The Editor:
Imagine you are living in the age of cavepersons with a constant supply of water and food. Would you ever risk venturing outside?
Brain research reveals there is a demographic in our cave that has a brain designed to venture outside — teens, ironically. It is our teens’ drive for reward that has become the foundation of our existence as they enthusiastically ignore consequences. Sometimes they take themselves out of the gene pool and sometimes they succeed in a “better way” that benefits all.
Our government has promised to replace the first past the post (FPTP) electoral system with a better way. While some think keeping FPTP is keeping us safe, among other severe problems, it favours survival of the richest.
The Electoral Reform Committee is reporting in December on two options, ranked ballots and proportional representation (PR). Ranked ballots would not meet the requirements of effectiveness and legitimacy, engagement, accessibility and inclusiveness and integrity. PR meets all of these, plus, we can customize it for the requirement of local representation. No constitutional changes needed.
The teen brain found PR is a better way in 35 other robust democracies including Denmark, Finland, Germany, Norway, Sweden and Switzerland. In our Canadian cave, let’s replace adversarial first pas the post with consensual proportional representation. Tell your MP and/or tell the Committee that PR is the better way to make every vote count.
Nancy Carswell,
Fair Vote Canada –
Sask. Chapter
Shellbrook, Sask.
