Isn’t B.C. ‘democracy’ interesting? Some claim a hung legislature, narrowly supported by a so-called fringe party. However, Greens earned one in six votes and under proportional representation (PR), should have over five times the seats awarded by our outdated first-past-the-post electoral system. Liberals barely got 40 per cent of the vote but tried to hang on to power as the ruling government.
That’s not new – almost all previous ‘majority’ governments have in fact been far from legitimate. The only true majority during my lifetime, in 2001, gave Liberals all but two seats with only 57 per cent of the vote - the same measure of votes now opposing them. One election earlier, the NDP, finishing second, still formed a ‘majority’ government. How crazy is that?
So, we tried a referendum to fix the electoral system and 57 per cent said ‘yes’ to PR, but the Liberals said ‘no’. Isn’t it interesting what 57 per cent can mean? Fifty-seven per cent are poised now to represent a true majority of voters by communicating, collaborating and co-operating.
Once again, we’re facing a referendum on PR and people need to take responsibility. Become better informed about the true working of the electoral system. The principals aren’t complicated and it’s just about fairness and improving democracy. Be discerning in what you hear and read. Powerful, wealthy, corporate elites do not want to change a controllable electoral system that works so well – for them. They easily fund and craft a message that obscures the simple truth in our elections.
Diane Guthrie
Victoria