By The Reverend Hanns Skoutajan
Did you hear a corporate sigh across this nation when the leader of Her Majesty’s Loyal Opposition failed to oppose and allowed the government’s agenda: budget, military mission in Afghanistan, and crime legislation, to pass?
Dion had it right: Canadians are not in the mood for an election, now or ever. The outcome would certainly not radically change the present house seating plan. Indeed, the voting public might seek revenge and punish those who precipitate a vote of non-confidence. However with the loooong delayed bi election now behind us the Liberals might be emboldened to force an election soon.
Canadians generally do not enjoy an election campaign, the signs that disfigure our lawns and hydro poles, the speeches that pollute the airways, the media’s prognostications, the baby kissing insincerity etc., and of course the incessant appeals for funding. Will Cadmangate now threaten an election? By now we may have an answer. My new system would undoubtedly come to rival Hockey Night in Canada in popularity. Have I got your attention?
It has been observed and commented upon that Canadians by and large do not vote for a favourite party, not as in the good old days when one generation followed in the footsteps of the previous in their political affiliation. Rather, Canucks vote against a party.
Thus some might vote for Dion’s Liberals not because they espouse liberalism but because they hate, distrust and fear a Harper majority.
Similarly others may vote Conservative not because they are conservative but remember Shawinigate and other Liberal scandals and decide to punish the buggers. Still others may vote New Democratic not because they believe in socialism even with a human face, but because they can’t stand the alternatives.
Sadly Elizabeth May does not yet wield a stick big enough with which to thrash the others.
Many, too many, reject their ballot and stay home content to bitch about the resulting political dilemma. This does not apply to La belle Provence whose citizens actually love to vote, I hear.
This is my plan: Long ago, 300 BC, in the good old days of the Athenian democracy in which, mind you, only free male citizens of Athens participated, there was a device called the “ostrakon”, a piece of pottery on which the citizen could inscribe the name of a fellow citizen whom they wish to have expelled, “ostracized” from their fair city.
It has occurred to me that we might adopt or adapt their system to good advantage. Call it a “negative vote” whereby the perplexed citizen rather then perjuring themselves by voting for a particular party or candidate would vote directly against them. No longer “ the enemy of my enemy is my friend”, but simply “throw the bum out”.
Voters would no longer hold their noses in the polling booth while making an odious decision. A space would be provided on each ballot next to each candidate’s square where he or she could mark their X meaning “out”. Each voter would have but one chance to mark this ostrakon, and each ostrakon would be deducted from the particular candidate’s tally.
The ostrakon system , or call it “negative vote” would undoubtedly bring out the self disenfranchised, whose hearts are filled with vengence and provide them with a chance to do something politically positive in a negative way.
Wow!
Doubtless there are wrinkles that would need to be ironed out. One of them that I foresee is that rather than ending up with a new government, we find that in the wee hours after the polls have closed the pundits of the media announce “the election desk projects....er...not a majority, no... not a minority...no, but no government at all. What a revolting development that would be! Call it “non representational proportionality.”
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