THE NDP NEVER DID EXPLAIN… WHAT IS WRONG W/ RANKED BALLOT?! In case you forgot, the House of Commons Special Committee on Electoral Reform, AKA ERRE, was an all-party Parliamentary committee convened and empowered to “conduct a study of viable alternate voting systems to replace the first-past-the-post system”, as well
Continue readingTag: referendum
Song of the Watermelon: Pro Rep: Infinity War; or, In Defence of Endless Referendums
Winston Churchill (apocryphally, as it turns out) is believed to have said, “The best argument against democracy is a five-minute conversation with the average voter.” In light of British Columbia’s referendum on electoral reform this past fall, one is tempted to agree. But let’s not let the media, politicians, and
Continue readingSong of the Watermelon: Pro Rep: Infinity War; or, In Defence of Endless Referendums
Winston Churchill (apocryphally, as it turns out) is believed to have said, “The best argument against democracy is a five-minute conversation with the average voter.” In light of British Columbia’s referendum on electoral reform this past fall, one is tempted to agree. But let’s not let the media, politicians, and
Continue readingAccidental Deliberations: New column day
Here, on the need for progressive leaders to treat consultation processes as a path to goals worth achieving rather than an excuse not to pursue them – particular in the face of right-wing politicians determined to reverse progress at the first opportunity. For further reading…– Ian Bailey notes that Quebec
Continue readingAccidental Deliberations: Saturday Morning Links
Assorted content for your weekend reading. – Jerry Dias writes that the holiday season will be a difficult one for far too many Canadian workers facing precarious employment and hostile governments. And the Economist discusses the long hours expected of workers in the U.S. and the UK. – PressProgress highlights
Continue readingAccidental Deliberations: Friday Morning Links
Assorted content to end your week. – Roger Eatwell writes that the rise of anti-immigrant sentiment can be traced back largely to the sense that elite-dominated governments have failed to take care of citizens generally, while David Leonhardt likewise notes that inequality can all too easily lead to easily-exploitable resentment.
Continue readingBabel-on-the-Bay: Is it the HOW or the WHO?
If the citizens of British Columbia are formally debating their referendum on voting systems, there is one resolution that needs to be debated. The question is “Be it resolved that it is more important to ensure you have the right people to elect than to worry about the mechanics for
Continue readingAccidental Deliberations: On strategic implications
One of the most worrisome aspects of first-past-the-post politics is the reality that a party can take what amounts to unaccountable power for an election cycle based on frivolous and/or misleading messages which just barely nudge public opinion against another option around election day. And parties which don’t have any
Continue readingAccidental Deliberations: Thursday Morning Links
This and that for your Thursday reading. – Chuck Collins discusses the obscene wealth being hoarded by the U.S.’ few richest families. And Owen Jones comments on the need for UK Labour to plan to push for far more revenue – especially from the top end – than it’s proposed
Continue readingAccidental Deliberations: Wednesday Morning Links
Miscellaneous material for your mid-week reading. – Mark Kaufman puts our continually-rising greenhouse gas emissions in historical context, with atmospheric concentrations exceeding what they’ve been in the previous 15 million years. Jason MacLean points out the folly of responding to an imminent and extreme threat with tepid pricing alone rather
Continue readingSong of the Watermelon: Vancouver Sun Letter
I have a letter in today’s Vancouver Sun, not so much supporting proportional representation (although I do support proportional representation) as addressing what I consider to be baseless objections to the current electoral reform referendum. My letter is second from the top, under the (perhaps regrettable) heading “Complexity isn’t a
Continue readingAccidental Deliberations: Tuesday Morning Links
This and that for your Tuesday reading. – Andrew Jackson argues that Canada has nothing to gain in trying to race Donald Trump to the bottom when it comes to corporate taxes: While marginal effective corporate-tax rates are clearly a factor in business investment decisions, they are by no means
Continue readingSong of the Watermelon: Vancouver Sun Letter
I have a letter in today’s Vancouver Sun, not so much supporting proportional representation (although I do support proportional representation) as addressing what I consider to be baseless objections to the current electoral reform referendum. My letter is second from the top, under the (perhaps regrettable) heading “Complexity isn’t a
Continue readingAccidental Deliberations: Sunday Morning Links
This and that for your Sunday reading. – CBC News examines the state of consumer debt in Canada. Jake Johnson writes that despite the growing recognition of inequality as an issue, 2017 saw an unprecedented amount of money funneled into the fortunes of billionaires. And Owen Jones highlights the importance
Continue readingAccidental Deliberations: New column day
Here, on British Columbia’s electoral reform referendum – and the need for a political system where voters have more say than simply a yes/no vote on an incumbent government. For further reading…– For examples of the attempt to defend first-past-the-post based on the desire for accountability for a majority government,
Continue readingAccidental Deliberations: Thursday Morning Links
This and that for your Thursday reading. – Don Pittis writes that the disastrous results of the U.S.’ giveaways to corporations and wealthy individuals – including a ballooning deficit which isn’t contributing to any improvement in the rate of economic growth, together with an expectation that people will pay the
Continue readingCuriosityCat: FPTP makes Canadians second class citizens
Voters in the province of British Columbia are faced with a dilemma: Does morality require them to vote for political reform because they owe their family, friends and neighbours a duty to take care of them? This dilemma arises because each voter in BC will within days receive a postal
Continue readingCuriosityCat: A vote for FPTP is a vote for legalized theft
Voters in BC are being given the chance to vote for a dramatic change in the way in which their representatives in the provincial government are chosen, as this article shows: David Eby said the referendum would be conducted by mail-in ballot, with the campaign to begin July 1 and
Continue readingCuriosityCat: How to Frame the electoral reform referendum in BC, Canada
Mark Mitchell has a post in Facebook in which he writes: Apparently, those of us who support ProRep are wrong to use facts and logic in our argument, when the opposition is using emotion and lies. Any suggestions as to how to change this? Good (Read more…) and a valid
Continue readingThe Maple Monarchists - Blog: What Fallout Would There Be For Canada If Australia Became A Republic?
For those watching Australian politicsAugust was an exciting month. Aftertwo leadership votes in the governingLiberal Party Malcolm Turnbull hasbeen turfed. Malcolm Turnbull This is good news for all loyal subjectsof Her Majesty as Malcolm Turnbullwas a noted republican. He wasreplaced by Scott Morrison who is seenas being more monarchy-friendly. It should be
Continue reading