Quote:
Originally Posted by Resolute 14
As CliffFletcher notes - FPTP forces candidates to play to the centre. Rep by pop pushes politics toward the extremes. Rep by Pop also eliminates the local representative.
And all of the systems (including STV) result in "wasted votes" - which, pretty much by definition, actually means "my party didn't win so my vote was wasted".
All systems have benefits, all systems have flaws. But don't sit there and preach about renewing democracy by using an anti-democratic process. That is just more of the very same cynical hypocrisy that you guys loved to bash Harper over.
And that doesn't touch things like what Smartcar notes. Mandatory voting, in particular, is an asinine idea.
|
Well its interesting to see that you have noted these drawbacks for rep by pop (which is the current system). Its clearly not eliminating local representation at this point or pushing candidates or parties to extremes.
And sure, all systems have flaws, but there are clearly more efficient systems. Look at Calgary Centre or Skyview in this latest federal election. The majority of voters there chose someone other than the Liberals. Why should we not acknowledge those votes in any way? Why do we run with a winner take all system even if that winner has a minority of the votes?
I just think that there are more efficient systems that will allow for greater representation of voters. If that means that voters are more diverse and we have more minority governments, that is fine. If we have 3 seats held by the Green party or whoever, that's also fine; its the wishes of the electorate and while I might personally not love our collective choices that's basically irrelevant.