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Editorial missed point of PR

Re: PR vote a Christmas lump of coal, Neil Godbout editorial, Dec. 11. Godbout's editorial, reflecting the fallacious, worn arguments of the no side reminds me that the fight against the forces of darkness is never over.
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Re: PR vote a Christmas lump of coal, Neil Godbout editorial, Dec. 11.

Godbout's editorial, reflecting the fallacious, worn arguments of the no side reminds me that the fight against the forces of darkness is never over.

Where is Harry Potter when we need him?

Godbout starts off assuring me that he is writing an unbiased editorial about the campaign, accusing both sides of inappropriate behaviour. After rapping the knuckles of both sides, he moves into a full frontal assault of the Yes PR side.

He conveniently misses the main point of PR, that it is the only fair electoral system, guaranteeing that the makeup of the legislature will reflect the voting preferences of the voters of B.C. That's it. Period.

Will it spur an increase in voter turnout? It might, if voters know that their vote will count towards electing their chosen party.

Will voter representation improve? It will.

Areas that are solid Liberal now, would have NDP and Green reps in government. Conversely, areas that are solid NDP or Green would have Liberal reps.

Will government better reflect the will of the people? Yes.

Much more than in the past, with the governing party representing less than 50 per cent of the voters.

With PR, parties share of the seats will reflect their share of the vote.

Godbout impugns the motive of Weaver and Horgan in promoting PR. He says that it is strictly a power grab.

Is it possible that they only want what is fair?

If the voters of B.C. decide that they like a Green/NDP coalition better than a B.C. Liberal government, then that is democracy.

The B.C. Liberals have had no trouble accepting power with 40 per cent of the vote and representing only 40 per cent of voters. That is not democracy.

In his coal-throwing, he conveniently fails to mention the many sins of FPTP, any one of which should condemn it to oblivion.

In itself, his editorial would not be so egregious if it were not expressed at the same time as the B.C. Liberals and the no campaign are threatening to ignore the wishes of the voters and to call into question the validity of the vote.

That a party hoping to return to power would call into question a legitimate expression of the wishes of the voters is a dangerous slide down a slippery slope to extremism.

Daryl Sturdy

Vancouver