To paraphrase Winston Churchill鈥檚 often-quoted remark: 鈥淧roportional representation is the worst form of democracy, except for all others.鈥�
Divide and rule is the minority鈥檚 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 sa国际传媒 Liberal. Confused? Welcome to sa国际传媒
The right-wing propaganda machine has kicked into overdrive. Its job is to sell the notion that common people don鈥檛 have the knowledge and experience to vote intelligently on electoral reform. Better the devil you know than the devil you don鈥檛.
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
