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By Nick Loenen
BRITISH Columbians will go to the polls May 12 –
both to vote and to participate in a referendum.
The purpose of the referendum is to decide whether to
accept or reject the recommendation of the Citizens Assembly on Electoral
Reform. In the last referendum, a solid majority of 58 percent supported
the Assembly’s recommendation. This was just shy of the 60 percent
required for acceptance – but too close to ignore. Hence, we get to
do it again.
Civilized politics
The Assembly’s proposed voting system, BC-STV,
gives voters more choice; ensures most voters will have someone in Victoria
they actually voted for; and unlike the current system, will not give one
seat to every 12,000 Liberal voters and no seats to nearly 200,000 Green
voters.
But there is more to this initiative: BC-STV promises a
more civilized politics.
We have too much fighting in our politics, and not
enough cooperation. Too often, politics is gutter warfare – nasty,
contentious and negative. Can Christians really be in politics? Is it
possible to redeem politics, even a little?
Yes, it is possible to do politics differently.
It takes honest people – but also structural changes. The
present system, not just the people in it, is conducive to negative
campaigning and adversarial relationships.
Our first-past-the-post approach to voting is a
winner-take-all system.
Only one candidate, only one party can win; all others
are losers. In our system there is no constructive role for losers.
Politicians win by attacking and diminishing others. Canadians don’t
like attack ads, but under first-past-the-post, that is how it is done.
Politics as war
Legendary B.C. premier W.A.C. Bennett often said:
“Politics is war by another name.”
Winston Churchill said: “The difference between
war and politics is this: In war you get killed but once, in politics
often.”
Must it be thus? No! Politics is not war, and should not be
conducted as though it is war.
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British Columbia’s Citizens Assembly on Electoral
Reform recommends a voting system which allows voters to rank candidates.
Winning candidates need second and third place support from voters whose
first loyalty is with an opponent.
Such a system rewards constructive behaviour: you win
by building bridges, by reaching out. It promotes the politics of
inclusion, cooperation and consultation.
It does not thrive on conflict; it thrives on conflict
resolution.
Are you offended by the recent events in Ottawa, and
the kind of politics that thrives on placing party interest ahead of the
public interest? If you are, then here’s your chance to change the
voting system!
Today, faced with unprecedented public policy
challenges and the need to rescue an economy destroyed by excessive self
interest, we need a form of politics that is constructive; a system that
rewards politicians for placing the common good ahead of partisan
interests. We need the BC Citizens Assembly’s recommendation!
On May 12, British Columbia has an opportunity to show
Canada that politics need not be a blood sport. And the Christian community
in B.C. has a rare opportunity to help redeem politics.
I hope we will not be found wanting. To get involved
visit: www.stv.ca.
Nick Loenen is a former member of the B.C.
Legislature, and co-founder of Fair Voting BC.
April 2009
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