Proportional Representation

[Queenmandy85]

26 minutes ago, TreeBeard said:

In reality, how many independents are elected?  Zero in the last election.  Every single MP has party affiliation.  Let’s deal with actual realities please.

Every MP is an independent. If we have party sheep, that is our fault because we elected them. If we elect good people, the party affilliation would be irrelevant.

[TreeBeard]

3 minutes ago, Queenmandy85 said:

The government remains responsible to Parliament. However, as the climate crisis gets nearer, the government will need to make decisions that will be very unpopular, mainly because we have procrastinated for 35 years. Government will need to be decisive or fail in its most important role, to save as many lives as possible. Cabinet is always divided, but we need cabinet solidarity to function

I think an argument can be made that proportional representation could give some buffer for unpopular decisions….  especially given the current make up of parliament where the 2 smaller parties (NDP and Greens)are demanding much more from the Libs on climate change.   
 

It worked quite well for Harper to blame the other parties when his government racked up massive deficits.  Could be a similar strategy for the Libs if this comes up.  
 

 

[TreeBeard]

3 minutes ago, Queenmandy85 said:

Every MP is an independent. If we have party sheep, that is our fault because we elected them. If we elect good people, the party affilliation would be irrelevant.

Every MP is part of a political party.  Let’s stick with reality, not some made up ideal.  

[Queenmandy85]

2 hours ago, TreeBeard said:

Every MP is part of a political party.  Let’s stick with reality, not some made up ideal.  

Belonging to a party is not slavery (except in the NDP). They can still vote the way they believe is best for the country. Remember Harkness, Fulton and Hees. 

2 hours ago, TreeBeard said:

I think an argument can be made that proportional representation could give some buffer for unpopular decisions….  especially given the current make up of parliament where the 2 smaller parties (NDP and Greens)are demanding much more from the Libs on climate change.   
 

It worked quite well for Harper to blame the other parties when his government racked up massive deficits.  Could be a similar strategy for the Libs if this comes up.  
 

 

When it comes to fighting climate change, the stakes are so high, worrying about who to blame is irrelevant. Democratic ideas will be a luxury we will no longer be able to afford. There may come a point where, if people will not make the sacrifices required to stave off global catastrophe, they will be forced to. 

Edited January 31, 2023 by Queenmandy85

[OftenWrong]

3 hours ago, Queenmandy85 said:

But when we vote, we are voting for a Member of Parliament, not a political party.

But we know the the MP does belong to a party. The party has power which is not trivial. We know there are times when all members are told they must vote along party lines.

The party controls the money during election campaign as well.

It is the very origin of cronyism. 

Remove parties, remove partisanship.

[Queenmandy85]

If, as Myata says, backbench MP's are employees, they should form a union.

[eyeball]

8 hours ago, Queenmandy85 said:

Voters need an MP who is a neighbour, some one they know and trust.

Then we'll need ridings no bigger than it takes 15 minutes to walk across.

[myata]

10 hours ago, Queenmandy85 said:

That will break down to a coalition of NDP, Grit and Greens for 190 seats to the CPC opposition of 115 and the BQ floating.

This is sooo clueless to allow real choice and expect that the political landscape will be exactly the same. They are sooo stuck in the past, can't see a glimpse of new. Cemented. OMG, help!

A short list minus USA, UK (unique deliberately and intelligently constructed democratic systems):

...Barbados, Bangladesh,..  Canada, Gambia, Grenada, Malawi..., Palau, Sierra Leone, Uganda, Zamibia.

Countries using FPTP

This is truly, literally the last one of the dinosaurs, still claiming to be a first world democracy! NZ is proportional, Australia preferential. Just look where (which depths of history) mental laziness and complacency can take you. Don't expect happy surprises on a carefree ride.

 

Edited February 1, 2023 by myata

[myata]

Why do third-world quasi-democracies like FPTP so much? Is there something in it for them? Ease to control and manipulate the population? Absence of any independent checks and government accountability? Nice juicy rewards with minimal responsibility? Any guesses?