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STV No
Dear Republic:
Dr Max Anderson [Letters, The Republic issue 112) chastises the Referendum Information Office’s pamphlet for failing to promote his beloved STV on vote “wastage;” votes that don’t actually elect an MLA. In reality the pamphlet as is goes too far in supporting STV, because Elections BC is supposed to be neutral and not to take sides. And on this issue the pamphlet could hardly have endorsed the strident sales pitch of the STV disciples—“No Vote Wasted”—as that claim is fraudulent. Wastage of votes is mathematically certain because of the Droop Formula proposed for determining the quota. Vote wastage, equal approximately to one quota, will vary from close to 33% in a 2-MLA riding to close to 13% in a 7-MLA riding, with those percentages remaining consistent in every riding, in every STV election.
The other point raised, about the “random” selection of the Assembly members, lies somewhere between suspect and false. Certainly there was an original group of about 23,000 random names but everyone who served in the Assembly was an eager volunteer; one of 950 folks that turned up for the selection meetings. And each one had an undisclosed motive for wanting to be in the Assembly.
My friend Louis, a professional criminal, told me that he would never choose to go before a jury where every juror had gotten there by screeching: “Pick me! Pick me!”
- David Poole, Surrey
STV yes
Dear Republic:
A vote for STV is a vote for proportional representation. More people vote because they know their vote counts. More independents get elected because people are actually voting for the person they consider the best for the job. More minorities are elected. More women are elected. A proportional system is decidedly more true to the wishes of the electorate, creating a greater connection between the people and the leaders they elect to serve them. All of this points to a healthier and more inclusive democracy.
Who among us can argue that we humans have created some huge problems because of our tendency to be self-oriented and not look at the bigger picture? Our dear planet is suffering, as are millions of people and animals, because of the appalling behaviour of those in power. At this time in the history of our planet we must constantly ask ourselves, can we do better? Is there another way that will encourage the more positive expressions of humanity? Can we take responsibility to make the necessary changes that will move us toward being more compassionate to the needs of our human family, the earth and its species?
Let us vote to try out the STV system here in BC in 2009. Let us decide to move forward to a higher more inclusive way of being human.
- Tsiporah Grignon, Gabriola Island, BC
STV No
Dear Republic:
I believe our existing electoral system needs to be tweaked to better represent the demographic changes that have taken place in BC over the past forty years. Perhaps having our federal government appoint an independent committee to oversee these changes would ensure some integrity throughout the process.
Vote NO to this massive deception. We must preserve our ability to remove from power any government that misrepresents the taxpayers of this great province.
- Doug Elliott, Squamish, BC
STV yes
Dear Republic:
The Single Transferable Vote represents a golden and likely unique opportunity to ensure that, as Abraham Lincoln hoped, "a vote for the people by the people" shall not —in our provincial circumstances —perish under the weight of elite, vested interests and their spin doctors. But seeing that the STV campaign is strapped for cash and that (just like money) advertising talks, STV supporters might consider "homegrown advertising." How about digging out some of those inexpensive lapel pins so often used as a means of introduction in various groups? They are cheap and easy to obtain, and most of us already have some lying around just waiting to be recycled. How about creating your own individualized "Vote YES for the STV" sticker and that way publicizing the merits of the Single Transferable Vote? It may be a long time before we get another such chance to support genuinely democratic, representative government where everyone's vote counts.
- Hanne Quillevere, Victoria, BC
Possessive man
Dear Republic:
Dan Crawford makes a cynical and well deserved point [The enemy is nature! The Republic, issue 112] . Somewhere soon after WWII (1950s) the concept of man as in control of his environment, homo faber, was conceived and promoted by the leading academics and politicians of the world. By the 1960s we had U Thant, Secretary General of the UN saying "the central stupendous truth about developed nations is that they can have the kind and scale of resources they decide to have."
What these visionaries failed to recognize is the dichotomy described by Arthur Koestler as "the average educated person will be reluctant to admit that a work of art is beyond the level of his comprehension while in the same breath and with a certain pride confess complete ignorance of the principles which make a radio work."
At the turn of the new century we still use the products of science and technology in a possessive and exploitive manner without comprehension or feeling.
Sustainability is a political term without meaning!
- Bill Bush
No hope
Dear Republic:
Hummmm! (Peak oil is already here, The Republic, issue 112). Six majors, six minors, six private companies. 666 . . . the mark of the beast. Let the games begin. But seriously folks, the European Union? Give me a break. You want to lump those disparate countries together and call them a "nation?" That will cease to be a union about five seconds after one nation thinks it’s getting a smaller piece of the oil pie than the rest. As far as your assertion that "we need to anticipate the foundations of a new, post-oil global economy, and begin construction of it now" lots of luck. Since there has not even been an energy source that has been identified that will begin to replace the dominance of oil, how on God's green earth would you propose to begin planning a post-oil global economy?
- Bruce Johnson
Education essential
Dear Republic:
Just to say I read your short article on a peak oil site based in Australia and run by Peak Oil "realists" like myself. (Peak oil is already here, The Republic, issue 112).
My own belief is that education on peak oil is essential. When its financial, military and other implications become more widely known amongst the general world population and that military action will only exacerbate shortages etc, (as Iraq) then the lesser the chance of a nuclear Armageddon amongst the power/money crazed elite of our species. I still do not rate mankind's chances very high given political control of media in many countries, especially the USA.
Nice article - Keep up the good work.
- Alan Dickson, Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Greens show strength
Dear Republic:
Three weeks ago Luke Crawford, the Green candidate for the Nelson-Creston riding was not considered a political force by local media power brokers. Now it is obvious Luke is a force to be reckoned with.
Voting Green is not a wasted vote. The strength of the Green vote in the last provincial election (20%) in this riding and 12% provincially, changed the political landscape in Canada. A national party galvanized around this new and energetic group of citizens.
Most of the people evolved organizing Greens locally and provincially jumped from the NDP ship because it was lost in the fog of power.
The NDP played hard ball in Clayoquat Sound arresting nearly a thousand good people for no good reason. In the end, after spending millions in court, they decided to listen to the people and not clear-cut ancient trees in pristine wilderness.
Locally Mr. Evans the Nelson-Creston NDP MLA of the 1990s, said nothing when his social democratic government launched a SLAPP ( Strategic Lawsuit Against Public Participation) against his neighbors that were trying to stop industrial logging on Perry's Ridge, an unstable mountain slope behind their homes. The injunction procured by the Ministry of Forest to remove citizens bent on protecting their source of water was eventually thrown out because it was discovered the MO.F had not told the whole truth about the stability of the area. A number of people were jailed for many weeks. Not really a nice social democratic policy. Perry's Ridge is still tied up in court.
In the mid 1990s Mr. Evans was asked to attend an official public meeting in Nelson in regards to the strong opposition to the Mega Jumbo Ski resort. He said it was an East Kootenay issue and refused to attend. This resort will push a number of wide ranging species closer to extinction. Mr Evans did not have the courage to stand up for common sense.
Mr Evans and Mr. Sufferdine, the Liberal incumbent, are flip sides of the same coin, one protecting big business interest and the other protects big bureaucracy.
Luke Crawford is an honest young man that will help re-engage young people into the political process.
- Tom Prior, Nelson, BC
Campbell’s condos
Dear Republic:
I’m writing to you as a last resort asking for your help to highlight how Gordon Campbell and the BC Liberal party insist on destroying the lives of leaky condo owners.
A few years ago I sponsored my parents to Canada. I was supporting all their financial needs and necessities of daily living since their arrival to Canada. Unfortunately, in 2000 I discovered that the condominium complex where I was living with my parents at the time was a “leaky condo.” I was hit with several hefty assessments to repair the condominium complex. The repair bills were far exceeding my monthly income and I couldn’t afford to pay the repair bill and support my parents at the same time.
The Human Resource Ministry is trying to re-coup a few thousands dollars from leaky condo owners and those who sponsored family members and couldn’t support them during that disaster. This BC Liberal attempt is unimaginable and especially as these people have fallen on hard times and now they are trying to rebuild their life again,
Leaky condo owners lost hundreds of millions of dollars as results of that leaky condo disaster. Hundreds of leaky condo owners had no other choice at that time other than to declare bankruptcy and give the proprieties back to the banks. If I did declare bankruptcy, my parents would have ended up in the street as a result without any shelter.
If a disaster like this occurred in Toronto or Quebec, I’m sure Federal and Provincial money will cover everybody effected, but unfortunately we live in BC and no one really cares about us.
- Malak Hanna, Vancouver
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