That sound… a scream.
That sound a scream of joy. The idea of Mixed Member Proportional (MMP) representation crumbles in the dust of its own stupidity. That scream erupts from air ripping vocal chords in emotional display mouthed with a hoo-ray.
A scream of despair. The proponents of MMP groan in terrible pain as the elitist concept gets ground into the dustbin of history. 103 selected citizens, mostly the Premier’s concept of citizens, (all sporting red hearts, brown noses grunting like abandoned Peccaries.) allegedly grouped together and came up with this idea.
Such a proposal then provides the punch line of either one of two jesting queries:
1. How many Liberals does it take to come up with an actual idea?
2. How many Liberals does it take to come up with a very stupid idea?
One answer for both. 103.
We could have this on Jeopardy.
Alex: Okay the only remaining category Liberal Patronage?
Contestant: Stupid ideas for $120 Alex.
Alex: (Ding) 103… one … hundred and … three
(Boop, boop boop … boop)
Need an answer.
(((((aaja;fjapp))))
Contestant: What was the number of stupid butt kissing, brain farting, cater eating Liberal panty waists who recommended MMP?
(ding, ding, ding, ding, ding ding.)
This is being written in the early morning and not having the actual figures all the radio reports indicate the magic sixty percent was achieved and that is rejection. A big fat NO.
The media is sort of muted. Many alleged television journalists sort of were sure that this measure would pass. Liberal supporters took it for granted that since this was a committee of brainy trusts that everyone would naturally fall for the line.
Opposition to it from mostly print media journalists grew during the last days and overwhelmed the lazy campaign of the pro MPP forces. It was a tsunami of opposition.
This doesn’t mean that I am opposed to election reform. There is a better alternative.
First the province does need a few more MPPs re-established and not necessarily along Federal riding boundaries. Federal ridings follow a design based on the National needs and criteria. The Provincial legislature should define those boundaries along Provincial needs and demands.
Second run off elections similar to the process used in Europe would work. In Ontario’s case a run off election would be triggered by a plurality of less than 49% and a less than a vote lead of less than 12% or less than 42%. Which means that if those criteria are not met the top two vote getters would have a run off election 14 days later.
This system would assure that a certain majority in each riding would vote for the elected member. Such a system assures that the new member has received a definite number of vote support entering the legislature. Oh never mind. It will never be accepted it makes sense.
RIP MMP
1 comment:
Unfortunately these ideas never die, they just go into suspended animation for an unknown period of time.
According to a follow-up show on TV Ontario, the problem wasn't the stupid, crooked form of MMP as presented in the referendum, the problem was a lack of proper explanation and promotion to the voting public. By this, I'm quite sure they meant that since people didn't vote the way they wanted them to vote, the lies obviously weren't of sufficient quantity and quality to effectively brainwash them.
I am quite certain the political parties will try again sometime in the future. The prospect of paying off all those loyal backroom people with super high-paying jobs and rich pensions after a very few years is irresistible. Once broached, the idea of being able to place your unelectable friends in the House of Commons and form a Cabinet from unelected buddies and Party power brokers simply won't go away forever.
It's interesting you chose as a fairer solution the same type of election reform, the run-off election, as Sheila Copps chose from her "neutral" position when it comes to political parties. I tend to agree with both of you!
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