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Proportional Representation

Proportional Representation

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u
The So Fist

Voice of Reason

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28 Mar 06
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15 Oct 08
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In Canada lately, there has been a lot of discussion about proportional representation and how the traditional "First Past the Post" system does not allocate seats properly. Invariably, a Party with 35-40% of the total votes will get a majority of the seats in Parliament. I have many issues with the proposed reforms and have come up with my own perfect solution.

Keep everything the same except for one change. After the votes are counted, determine how many seats party B, C, D etc should have received if you went by the popular vote...ie 20% of the vote should equal 20% of the seats. Rather than simply appoint politicians to the parliament to give them more seats, just give the LEADER of that party more VOTES when it comes time to vote on a Bill/ACT/Budget etc.

Because really, when you talk about "proportional representation" simply having more seats in parliament is irrelevant. What is relevant is that you have more VOTES in parliament. This is truly what is important. So, rather than pay a bunch of politicians 150K to just stand up in parliament and say "yea" or "nay", let's save the cash and let the party leader do the voting since any appointed politicians will just vote the way their party leader tells them to vote.

True electoral reform that gives perfect proportional representation! Any comments?

Z

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16 Oct 08
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Originally posted by uzless
In Canada lately, there has been a lot of discussion about proportional representation and how the traditional "First Past the Post" system does not allocate seats properly. Invariably, a Party with 35-40% of the total votes will get a majority of the seats in Parliament. I have many issues with the proposed reforms and have come up with my own perfect sol ...[text shortened]...

True electoral reform that gives perfect proportional representation! Any comments?
here is another idea:
everybody votes for WHO they would like in the parliament instead of what party they would like.

it really seems bad practice to allow a party permission to appoint whomever they want(mostly the same fossils).
voting for a person rather than a party would ensure better representation and might give independents chance to enter parliament

k

Joined
24 Jun 04
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16 Oct 08
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Originally posted by uzless
In Canada lately, there has been a lot of discussion about proportional representation and how the traditional "First Past the Post" system does not allocate seats properly. Invariably, a Party with 35-40% of the total votes will get a majority of the seats in Parliament. I have many issues with the proposed reforms and have come up with my own perfect sol ...[text shortened]...

True electoral reform that gives perfect proportional representation! Any comments?
Yes, minority parties should get seats in Congress based on the proportion of the vote they get. A party which gets say 5% or 7% of the vote should get something for it, so there's an incentive for voters to vote their real preference.

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