Comments on: Dion and May to Explore Electoral Reform http://democraticSPACE.com/blog/2007/04/dion-and-may-to-explore-electoral-reform/ DemocraticSPACE is one of North America's leading non-partisan political websites. Fri, 12 Mar 2010 18:55:51 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Tom http://democraticSPACE.com/blog/2007/04/dion-and-may-to-explore-electoral-reform/comment-page-1/#comment-83415 Tom Thu, 26 Apr 2007 14:27:46 +0000 http://democraticSPACE.com/blog/2007/04/dionmay-to-explore-electoral-reform/#comment-83415 Nick, if they're not popular, they won't be implemented (by any party) no matter how good they are. We live in a democracy. Nick, if they’re not popular, they won’t be implemented (by any party) no matter how good they are. We live in a democracy.

]]> By: George Pringle http://democraticSPACE.com/blog/2007/04/dion-and-may-to-explore-electoral-reform/comment-page-1/#comment-83051 George Pringle Wed, 25 Apr 2007 20:40:41 +0000 http://democraticSPACE.com/blog/2007/04/dionmay-to-explore-electoral-reform/#comment-83051 The NDP in BC didn't think so from 1996-2001 when they knew they were doomed and even with the resulting Leg at 77-2 the people voted down a change to the voting system. As the system self corrected in that election where the referendum was conducted, the next referendum will not come close to the last one. The NDP in BC didn’t think so from 1996-2001 when they knew they were doomed and even with the resulting Leg at 77-2 the people voted down a change to the voting system.

As the system self corrected in that election where the referendum was conducted, the next referendum will not come close to the last one.

]]> By: Nick J Boragina http://democraticSPACE.com/blog/2007/04/dion-and-may-to-explore-electoral-reform/comment-page-1/#comment-82949 Nick J Boragina Wed, 25 Apr 2007 17:28:58 +0000 http://democraticSPACE.com/blog/2007/04/dionmay-to-explore-electoral-reform/#comment-82949 there are times to campaign for PR. in most provinces, and even federally to a degree, you end up with the electorate swinging to one party for 10 years or so, then swinging back. At near the end of those 10 years, it is in your interest to push for PR, as you forever limit the opposition to minority governments, and since they are due to form the next government, that short-term goal becomes the thing to drive towards there are times to campaign for PR. in most provinces, and even federally to a degree, you end up with the electorate swinging to one party for 10 years or so, then swinging back. At near the end of those 10 years, it is in your interest to push for PR, as you forever limit the opposition to minority governments, and since they are due to form the next government, that short-term goal becomes the thing to drive towards

]]> By: George Pringle http://democraticSPACE.com/blog/2007/04/dion-and-may-to-explore-electoral-reform/comment-page-1/#comment-82919 George Pringle Wed, 25 Apr 2007 16:41:58 +0000 http://democraticSPACE.com/blog/2007/04/dionmay-to-explore-electoral-reform/#comment-82919 As every referendum has failed and when it fails in Ontario, even lying about being committed to electoral reform is dead. Neither the Liberals or Conservatives have ever or will enact changes to the voting system that elects them in govt with 35-40% of the popular vote. If Layton were to pull off a Bob Rae and find himself PM, he would not enact changes to the voting system that gives the only chance of the NDP to have any actual governing power. If there was a weird electoral earthquake and Liz May found herself the balance of power in a minority govt, she would not force the minority govt to enact changes to the voting system that gave her that one time opportunity. As every referendum has failed and when it fails in Ontario, even lying about being committed to electoral reform is dead.

Neither the Liberals or Conservatives have ever or will enact changes to the voting system that elects them in govt with 35-40% of the popular vote.

If Layton were to pull off a Bob Rae and find himself PM, he would not enact changes to the voting system that gives the only chance of the NDP to have any actual governing power.

If there was a weird electoral earthquake and Liz May found herself the balance of power in a minority govt, she would not force the minority govt to enact changes to the voting system that gave her that one time opportunity.

]]> By: Nick J Boragina http://democraticSPACE.com/blog/2007/04/dion-and-may-to-explore-electoral-reform/comment-page-1/#comment-82846 Nick J Boragina Wed, 25 Apr 2007 13:20:58 +0000 http://democraticSPACE.com/blog/2007/04/dionmay-to-explore-electoral-reform/#comment-82846 good ideas are not always popular ideas good ideas are not always popular ideas

]]> By: Tom http://democraticSPACE.com/blog/2007/04/dion-and-may-to-explore-electoral-reform/comment-page-1/#comment-82625 Tom Wed, 25 Apr 2007 04:41:58 +0000 http://democraticSPACE.com/blog/2007/04/dionmay-to-explore-electoral-reform/#comment-82625 I suppose I would consider myself often torn between the Greens and the NDP. I feel no particularly loyalty to any one party. If the Liberals steal the popular ideas of the NDP and get elected on them, then the popular ideas of the NDP will be enacted and the unpopular ones won't be. It strikes me as strange that people see some sort of problem with the borrowing of policies when government and voting should be about policies and not parties. Ultimately, it shouldn't matter which party you're voting for as long as their policies are a good fit. I suppose I would consider myself often torn between the Greens and the NDP. I feel no particularly loyalty to any one party.

If the Liberals steal the popular ideas of the NDP and get elected on them, then the popular ideas of the NDP will be enacted and the unpopular ones won’t be. It strikes me as strange that people see some sort of problem with the borrowing of policies when government and voting should be about policies and not parties. Ultimately, it shouldn’t matter which party you’re voting for as long as their policies are a good fit.

]]> By: Nick J Boragina http://democraticSPACE.com/blog/2007/04/dion-and-may-to-explore-electoral-reform/comment-page-1/#comment-82605 Nick J Boragina Wed, 25 Apr 2007 03:45:47 +0000 http://democraticSPACE.com/blog/2007/04/dionmay-to-explore-electoral-reform/#comment-82605 Tom, are you an NDPer? its comments like that which made me leave the party. Unless you can win power and carry out on your ideas, you will always have some other party *cough*liberal*cough* steal the ideas they agree with, and leave the rest in the dust. Tom, are you an NDPer? its comments like that which made me leave the party. Unless you can win power and carry out on your ideas, you will always have some other party *cough*liberal*cough* steal the ideas they agree with, and leave the rest in the dust.

]]> By: Tom http://democraticSPACE.com/blog/2007/04/dion-and-may-to-explore-electoral-reform/comment-page-1/#comment-82296 Tom Tue, 24 Apr 2007 16:47:16 +0000 http://democraticSPACE.com/blog/2007/04/dionmay-to-explore-electoral-reform/#comment-82296 Perhaps May is more concerned about the promulgation of her ideas than the promulgation of partisanship. Perhaps May is more concerned about the promulgation of her ideas than the promulgation of partisanship.

]]> By: Peter Cassidy http://democraticSPACE.com/blog/2007/04/dion-and-may-to-explore-electoral-reform/comment-page-1/#comment-82256 Peter Cassidy Tue, 24 Apr 2007 14:55:54 +0000 http://democraticSPACE.com/blog/2007/04/dionmay-to-explore-electoral-reform/#comment-82256 Was there actually a deal in wiring "inked" between Dion and May If so, shouldn't we see a copy? whatever deal was made it doesn't seem there was any hard committment from Dion to electoral reform. From the Star article cited: "Dion and May inked a non-aggression pact earlier this month in which the Liberals agreed not to run a candidate against the Green leader in the next federal election and the Greens agreed to not to run a candidate against the Liberal leader. May briefly mentioned electoral reform at the joint news conference with Dion. In an email and talking points subsequently sent to Green party members, she was more explicit in stating that the deal included Dion recognizing "the need for electoral reform, which the Green Party sees as the need for proportional representation." In an interview, May said Dion's willingness to study electoral reform was not a condition for her participation in the leaders' non-compete pact. But she said it was important in helping to make the deal more palatable to Greens." Was there actually a deal in wiring “inked” between Dion and May If so, shouldn’t we see a copy? whatever deal was made it doesn’t seem there was any hard committment from Dion to electoral reform.

From the Star article cited:

“Dion and May inked a non-aggression pact earlier this month in which the Liberals agreed not to run a candidate against the Green leader in the next federal election and the Greens agreed to not to run a candidate against the Liberal leader.

May briefly mentioned electoral reform at the joint news conference with Dion. In an email and talking points subsequently sent to Green party members, she was more explicit in stating that the deal included Dion recognizing “the need for electoral reform, which the Green Party sees as the need for proportional representation.”

In an interview, May said Dion’s willingness to study electoral reform was not a condition for her participation in the leaders’ non-compete pact. But she said it was important in helping to make the deal more palatable to Greens.”

]]> By: Nick J Boragina http://democraticSPACE.com/blog/2007/04/dion-and-may-to-explore-electoral-reform/comment-page-1/#comment-81978 Nick J Boragina Tue, 24 Apr 2007 04:08:00 +0000 http://democraticSPACE.com/blog/2007/04/dionmay-to-explore-electoral-reform/#comment-81978 I'm surprised at how stupid May is. Someone should tell her that in 1921 Mackenzie King made pals with the Progressive Party, and adopted many of thier ideas. Lesson of the story? The Progressive Party is not around anymore. I’m surprised at how stupid May is. Someone should tell her that in 1921 Mackenzie King made pals with the Progressive Party, and adopted many of thier ideas. Lesson of the story? The Progressive Party is not around anymore.

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