[fvc-wat-disc] Basic Canvassing Script

Tue Sep 18 09:11:01 EDT 2007

It's also worth noting that the second half of the ballot, the party vote,
is a direct vote for the people on that party's list.

2007/9/18, Richard Fairman <richard.fairman at hotmail.com>:
>
>  I think that it's very important to make a definite distinction between
> "minority" governments as we know them under FPTP with their instability and
> adversarial posturing and "Coalition" governments under MMP that promote
> co-operation and stability.
> Peace
> Rick
> > From: adaigen at sympatico.ca
> > To: fvc-wat-disc at listserv.thinkers.org
> > Subject: RE: [fvc-wat-disc] Basic Canvassing Script
> > Date: Tue, 18 Sep 2007 05:29:05 +0000
> >
> > Hey,
> >
> > I like this script--it hits at the meat of the issue, which is that this
>
> > system will actually elect the governments that people voted for.
> >
> > This may seem obvious, but just to be sure, let's all ready to meet some
> of
> > the following concerns. Not that we'll sway the hard core opposition,
> but I
> > think a lot of people are just afraid and could be convinced by good
> reason.
> > (I think a lot of this may also be at voteformmp.com, so apologies to
> > everyone who would already have known what to say.):
> >
> > They say: "I don't want to lose local representation."
> > You say: "Under MMP you'll still have a local representative. And in a
> way
> > you have more local representation, since you can vote for a local
> candidate
> > you like even if you don't like his or her party."
> >
> > They say: "I'm afraid we'll have permanent minorities and elections
> every
> > year."
> > You say: "Actually, parties cooperate to make stable minority
> governments in
> > a lot of countries, like Germany and Ireland. And the parties having to
> work
> > together will mean legislation that represents more people's views."
> >
> > They say: "Our system has stood the test of time, why change it?"
> > You say: "Actually, it hasn't stood the test of time so well--almost all
>
> > first-world countries have switched to some form of proportional voting.
>
> > They see that it's fairer, and it would be fairer here too."
> >
> > They say: "I vote Liberal, so the FPTP system works for me."
> > You say: "Actually, it worked against the Liberals for three straight
> > elections. PC and NDP got majorities with 45% and 38% of the vote."
> and/or
> > "Under the current system a lot of Liberal votes are wasted too--if
> you're
> > in a riding that always goes conservative, your vote doesn't matter--but
> it
> > will under MMP." (That could be particularly relevant for those
> canvassing
> > in Kitchener-Waterloo.)
> >
> > They say: "I vote PC, so first-past-the-post works for me."
> > You say: "Actually, the current system hurt the PC in the last
> > election--under MMP it would have more seats. And the current system
> gave
> > the Liberals a majority with 46% of the vote--and back in 1990, it gave
> the
> > NDP a majority with 38% of the vote." And/or "Under the current system a
> lot
> > of Conservative votes are wasted too--PC votes in Liberal or NDP ridings
>
> > don't matter, but they will under MMP."
> >
> > They say: "I don't want unelected Members of Parliament chosen by party
> > leaders."
> > You say: "Actually, they would be elected--they would be in Parliament
> > because their party got a certain amount of votes. (And you would know
> > beforehand who they would be, since each party would have its list ready
>
> > before the election. So if you don't like the people on a party's list,
> you
> > can vote against it.)
> >
> >
> > I hope that's not too long or too obvious--I just wanted to give some
> snappy
> > answers to questions that will no doubt come up. If we can answer them
> > kindly, reassuringly, and intelligently, I think we can be very
> effective.
> >
> > Best wishes,
> >
> > Ari
> >
> > >From: "Joshua Smyth" <smyth.josh at gmail.com>
> > >Reply-To: FVC Waterloo Region Discussion
> > ><fvc-wat-disc at listserv.thinkers.org>
> > >To: "FVC Waterloo Region Discussion" <
> fvc-wat-disc at listserv.thinkers.org>
> > >Subject: [fvc-wat-disc] Basic Canvassing Script
> > >Date: Mon, 17 Sep 2007 21:24:53 -0400
> > >
> > >Here's the text of a basic script for door-to-door work. This is just
> > >a quick job, so anyone feel free to edit it and bounce it back to the
> > >list. Cheers
> > >
> > >Vote for MMP – Quick Script
> > >
> > >
> > >Hi there, I'm (blank) representing the Vote for MMP Campaign. Have
> > >you heard about the referendum on October 10th?
> > >
> > >You'll have a chance to choose how you elect members to the Provincial
> > >Legislature between the system we have right now, and a new system
> > >called Mixed Member Proportional that has been recommended by the
> > >Ontario Citizen's assembly.
> > >
> > >The Citizens Assembly is a group of people that chosen at random (like
> > >a jury), one person for each riding, that spent eight months getting
> > >educated and having public consultations about possible changes to the
> > >electoral system. At the end of this process, they recommended that
> > >Ontario adopt a new system that offers more choice, fairer results,
> > >and stronger representation.
> > >
> > >Here's how the new system will work. When you go to the polls, you'll
> > >get two votes. One will be for a local riding representative, just
> > >like you have now. On the other side of the ballot, you can vote for
> > >the party of your choice. In an election under the new system, there
> > >will be 129 seats up for election. 90 of them will be riding seats,
> > >just like we have now. The other 39 seats will be proportional seats,
> > >that will be used to bring a party's share of the legislature as close
> > >as possible to their share of the party vote. If a party gets 35% of
> > >the vote but only 30 % of the seats from ridings, they will be
> > >allocated seats from the proportional section to get them as closes as
> > >possible to 35% of the seats. This will be a big change from the
> > >system we have now – the Liberals got 46% of the vote, 70% of the
> > >seats, and 100% of the power in the last election, and the results
> > >were very similar for the PC and NDP before them. That is neither
> > >fair nor representative of what the people of Ontario voted for.
> > >
> > >As well, under the current system, if you vote for a party that
> > >doesn't win locally, your vote is essentially wasted – no one goes to
> > >parliament to represent your views. The new system would change that:
> > >even if the local candidate you prefer doesn't win, your party vote
> > >would work to electing MPPs from the party of your choice. No wasted
> > >votes. It also means that if you like a local candidate, but don't
> > >like his/her party, you can split your vote and still have your views
> > >represented.
> > >
> > >If you have any questions, feel free to give this brochure a look
> > >over, or check out the websites listed on it. This is a
> > >once-in-a-lifetime chance to change the way politics works in Ontario,
> > >so on election day be sure to vote for the Alternative Electoral
> > >System proposed by the citizens assembly - if it passes, your voice
> > >will be heard much more clearly from now on. Thanks for your time.
> > >_______________________________________________
> > >fvc-wat-disc mailing list
> > >fvc-wat-disc at listserv.thinkers.org
> > >http://listserv.thinkers.org/mailman/listinfo/fvc-wat-disc
> >
> >
> > _______________________________________________
> > fvc-wat-disc mailing list
> > fvc-wat-disc at listserv.thinkers.org
> > http://listserv.thinkers.org/mailman/listinfo/fvc-wat-disc
>
>
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