MMP fosters Walmart politics
A frequent objection to the Mixed Member Proportional (MMP) election reform proposal is that it’s too democratic. Just as it will smooth out the blatant over- and under-representation of today’s system (e.g. the 1990 Ontario NDPs, today’s Green Party), it’s possible that certain, less desirable political parties (the Nazi/Facist Party or one-issue parties the typical examples) could earn a seat in the House. The proposed legislation already addresses these “undesirables” with its requirement that parties must receive 3-percent of the popular vote to gain one of 39 list member seats – some, including the Globe & Mail, want this threshold raised to 5-percent. More than the suggested increase, the very fact that a threshold even exists looks to me to be in direct conflict with the basic principles of democracy. Two thoughts come to mind:
- There’s a simple solution to having Marijuana Party MPs walking the halls of Queen's Park; don’t vote for them! If 5-percent of Ontarians vote for the Weed Party, that’s (unfortunately for some) a reflection of 5-percent of the province’s population, not a fault of the system. Sweeping the actual seat under the rug isn’t going to change the fact that you live in a land of stoners!
- Aren’t the ability for every voter to have their say, and for political movements to develop at the grassroots level, essential and founding principles of democracy? How then, can anyone justify a quota for defining party credibility? We’re up in arms about predatory pricing and anti-competitiveness whenever Walmart sets up shop in another community. We’ve got legislation preventing the telcos from collusion and predatory pricing. Yet when it comes to our system of government, even a proposed better model, we penalize grassroots political organizations for being…well, grassroots. How undemocratic.
posted by CORCORAN @ 9:34 AM
1 comments
1 Comments:
To your two bullet points: yes and yes. I was hoping (but not expecting) the MMP proposal to pass. Its main benefit, in my mind, is that it gives people a reason to go to the polls even if their riding is a "lock" for one of the parties. If your riding is going Liberal no matter what, it feels like your vote doesn't count. But having that extra vote means you can have an impact. And it gives you a reason to research the other parties. A more engaged electorate is always a good thing.
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