stignasty Posted March 31, 2007 Report Share Posted March 31, 2007 I'm just curious about hearing people's thoughts about proportional representation. I live in a riding that has been strongly Social Credit/PC/Reform/Alliance/Conservative since the depression. My feeling is that my vote is worthless because the outcome of the election here is a foregone conclusion. Would more people turn out and vote for other parties if their votes actually mattered? I realize the major drawback is the tendency for minority governments. Is a coalition government a bad idea balanced out with increased participation? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wilber Posted March 31, 2007 Report Share Posted March 31, 2007 If you are going to have a proportional system you will have to get rid of individual ridings. Depends if you want to be represented by someone who may not live anywhere near you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Remiel Posted March 31, 2007 Report Share Posted March 31, 2007 People can be implanted in ridings as it is. Grouped ridings with multiple seats would be fine as a solution with me. Hell, it wouldn't be much worse than what my riding is now. Lanark, Frontenac, Lennox & Addington is pretty big riding as Eastern Ontario ridings go, I think. I don't feel a hell of a lot of connection to the Conservative candidate from Lanark (before the ridings were changed last). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Canadian Blue Posted March 31, 2007 Report Share Posted March 31, 2007 I wouldn't mind living in a larger riding. I don't feel a connection to my local MP, and I wouldn't mind somebody representing me from outside of the area if the people voted for his/her party. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stignasty Posted March 31, 2007 Author Report Share Posted March 31, 2007 Well, I have to say that if the riding I live in and four others were merged, we would likely send 4 Conservatives and 1 Liberal/ND and I would feel that I had someone who represented my interests in Ottawa. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jbg Posted March 31, 2007 Report Share Posted March 31, 2007 Trouble with rep-by-prop is the tendency to have coalition governments. Parties can make promises secure that they can blame their "coalition partners" when they don't pan out. The defaulting politicians can then ask the voters "how many elections do you want"? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Canadian Blue Posted April 1, 2007 Report Share Posted April 1, 2007 I disagree, if anything it means they have to compromise in order to form government. I don't think the system has failed the voters in Sweden, and I think that would be a good model to look at. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jbg Posted April 1, 2007 Report Share Posted April 1, 2007 I disagree, if anything it means they have to compromise in order to form government. I don't think the system has failed the voters in Sweden, and I think that would be a good model to look at.Sweden is a far more homogenous country than Canada. It's not a good comparison. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Topaz Posted April 1, 2007 Report Share Posted April 1, 2007 Elections in Alberta may change with the arrivals of Ontarians looking for jobs. Perhaps the Libs and the NDP will pick up more seats. I heard between 30,000-100,000 have gone for jobs. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
M.Dancer Posted April 2, 2007 Report Share Posted April 2, 2007 What can you say about an electoral system that gives fringe parties king maker status and allows crack pots like Hitler to come to power? But I understand it's appeal for those single digit parties..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Canadian Blue Posted April 2, 2007 Report Share Posted April 2, 2007 Well, New Zealand and Sweden haven't become Nazi governments in the past century. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
M.Dancer Posted April 2, 2007 Report Share Posted April 2, 2007 Well, New Zealand and Sweden haven't become Nazi governments in the past century. Maybe it works if the population is city sized....... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PolyNewbie Posted April 2, 2007 Report Share Posted April 2, 2007 My feeling is that my vote is worthless because the outcome of the election here is a foregone conclusion. Are you lost ? We are in the NAU. Corporations are writing the laws and courts are beginning to use comunitarian laws. Politicians are just blindly signing the laws. Proportional voting is for the dis illusioned. Politicians don't represent us at all now. They represent only corporate interests. If you want proportional voting you will have to first start educating people about the NAU. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peter F Posted April 2, 2007 Report Share Posted April 2, 2007 I'm just curious about hearing people's thoughts about proportional representation.I live in a riding that has been strongly Social Credit/PC/Reform/Alliance/Conservative since the depression. My feeling is that my vote is worthless because the outcome of the election here is a foregone conclusion. Would more people turn out and vote for other parties if their votes actually mattered? I believe all votes matter, even the handfull of votes for the Loopy party. We vote for the member we want to have represent us in parliament. That is the one and only purpose of a vote. To get frustrated by the fact that too many other voters think different is pointless. How much power should one voter have? If 1 wouldbe Conservative voter does'nt turn up to cast their vote does it matter? If 1 more Conservative voted would it matter? 1 more Lib? 1 vote means very little - as it should. Its the block of votes that matter. If that block keeps voting Cons then whats that to you? Is your vote meaningless? Is each of thier 1 votes meaningless? The big party's encourage us all to think that way of course. More votes for them, or less votes for others - either way they win. Don't fall for it, its a scam. But realize that you are only 1 person. Or you can view elections as horse-races and your vote as a bet....and think you're vote isn't wasted voting for who you don't want or not voting at all and letting the Cons (in you're case) get away with even a larger margin. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BornAlbertan Posted April 2, 2007 Report Share Posted April 2, 2007 Elections in Alberta may change with the arrivals of Ontarians looking for jobs. Perhaps the Libs and the NDP will pick up more seats. I heard between 30,000-100,000 have gone for jobs. But why would so many Liberal Canadians from the east want to move to Alberta? I mean, we are all rednecks and racists aren't we? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
M.Dancer Posted April 2, 2007 Report Share Posted April 2, 2007 Elections in Alberta may change with the arrivals of Ontarians looking for jobs. Perhaps the Libs and the NDP will pick up more seats. I heard between 30,000-100,000 have gone for jobs. But why would so many Liberal Canadians from the east want to move to Alberta? I mean, we are all rednecks and racists aren't we? So were Torontonians till the displaced Montrealers learned them culture and all...... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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