To the Editor,
Re: It’s time for us to elect Senate, Letters, July 30.
All transferable voting systems are founded on the notion that one’s vote should not, and therefore will not count, until it is cast in conformity with a majority of voters. If the object is a truly ‘representative government,’ shouldn’t the results of an election reflect voters’ first choices -- rather than that of coerced second, third or fourth choice?
Why would we not seek to develop an electoral process which -- unlike single-member plurality and single transferable vote, which merely shuffle the deck amongst the major parties -- strives to be as equally inclusive of ‘fringe’ voices in Parliament and the legislatures?
Yes, we need electoral reform. Yes, the Senate needs reform -- the no-brainer (which somehow seems to have escaped politicians of every stripe) being that of equality of all provinces and territories as a counter to the concentration of representation in the Commons predicated on representation by population which constitutes Canada as an Upper and Lower Canada-centric entity (very much in the way bills of rights exist to protect minorities from abuse at the hands of the majority).
The illusions, the deceits inherent to election campaigns (the governing dynamics) being every bit as harmful, arguably worse, than any drug you’ll find on the street, first things first, we need to find the temerity that will allow us to, just say ‘no’ to any and all of those who would deny us our rightful voice in our own government.
David S. DunawaySouth Wellington