Yes.
....this is the very reason that many people don't support STV, or FAIRNESS in politics....they like the status quo and as long as they are on the winning end of the stick could care less how fair or proportional it is.
That may be true, but keep in mind...the very reason that many people DO support STV, or FAIRNESS in politics...is because THEY have been on the losing end of the stick, and would support anything that could give them an opportunity to wield more political clout. This is NOT the case with me.
Although an STV system would likely make majority governments a rarity, and would possibly contribute to "muddying" the political waters in this province, I would appreciate the opportunity to be served by a government that is tempered by healthy binding debate.
For example;
I am a business owner, and think that the Liberal party (for all of it's problems), is our best bet from an economic standpoint. (obviously that is IMO).
I am a family man and a fisherman, and think that the NDP or Green parties (for all of their problems) are our best bet from an environmental and social standpoint. (again, IMO)
Assuming a Liberal government, I would love to see the NDP, and the Green party be able to have some say on issues such as privatization of river projects, and other environmental issues.
On the flip side, should we get to a point in time where the NDP or Green party forms government, I would absolutely be in favor of having Liberal input on economic issues.
I saw the anti-STV ad tonight on the tube, and wasn't happy. Clearly, as it has been stated in this thread already, there are two "campaigns" being run. In my opinion, neither one can be considered objective, and further research needs to be done by everyone interested in this issue.
The anti STV ad suggests that your vote can be split and go to support a candidate NOT of your choosing. This is false. In the STV system, your vote can ONLY support candidates beside which you write a preference number. If you want, you can still vote exactly the same way that you currently vote. You just need to put a 1 beside the candidate that you would put an X beside in the current voting system, and then leave the rest blank. Your number 1 preference will be counted to support that candidate, and then, because you chose no secondary preferences, your vote will be considered exhausted.
The STV system will IMO affect the locality of our representation in a negative manner. Our current 81 ridings will be lumped together to form 20 new ones. There will still be 81 available seats, so each of the 20 new ridings, will elect more than one candidate. As I currently live in the lower mainland, this representation locality issue will not affect me as dramatically as it will someone living in rural northern BC. Each of the large rural ridings will have a good chance of electing all or most of their allotted representatives from the population centers, such as Prince George, leaving some (less populated) areas, as far as 350 kilometers away without effective local representation. This issue is of concern to me, and I have no defense to offer anyone who would take issue with me understanding the representation issue, yet still planning to vote YES to the STV. I only have two options. Vote, or don't vote. All I can do is educate myself on how the current system works,...how the proposed STV system works, and cast my vote as I understand the issue to affect me and my family.
I would encourage everyone to spend at least a few hours, looking at ALL of the unbiased information that they can find,... and go out on Tuesday and vote.
Poll
29 (51.8%)
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Topic: Are you voting "Yes" or "No" for STV?? (Read 19257 times)