FPTP Short Circuits Democracy

How did you celebrate September's Democracy Week?  Elections Canada's 2013 theme "Connect with Democracy" was "about connecting with people, places and information that help broaden your understanding of why democracy and voting are so important."  While connecting is important, our electoral system is short circuiting us. 
Canada is one of the few remaining democracies wired with First-Past-the-Post (FPTP). When we had only two parties, FPTP did deliver the power to a majority winner but we now have more than two parties.  Over 80 democracies utilize proportional representation (PR) to send power along multiple party circuits fairly. 
The difference between FPTP and PR can be illustrated with a chocolate bar election featuring Aero, Crunchie, Mars, and Snickers on the ballot.  Imagine we have 9 seats and 100 votes.  In FPTP as few as 33 voters would make Mars the winner of all 9 seats leaving 67 voters—Aero 32, Snickers 22, and Crunchie 13, without even a taste of power.  With PR, the number of seats for each party would be in proportion to the number of votes received—Mars and Aero 3 each, Snickers 2, and Crunchie 1. 
Civilizations rise with equality and fairness and fall when inequality and unfairness become unbearable.  This pattern continues because we appear unaware that fairness and inequality are never secure and need vigilance.  It is time to rewire our electoral system.  Make the next federal election our last unfair election.  Please find and support a candidate committed to proportional representation. 
Blogger Nancy Carswell

Let’s work together to make every vote count!

Craig Scott, MP and Fair Vote Canada
invite you to the
NDP’s National Electoral Reform

Tour Stop in Saskatoon

Tuesday October 1st, 2013
7:00pm–9:00pm
Frances Morrison Central Library (Auditorium)
311- 23rd St East