To the Editor,

Re: Fairer ways exist, but not wanted, Letters, July 12.

This letter neatly illuminates the reason we are unlikely to see changes to our system of electing Members of Parliament and hopefully will also dissuade more ideas like “that bastardized transferable ballot system”.

On a related issue, I also find the habit that some politicians have of tailoring their spiels to suit different areas as they cross our diverse land scrounging for our votes, as quite insulting.

The most recent example is the NDPs touring Tom Mulcair who will rant about Alberta’s dirty “tar” sands in order to keep Quebec on side, then have the gall to show his face in Alberta claiming to be “in awe” over the size of what he now calls the “oil” sands.

Then it’s on to B.C. where he wants to “pull the plug” on the Northern Gateway Pipeline.

He obviously can’t see how curtailing Alberta’s ability to sell oil also curtails the amount they can toss into the welfare pot called equalization which supports his province’s social programs.

Many people see separation as a cure for this type of fiasco.

Radical? Perhaps, but the Czechs and Slovaks seem to get along better now, except when they face off on a hockey rink. The West could continue subsidizing the have-nots while they forced themselves to learn innovation, productivity and sensible politics.

It’s likely just dreaming and I’ve digressed enough anyway. As a bit of aside trivia though, doesn’t the Balfour Declaration mentioned in the referenced letter go back to the First World War?

Jim Corder

Nanaimo