23 hours Ago By Sue Young
Two entries in the Jan. 23 edition caught my eye: one a letter to the editor lamenting the lack of a centre right party which puts the lives of British Columbians ahead of its own political interests, the other an article reflecting the betrayal felt by two former BC United candidates out of pocket for election expenses. Let’s look at the underlying cause for this discontent: a voting system that made it electorally advantageous for BC United to fold itself into a party seemingly at odds with some of its values and stances on issues.
Our unfair and unrepresentative winner-take-all voting system reduces voter choice, distorts the vote, forces strategic voting or worse - apathy, and encourages polarization. Because there can be only one winner per riding, most often elected by a minority of voters. Because it is more important to gain the few votes needed to win key ridings, rather than fairly representing voters’ wishes.
Time to join the majority of economically developed countries in giving voters a real choice. Imagine being able to choose from right, a centre right, a centre left, and a left party rather than having to hold our noses and vote for the party we dislike the least. This is still possible with a made-in-British Columbia/Canada proportional representation system.
Sue Young.
