
Sure, they say (and probably believe) that if they get elected the voters will reap the benefit, but they don鈥檛 try to educate voters. They don鈥檛 care about what鈥檚 best: They care about what鈥檚 best for them.
Herewith Cameron鈥檚 guide to the referendum:
There are three kinds of voters: candidate, party and situational.
Candidate voters pick the best candidate (in his or her opinion) and vote accordingly. The party doesn鈥檛 matter.
Party voters will vote for the party鈥檚 candidate, be it Nelson Mandela or Jo Jo the dog-faced boy.
Situational voters will vote for the party, unless the party is on the wrong side of a current issue they think important; or for a candidate, unless the candidate鈥檚 leader is a twit; or 鈥�
If you support the sa国际传媒 Liberals, vote FPTP. If you support the Greens or the NDP (or the Conservative party), vote PR. If, like me, you vote for the best candidate, vote first for PR, then RUP.
Ian Cameron
Brentwood Bay
