False Truths

False Truths sounds like a obvious OXYMORON. What I refer to as a 'False Truth' is what our Society is so good at doing. When a LIE is repeated over and over, over a long period of time, the LIE is often BELIEVED TO BE TRUE. THE LIE BECOMES A FALSE TRUTH!

Some of the experts in 'False Truths' are the professional politicians, they understand this process. One of the most basic FALSE TRUTHS that we have been lead to believe is that our GOVERNMENT SYSTEM IS THE BEST WE CAN DO. That our Government is too BIG AND COMPLICATED for the average CITIZEN to fully understand and we need the POLITICIANS as the EXPERTS to run our GOVERNMENT. THIS IS A LIE!

The POLITICIANS do not even represent the CITIZENS, they represent the POLITICAL PARTY that they are affiliated with. The CITIZENS are not represented in our GOVERNMENT SYSTEM, the POLITICAL PARTIES are represented. I would be surprised if more than 5% of the CITIZENSHIP belong to any POLITICAL PARTY.

The POLITICIANS try to justify this by saying that the CITIZENS elect the PARTY to represent them, not the individual. This is BACKWARDS! We need to elect the INDIVIDUAL, not a PARTY. It is the INDIVIDUAL that will represent the constituency, not the PARTY. The PARTY has its own agenda regardless of the wishes of the constituency that is represented. The PARTY will USE the constituency when it fits with their agenda and will DISCARD them when it conflicts with their agenda.

We need to elect the INDIVIDUAL! It is the INDIVIDUAL that has the single interest in representing the wishes of their CONSTITUENCY. It is with the INDIVIDUAL that we have TRUE REPRESENTATION! No POLITICAL PARTY should have any control or influence over an ELECTED INDIVIDUAL.

This idea of ELECTING A INDIVIDUAL, over a POLITICAL PARTY, is not that difficult to achieve. In fact this idea has been operating in CANADA for over 100 years. In the North West Territories their Legislature Assembly has been without any POLITICAL PARTY since 1905. They elect 19 MLAs that are all INDEPENDENT. The 19 MLAs ELECT the PREMIER and the HOUSE SPEAKER from the 19 MLAs and they appoint the CABINET MINISTERS. The elected PREMIER AND THE CABINET MINISTERS form the GOVERNMENT and the balance of the MLAs form the OFFICIAL OPPOSITION. The result is the GOVERNMENT has to operate in a CONSENSUS environment, as opposed to a CONFRONTATIONAL environment. In fact the OFFICIAL OPPOSITION often out numbers the GOVERNMENT (the Premier & Cabinet consists of 8 MLAs the Opposition consists of 10 MLAs).

We can change our GOVERNMENT SYSTEM to something that is better than what we have. HOWEVER, WE NEED TO RECLAIM OUR VOICE - OUR VOTE! In order to make the changes we need to make we first need to RESPECT EVERY VOICE/VOTE. Our current system does the opposite and only RESPECT SELECTED VOICES.

WE NEED THE STV ELECTORAL SYSTEM!

We Need to VOTE

Our VOTE IS OUR VOICE, when we DO NOT VOTE we are SILENCING OUR SELF! OUR SYSTEM only recognize the actual VOTES CAST that is referred to as the POPULAR VOTE, if we DO NOT VOTE we are not counted in the POPULAR VOTE.

There are many REASONS why individuals may not VOTE. Most boil down to NOT SUPPORTING OUR CORRUPT SYSTEM.

When we DO NOT VOTE we are SUPPORTING THE SYSTEM. We are supporting the system by keeping our VOICE SILENT. The POWERS THAT BE are more EMPOWERED when our VOICES ARE SILENT. When only 50% of the CITIZENS are expressing their VOICE, the POWERS THAT BE only have to convince around 40% of the 50% which is less than 25% of the Eligible Voters to support them.

The POWERS THAT BE sees the NON-VOTER as having NOTHING TO SAY. With less VOTERS they have less CITIZENS to convince in supporting their issues. As long as the NON-VOTERS are not calculated into the POPULAR VOTE figures they can continue as they always have.

The Popular Vote;

The POPULAR VOTE only calculates the actual VOTES CAST! The POPULAR VOTE reflects the VOICE OF THE CITIZENS. We need to find a way to include the CITIZENS that do not support our CURRENT SYSTEM into the figures of the POPULAR VOTE.

The SYSTEM counts the number of ballots that are given out at the POLLING STATIONS. When we go into the POLLING STATION we give are ID and we receive a BALLOT. The SYSTEM counts how many BALLOTS are given out. The number of VOTES that the CANDIDATES receive MUST EQUAL THE NUMBER OF BALLOTS GIVEN OUT. This never actual BALANCES, as there is one other category that a VOTE falls into and that is SPOILED BALLOTS. Normally the amount of SPOILED BALLOTS is usually between 1% to 3% of the POPULAR VOTE.

Spoiled Ballots;

The SPOILED BALLOT is another option that we have, to exercise our VOICE. This option includes our VOICE in the POPULAR VOTE and we are no longer SILENCED!

In a true DEMOCRACY the VOTE BALLOT needs to have the option 'NONE OF THE ABOVE', so that one can express their true VOICE. However, without this option I interpret the 'SPOILED BALLOT' as the same thing as 'NONE OF THE ABOVE'. The SPOILED BALLOT allows me to express my VOICE and to be included in the POPULAR VOTE.

In the last Provincial Election (2009) there was 50.99% of Eligible Voters that actually VOTED. If the 49.01% that did NOT VOTE had VOTED AND SPOILED THEIR BALLOT the Liberal Party percentage of the POPULAR VOTE would have been less than 25%, they received 45.82% with 50.99% VOTING. The POWERS THAT BE will have a much more difficult time justifying a system with such LOW PUBLIC SUPPORT. It is much easier to continue on as usual with 45% support than it is with 25% support!

Independent;

 There is another VOTING OPTION that I often consider when I am CASTING MY VOTE. In some RIDINGS there are what is called a 'INDEPENDENT' CANDIDATE. An INDEPENDENT CANDIDATE is a INDIVIDUAL that is running for OFFICE without any POLITICAL PARTY TIES.

My biggest problem with our SYSTEM is the many different POLITICAL PARTIES that divide us and creates a SYSTEM that is always OPPOSING each other, there is little in the way of SOLIDARITY.

An INDEPENDENT is worth looking at for my VOTE. I may not be in 100% agreement with his views, however, I may respect his commitment and his integrity. The INDEPENDENT is worth considering and MAY receive my VOTE over the SPOILED BALLOT.

The problem is that there are few INDEPENDENTS running for office. However, there are a few that are ELECTED from time to time.

---

We need to have EVERY VOICE HEARD, in order to begin a process of changing to a SYSTEM of SOLIDARITY in GOVERNING. Our current SYSTEM is one of CONFLICT BETWEEN THE MANY DIFFERENT POLITICAL PARTIES.

The STV ELECTORAL SYSTEM is the first thing we need to change to. STV restores the RESPECT OF EVERY VOICE. We need to create a DEMAND FOR THIS CHANGE TO STV. We can start this DEMAND FOR CHANGE, by organizing the 50% that do not vote to vote by SPOILING THEIR BALLOT and show how little the CURRENT SYSTEM IS SUPPORTED!

WE NEED TO VOTE!

Is STV Dead?

The POLITICIANS HOPE IT IS, the MEDIA will consider it a DEAD ISSUE after the 2009 referendum.

STV IS NOT DEAD IF THE CITIZENSHIP KEEPS IT ALIVE!

 If we allow STV to die we are continuing to allow the POWERS THAT BE to control our LIVES and the MINORITY WILL CONTINUE RULING THE MAJORITY. In the 2005 referendum the CITIZENS were 57% in favour of STV, a large MAJORITY. This strong support put a real scare into the POLITICIANS. With such a strong support the POLITICIANS could not ignore the wishes of the CITIZENS and promised a SECOND REFERENDUM.

 Keeping STV ALIVE is not difficult when we already have a LARGE MAJORITY of the CITIZEN in support of STV. If we allow the POWERS THAT BE to KILL STV, we are telling the POWERS THAT BE that the MAJORITY has NO POWER and does not need to be taken seriously.

The POWERS THAT BE built the coffin for STV when they put the SECOND REFERENDUM off until the 2009 election, 4 years later. They put the NAILS IN THE COFFIN when they implemented a STV-GAG LAW in February 2009. This STV-GAG LAW forbid any discussion on STV during the 2009 election campaign.

The CITIZENS need to tell the POWERS THAT BE, that it is not that easy to KILL THE NEEDS OF THE MAJORITY! THE MAJORITY NEEDS TO HAVE ITS VOICE RESPECTED!

In May 2013 we have the PROVINCIAL ELECTION that follows the 2009 election, THIS IS THE TIME TO LET THE POWERS THAT BE THAT THE STV IS STILL ALIVE.

This is the time when we need to make a BIG NOISE and a BIG SHOW that ELECTORAL REFORM AND STV IS NOT DEAD! We have 6 months before the coming elections, we need to organize demonstrations and petitions that support STV. We need to ask the CANDIDATES if they support a system where the MINORITY RULES THE MAJORITY? Does the CANDIDATE RESPECT THE MAJORITY? What are the CANDIDATES going to do about ELECTORAL REFORM? How are they going to handle the LOW VOTER TURNOUTS? We need to go on the OFFENSIVE!

We need to make ELECTORAL REFORM a major issue in the coming CAMPAIGN!

Majority-Minority Governments

It is generally believed that a Majority Government is desirable and the only way anything can get done. This is far from being TRUE, but it is one issue that is used in defending the FPTP system. It is often said that the STV system would make it more difficult for any POLITICAL PARTY to have a MAJORITY in the GOVERNING HOUSE (Parliament or Legislature). There are a number of points that need to be addressed with this defense of FPTP;

1.  We have a choice - do we do what is EASY or what is RIGHT? Receiving the MAJORITY OF THE VOTES is not suppose to be EASY. It is just a FALSE-TRUTH, it is a LIE that has been used for so long that it is BELIEVED TO BE TRUE.
2. To believe that one needs a MAJORITY GOVERNMENT in order to get anything done, is to say DEMOCRACY DOES NOT WORK and the only thing that works is a DICTATORSHIP, or BULLING one's way through. That we actually ELECT A DICTATOR EVERY 4 YEARS.
3. In BC it has been MAJORITY GOVERNMENTS that have given us the 'FAST-FERRIES' the sale of 'BC-RAIL' and attempted to implement 'HST'. The 'HST' was the exception to the RULE, and even a MAJORITY GOVERNMENT HAS LIMITATIONS.
4. I do not believe that there would be that much different in having a Majority or Minority Governments with the STV. However, the size of Majority Governments may not be so OVERPOWERING!

Minority Governments;

The reason why Minority Governments have a difficult time in GOVERNING, is the PARTICIPANTS (Political Parties) are more FOCUSED on when to FORCE A NEW ELECTION then in running the COUNTRY. ALL THE POLITICAL PARTIES are looking for the best opportunity to FORCE A NEW ELECTION when THEY may have the BEST CHANCE AT GETTING A MAJORITY. If a MAJORITY was more difficult to achieve there would be less FOCUS on a new election and a more HONEST ATTEMPT AT RUNNING OUR COUNTRY.

a MINORITY GOVERNMENT is a more accurate REPRESENTATION OF THE CITIZENSHIP. It always amazes me that we have a SOCIETY THAT IS MADE UP OF MANY DIFFERENT PHILOSOPHIES and we ALL GET ALONG. However, our GOVERNMENT REPRESENTATIVES are the ones that are ALWAYS FIGHTING AMONG THEMSELVES, to the point of affecting how our COUNTRY IS GOVERNED.

We need more MINORITY GOVERNMENTS in order to LEARN HOW TO GOVERN IN A COOPERATIVE MANNER, as opposed to GOVERNING IN A ARROGANT MANNER.

Our Voice - Our Vote

Our VOICE is our VOTE!

When we DO NOT VOTE, we are  SILENCING OURSELVES. The POWERS THAT BE, take this opportunity to say that WE DO NOT CARE. The POWERS THAT BE generalize by saying that the CITIZENS THAT DO NOT VOTE will go along with whatever the WINNER of the Election decides. THIS IS HOW CORRUPT OUR SYSTEM IS! The POWERS THAT BE do not see or hear that the CITIZENS THAT DO NOT VOTE, have NOTHING TO VOTE FOR or that THEIR VOTE WILL NOT BE HEARD.

I too have been caught up in this process of NOT VOTING. It is difficult to go out and VOTE, when you having NOTHING TO VOTE FOR, and you see that YOUR VOTE IS NOT HEARD. WHY BOTHER? However, when we DO NOT VOTE we are actually perpetuating the current CORRUPT SYSTEM. In our current system there is a statistic called the POPULAR VOTE and it only includes the actual VOTES CAST. When we have a large number of CITIZENS NOT VOTING it CORRUPTS the statistics. As an example in the 2011 Federal Election the Conservatives won just over 39% of the Popular Vote, but only 62% of VOTERS ACTUALLY VOTED. So this 39% of 62% is misleading, the percentage of support would be much lower than 39% of the ELIGIBLE VOTERS, probably less than 30%.

Our SYSTEM only counts the VOTES CAST. When one goes into a VOTING STATION to cast their VOTE, your name is scratched off the VOTER LIST, in order to record the number of VOTES CAST. The number of VOTES RECEIVED BY THE DIFFERENT CANDIDATES must equal the TOTAL NUMBER OF VOTES CAST. This actually NEVER BALANCES, as there is another category to COUNT - "SPOILED BALLOT". The POPULAR VOTE equals the VOTES received by ALL CANDIDATES plus the SPOILED BALLOTS.

Spoiled Ballots:

When one SPOILS one's BALLOT, it is saying "None of the Above" and it is expressing one's VOICE. If the CITIZENS that DO NOT VOTE actually VOTED AND SPOILED THEIR BALLOT, would be saying a lot!  It would be very feasible for the "Spoiled Ballot" statistic to reach 20% of the Popular Vote and would be HEADLINES.Traditionally the SPOILED BALLOTS is around 1% of the Popular Vote.

This process of deliberately SPOILING ONE'S BALLOT would be difficult, NOT TO BE HEARD, when in such high numbers! It would greatly lower the POPULAR VOTE that the CANDIDATES WILL RECEIVE and to give a more accurate measure of the support for the CANDIDATES.

We need to MAKE OUR VOICE HEARD and this means we need to exercise our RIGHT TO VOTE! This RIGHT TO VOTE, means the RIGHT TO SPOIL ONE'S BALLOT when necessary.

Why Electoral Reform is so critical

If we like to admit it or not we are ENSLAVED to our POLITICAL SYSTEM. Our current POLITICAL SYSTEM is one where the MINORITY RULES THE MAJORITY. The most obvious and recent demonstration of the MINORITY RULING OUR SOCIETY is the 2005 BC-STV referendum that was supported by 57.69% of the VOTERS, but it FAILED. This failure with a MAJORITY SUPPORT greatly discouraged the CITIZENSHIP and in the following election in 2009 the VOTER TURNOUT dropped to 50.99%, this is barely over 50% of Eligible Voters bothering to VOTE. What happens when LESS THAN 50% OF THE CITIZENS ARE VOTING? It is a dangerous situation for any government to be in, CHANGE IS INEVITABLE, the question is the form of the CHANGE. We can make the CHANGES THAT ARE NEEDED or wait for more forcible CHANGE TO OCCUR.

We need a system where EVERY VOTE COUNTS and where a MAJORITY IN AGREEMENT is REQUIRED, not just the largest MINORITY. In our POLITICAL SYSTEM it is our VOTE that is our VOICE. When our VOTE IS NOT COUNTED our VOICE IS SILENCED! WITHOUT OUR VOICE WE ARE UNABLE TO MAKE ANY CHANGES!

If we are wanting to CLEANUP our CORRUPTED SYSTEM we need to RECLAIM OUR VOICE!

---

The current system of FPTP is one of the major foundations that promotes the CORRUPTION IN OUR SYSTEM. When we replace this system with a system that promotes the VOICE OF THE MAJORITY we limit the manipulation of our system.

The majority of POLITICAL PARTIES are only interested in OBTAINING AND MAINTAINING THEIR HOLD ON POWER. I believe that many of the POLITICAL PARTIES do not really know what they want to do with the POWER, THEY JUST WANT IT! It is much easier to OBTAIN AND MAINTAIN their hold on the POWER when they only have to target the 40% mark of the Popular Vote. This TARGET of 40%  is even LOWER when one uses the figure of ELIGIBLE VOTERS. Lets look at the results of the 2009 Provincial Election as an example of what I mean;

In 2009 the Liberal Party received 45.82% of the Popular Vote, with only 50.99% of Voters actually Voting. If the Liberals received 50% of the 50% of VOTERS WHO VOTED would only be 25% of ALL ELIGIBLE VOTERS. The Liberals only received 45.82% which is closer to 20% of ALL ELIGIBLE VOTERS. That is 1 in 5 BC VOTERS actually supported the Liberal Party.

Electoral Reform needs to put a minimum % of the VOTES CAST (Popular Vote) in order to be ELECTED. This is not perfect as it only counts the actual VOTES CAST and does not include the VOTERS THAT DO NOT VOTE. However, an Electoral System that RESPECTS EVERY VOTE CAST will go along way to INCREASING THE VOTER TURNOUT (VOTES CAST).

Electoral Reform goes a long way to begin the process of making our SYSTEM MORE ACCOUNTABLE TO THE CITIZENS, and LIMITING THE POWER OF THE POLITICAL PARTY. When we EMPOWER THE BALLOT BOX, we start to erode the POWER OF THE POLITICIAN. This is the beginning of repairing our CORRUPT SYSTEM and without our VOICE FULLY EMPOWERED we cannot continue REPAIRING OUR SYSTEM.

Why FPTP is so strongly defended

It is the POWERS THAT BE that are so strongly determined to keep this current Electoral System. It is the CORRUPTION OF POWER that keeps this system in place. There are 2 reasons that makes this so desirable for the POWERS THAT BE;

1. Achieving close to the 40% of the VOTES is much easier than over 50% of the VOTES. This is attractive to ANY CANDIDATE running for office. One only has to get close to 40% of the VOTES in order to WIN, they do not need to reach 40%, anywhere close is good enough. This is a lot easier than having to receive OVER 50% of the VOTES. THIS SYSTEM IS HEAVILY IN THE CANDIDATES FAVOUR AND THUS THEY NEED TO STRONGLY DEFENDED IT!
2. The system has a SINGLE BALLOT! This means that the ELECTION is ideally suited to NEGATIVE CAMPAIGNING. The Candidate focus their Campaign on distancing themselves from their opponents any way they can. They do not need to elaborate on their own reasons for running, just how BAD THEIR OPPONENTS ARE!  With a SINGLE BALLOT there is no concern of ALIENATING THE VOTERS THAT SUPPORT THEIR OPPONENTS. With more than a SINGLE BALLOT, the Candidate cannot afford to ALIENATE their OPPONENT'S SUPPORTERS as they want to be these VOTERS SECOND CHOICE. It makes the Candidates focus more on the reasons why they should be ELECTED.

These are the 2 main reasons why the current FPTP system is so strongly embedded in our Electoral System. It is because of these 2 reasons that we will hear all kinds of excuses, rationals, and reasons why other systems are not realistic. There are other system like the STV and they are used in other DEMOCRACIES IN THE WORLD. The STV is not a complicated system or a Proportional Representative (PR) system, STV just sets the POST that the WINNER needs to reach plus respecting EVERY VOTE.

 STV RESTORES THE POWER OF THE BALLOT BOX!