To the Editor,
Re: Compulsory democracy worth a try, Opinion, Jan. 15.
The editor floats what he admits is a “rough idea” and one that has “no doubt a few other hurdles not the least of which would be the Charter of Rights and Freedoms.”
It also is far from new and fundamentally wrong.
He is correct about some of the present ills in our system, especially low voter turnout and palpable mistrust of any politician. Many of us lament those as deeply as he does.
However, compulsory democracy is a misnomer, a bad idea and an oxymoron.
Fundamentally and by definition, democracy is about choice. By definition, compulsory is about not choice. The writer advocates trying to force people to behave differently, ie. vote.
Don’t try to make the pig fly to force a demonstrably terrible system to work, fix the system. Don’t shoot the messenger (public’s behaviour), read the message reflected and ask why.
Perhaps there are other possibilities such as more civility in politics and, dare I speak it aloud in public, a different, more accountable electoral system since “all current courses are clearly failing”.
People are mad about the HST? Try sending them a bill for $10 for not showing up on council or committee meeting.
Jordan Ellis
Nanaimo