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Post by Admin on Oct 4, 2017 1:26:18 GMT
Politicians & Electoral Reform
Politicians will waffle on many issues including Electoral Reform. The video below is an interview with the NDP leader, John Horgan, on Electoral Reform. In the Interview he admits that in 2005 and on STV he campaigned against STV as he was comfortable with FPTP, in the 2009 and he campaigned in support of STV, now in 2017 he is promoting MMP. See for yourself. Politicians will act to their own best-interest. This is why IRV is not even considered.
In the interview he also talks about working with other Parties. However, as far as the Liberals are concerned he does not want to work with them - he wants to DEFEAT them. That leaves only the Green Party that he wants to work with. PR system often results with a MINORITY government, with PR he would need to learn to work with the Liberals.
Christy Clark is also a Politician that has waffled on Electoral Reform. In this video she talks about in 2005 she was a Politician and as such she campaigned against STV. However, in 2009 she had quit Politics and as a VOTER she was campaigning in SUPPORT OF STV.
The one thing we can trust about Politicians is that they will campaign and support any system that BENEFITS THEM. Any principals on improving democracy is a DISTANT SECOND.
It is interesting to note - in 2005 with both Clark and Horgan campaigning AGAINST STV, the Voters voted 58% in favour of STV. In 2009 with both Clark and Horgan campaigning in SUPPORT OF STV, the Voter voted 60% against STV. Both referendums (2005 & 2009) demonstrates how EFFECTIVE their campaigns were! It also demonstrates how SIMILAR both leaders are (there is not much difference between them, when it comes to SELF-INTERESTS). |
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Post by Admin on Nov 2, 2017 15:42:13 GMT
Politicians & First-Past-The-Post:
Political Parties and Politicians are both addicted to the Electoral System of First-Past-The-Post. This addiction to First-Past-The-Post is why in the 21st Century we still have this ancient system. In BC we are having our 3rd referendum (over the last 13 years) to try to kick this addiction. We can see how strongly they are addicted to FPTP with the past actions of changing the system;
1. In BC - in 1945 the BC Coalition Government changed the FPTP system to the Ranked Ballot (AV-IRV) system. This change was to take effect for the 1952 provincial election.
The 1952 AV election resulted in a Minority Government with the NDP 18 MLAs and Socreds 19 MLAs. The Government was quickly dissolved and a new AV election was called for 1953.
The 1953 AV election resulted in the Majority Government with the Socreds electing 28 MLAs. The first thing the Socreds did was to change the electoral system back to FPTP. We have had FPTP ever since and the Socreds managed to stay in Power for over 20 years with FPTP system.
It took the Ranked Ballot (AV-IRV) in order for the Socreds to elect their first MLA in 1952 (19 MLAs). It took the Ranked Ballot in 1953 to give the Socreds their first Majority Government (28 MLAs). However, the Socreds still preferred their fix of FPTP and as soon as they could changed the system back to FPTP they did.
2. Alberta & Manitoba - Both Alberta and Manitoba had much more success with kicking this addiction to FPTP. Both used the STV system in the major cities and IRV in the rest of the province from 1920 - 1950s. They succeeded in kicking their addiction for over 30 years, before, relapsing back to FPTP in the mid-1950s.
Why the change in the 1920s that Alberta & Manitoba went through? Before the 1920s there was only 2 Political Parties - Liberals & Conservatives. With only 2 Parties to choose from First-Past-The-Post worked well, 1 of the 2 would result with over 50% support.
It was in the 1920s that a 3rd Party materialized - Progressive Conservatives. Now FPTP no longer worked the same way. Having a Party with over 50% support was much rarer to occur. With 3 Parties and with FPTP the elected Party only had to have more support than any other. Now the Government was representing the LARGEST MINORITY of support.
With 3 Political Parties FPTP no longer worked. Both provinces went with the Ranked Ballot (AV) where the elected Party required a MAJORITY OF SUPPORT. |
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