Voting system in dire need of change
The Woodstock Sentinel-Review
Jim Bender - Woodstock
Wednesday February 01, 2006
Although it sounds good to have a law on the books that would enforce voting, the idea itself is well-flawed.
The number one reason why people do not vote is a result of the actions of the elected officials themselves.
What is the point of casting a vote for any party that is inherently crooked? What is the point of casting a vote for a party that sets out a platform, then fails to deliver it or stay the course it intended on when elected?
The primary concern for most electors is the issue of trust. The secondary issue is a lack of knowledge of the electoral system. Many Canadians have very little idea about how to go about voting, so forcing them to do something against their wills that they do not understand certainly will not change anything, perhaps they’ll just destroy their ballots.
Perhaps changing our voting system to allow for proportional representation would at least let people think their vote counts. This may be a start to getting people involved. What is the point of voting, when your opinion does not count in this present system of the first horse through the gate wins the prize?
I find it hard to trust any party, especially one that talks of accountability, but can’t deliver this promise to its own members.
I would like our local member of Parliament, Dave MacKenzie, to tell us how the Conservative Party of Canada’s handling of David Orchard’s leadership campaign funds is taxpayer accountability?
I’ve spoken to many people in the Oxford riding who donated money to Orchard’s 2003 leadership campaign.
The money was sent in by Orchard to the federal Conservative Party for tax processing and was to be returned to him within two working days. At the end of 2005, he’s yet to receive over $70,000, forcing him to go to court.
Is it taxpayer accountability to use campaign funds donated by taxpaying citizens in a vindictive manner as it is being used by Steven Harper and the Conservative Party? If this is how the CPC handles its family feuds, how can they be trusted to handle the nation’s affairs?
With all the crap that goes on internally in these parties, it is little wonder many people feel like they can’t trust any of them.
Canadians haven’t become complacent about the direction their country is taking, they’re just sick of the lies and deceit.
Well folks, democracy is dead until the next election and proportional representation will not be highlighted by any major party, as it would reduce their power bases and sources of electoral funding. The closest thing we have to a democracy right now is this flimsy thing called a minority government. Given the fact we lack the right of recall, this is the best thing to a recall mechanism we can ever experience.
Until we have honest, caring government, then we will never have a population that cares to vote.
Discreditable conduct by the new PM
The Woodstock Sentinel-Review
Jim Bender - Woodstock
Monday February 13, 2006
I guess for the majority of us (about 60 per cent) who chose not to be so irresponsible with our votes, the "shocking" news that Stephen Harper has already started lying to us should really be no surprise. We’ve just been waiting here for the crap to hit the fan.
The inconsistencies in this person’s character are overwhelming and the persistent media gloss applied to the man during the federal election campaign certainly did nothing to address these shortcomings.
His appointment of Michael Fortier as a high-ranking minister is beguiling to most of us. This certainly smacks in the face of democracy, and we hope our prime minister decides not to allow this unelected perversion to make any final decisions on anything.
The defection of a Liberal member -- elected only days before as a Liberal, and for several terms, a Liberal, supported by Liberals throughout his tenancy as a nominated candidate and a campaign financed with Liberal dollars (although tax payers’ dollars) --should be addressed immediately.
The people who voted for this man, did not vote for the lie he was perpetrating by withholding the pertinent transactions which took place between himself and Harper.
Will our elected member stand up against this discreditable conduct? Or, is our elected member in support of this deal with the devil?
Last year, Mr. (Dave) MacKenzie spoke widely about the defection of Stronach and how un-parliamentarian this was. Now he is a member of a government that supports this internal deviant behaviour and we the people of Oxford, deserve a competent answer to the question of will he support this kind of behaviour or not.
From what we see so far, we are just in for more of the same as what we’ve ever had. There is absolutely no difference at this point from the practices of our former corrupt regime.
The appointment of some of the worst management expertise Harper could dig out of the trash bin is appalling.
The failed policies initiated by these same guys here in Ontario during the Harris regime culminated in financial disaster for the citizens of Ontario.
It is Mr. MacKenzie’s duty to address this concern for all constituents and to standup for accountability, which was the platform he campaigned upon during the recent election.
This is not being accountable to the electors of Canada or Oxford.
Yes, there should be a recall mechanism in place for any of these elected people to enforce accountability.
No member should cross the floor at any point, unless he/she wishes to sit as an independent, freeing their own minds from the bonds of constraint.
