It has been apparent for many years that politicians have forgotten their mandate, their purpose and the fact that they are there to serve the citizen, not the other way around.
Disgust is the only word I have for the Liberal government and their intention to have an elected MLA step aside to allow a non-elected premier to step in their place so as to maintain leadership.
Are the elected MLA's considering this blatant breach of public-trust so consumed by their mindless adherence to partisan, party politics that they will ignore their own constituents votes and step aside in favour of a politician who lost confidence in her own riding and was fairly, honestly and legally removed as per the wishes of the voting public?
This slap to the face of the voting public is one of the reasons so few people vote and another reason why party politics should end and be replaced by independent MLA's who act on behalf of their constituents, their community and the law not the agenda of the political party and their financial backers who use politics and the public trust to obtain golden handshakes and back-room deals to secure fiscal independence upon their retirement from political life.
The vote is the defining component of what makes democracy. It is a privilege not shared by everyone in this so-called global community and is, or at least should be, sacred. Christ Clark was ousted in her own riding and that alone should illustrate the lack of confidence our province has in her, regardless of what last week's election pretends to show. She and her party should demonstrate some dignity and propriety, they should show the citizens and voting public some respect and she should step down in favour of a newly elected premier from within the ranks of the Liberal party.
While it may seem akin to splitting hairs, the votes placed in this province were for individuals campaigning on their own platforms first and for the parties they represented second. When I checked my ballot, it was for a name and then a party, for an individual representing my city, the riding and it's citizens wishes. I never voted with the notion that a riding's counted, legal votes would be disregarded and disposed of in what to me is a gross and disgraceful abuse of political power.
Mike Maslen
Prince George
