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The Great MMP Debate
Today is election day. It is also referendum day. Some of you have probably already voted. Some of you are planning on voting later today. Some of you are likely undecided. And some of you have already decided that you're not going to vote.
The main reason that people do not vote is because they feel their vote does not matter. Proponents of the Mixed Member Proportional system believe that instituting their system of choice will cause more votes to matter. "Every vote counts and no party gets more or less than it earned at the ballot box" claims the main page of VoteForMMP.ca.
Of course, not everyone agrees. NoMMP.ca counters that "the proposed MMP system shifts power from the local voter in ridings across Ontario to the power brokers at Queen's Park."
Each side has a point to counter their opponent's point, as well. One site states that "Governments that win with less than majority support nonetheless claim a "mandate from the people". Once any party controls a majority of seats, nothing can stop a premier from enacting unpopular laws that are not supported by a majority of voters" while the other says "the strength of our representation would weaken dramatically if MMP were to become our electoral system... Who exactly do these list MPPs represent? MMP has no real answer. They sort of do not represent anyone, which means that there is less accountability and weaker democracy in Ontario."
Which system is right? That's up for you to decide. If you haven't voted yet please take the time to read up as much as you can on both systems and make an informed choice when you get to the polls.
Discussion
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The lack of public education on what the Citizens' Assembly is proposing and why has enabled the No MMP folks to spread lies and fear about a system that works very well in the countries that use it. Their most resonating arguments are either distortions of the truth or out-right lies, and almost none are based on a fair analysis of the evidence from countries that use MMP.
In the end, the Citizens' Assembly voted 94-8 in favour of recommending MMP for Ontario, and they knew more about its strengths and weaknesses than anyone else in the province. It's not a perfect system, but it's a much needed improvement. Today, voters should mark an X beside Mixed Member Proportional.
I voted for MMP today. I hope you all do too.
p.s., if you want to hear it "from the horse's mouth", go to: www.citizensassembly.gov.on.ca
I would consider it an success if MMP gets more than 30 per cent of the votes.
Actual results: 63% current, 38% MMP
The take home message: smart people read Spacing, and stupid people vote ;)
Throughout the day all I've heard is that you're "an idiot" if you support first-past-the-post and that "smart people" support MMP.
What happened to having a variety of opinions? Isn't that what MMP is all about? Allowing representation for differing opinions?
On another vein, CBC is reporting that 6 or 107 ridings met the 50% threshold (which was required of 50% of ridings to pass, in addition to the overall 60% threshold). Does anyone know which ridings these are or have a link to a riding-by-riding breakdown?
http://www3.thestar.com/cgi-bin/star_static.cgi?section=results&;page=/Specials/071010_election_results.html
The ridings, for those interested are:
Trinity Spadina (NDP held)
Toronto Danforth (NDP held)
Toronto Centre (Liberal held)
Beaches EY (NDP held)
Davenport (Liberal held, strong NDP and green candidates)
Parkdale HP (NDP held).
Draw your own conclusions, but one can at the very least infer that the idea was most popular in jursidictions where it was perfectly rational for voters to prefer MMP, i.e., NDP strongholds, since it is acknowledged that the NDP (and, to a lesser extent, the Greens) would be the big winners in an MMP system. Yet, paradoxically, these are also the jursidictions where NDP voters have been able to get their candidates elected first-past-the post.