[fvc-wat-disc] Letters to the Editor Needed

Sat Feb 4 17:58:43 EST 2017

I particularly like this postcard. I know lots of groups are doing them. It
seems to me you could do it in black and white and put your Liberal MP's
face as a small square in the corner.

Anita

[image: Inline image 2]

On Sat, Feb 4, 2017 at 5:21 PM, Bob Jonkman <bjonkman at sobac.com> wrote:

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> Hi Stuart: Thanx for the encouraging words.
>
> As a Green, I have no illusions about our chances of gaining a seat in
> Waterloo Region in the next election. If any local Greens *are*
> elected, it will likely be as a third-place opposition party, and
> that's where we will work with the other parties to achieve Electoral
> Reform.
>
> If, by some fluke, the Greens were to win a majority position in
> Parliament (or the provincial Legislature) I can only hope that I
> don't succumb to the ravages of the power-mad, and have the integrity
> to follow through with changing the very system that elected us in the
> first place. We can see how that conviction and integrity is lacking
> in the current government.
>
> I joined the Greens, and not the Liberals or the NDP, for that very
> reason.
>
> - --Bob.
>
>
> On 2017-02-04 08:51 AM, STUART CHANDLER wrote:
> > Thanks Bob. I greatly value your perspective.
> >
> > I followed you all the way dow to your last sentence.
> >
> > Then found myself wondering how the Greens, if they (miraculously)
> > came to power after campaigning on implementing PR, would fail
> > then to have the courage to implement it.
> >
> > Unlike the Liberals, who like to see themselves as "the Natural
> > Ruling Party" in Canada, surely they would not believe they had
> > enough political capital to get away with going‎ back on such a
> > key promise and still retain their seats.
> >
> > In my view, the Liberals are banking on 4 things: 1) Canadians
> > still ‎being traumatized by what Harper did to this Country 2)
> > still being taken-in by Trudeau's good looks and seemingly affable
> > personality, and still willing to give him a chance 3) the lack of
> > any real sign of an equally charismatic leader emerging in the
> > other 2 main parties 4) the political capital of the Liberal
> > Party.
> >
> > Unfortunately, an amazing country like Canada is sadly lacking ‎in
> > the political leadership department. (Part of the legacy of our
> > FPTP system!)
> >
> > Well, at least one Liberal MP has had the courage and integrity to
> > apologize for his party's reversal on E. R.
> >
> > Still in the fight. Stu.
> >
> > Sent from my BlackBerry 10 smartphone on the Rogers network.
> >> Original Message From: Bob Jonkman Sent: Saturday, February 4,
> 2017 2:19 AM
> > To: FVC Waterloo Region Discussion Reply To: FVC Waterloo Region
> > Discussion Subject: Re: [fvc-wat-disc] Letters to the Editor
> > Needed
> >
> > Donald Fraser wrote:
> >> However, down the road, electing an NDP government will
> >> automatically get us MMPR
> >
> > In all the provinces in which the NDP has formed government, they
> > have never acted to implement any kind of electoral reform,
> > especially not Proportional Representation.
> >
> > And although it is ostensibly part of their policy, neither
> > Electoral Reform nor Proportional Representation was on the NDP
> > election platform for the 2015 election. There was no mention of
> > ER/PR on the NDP website during the election, and questions about
> > its absence went unanswered by the NDP candidates or the
> > webmaster.
> >
> >> I think that the Green Party would be OK with such an effort as
> >> they would benefit perhaps the most from MMPR.
> >
> > The Green Party will be happy to cooperate with other parties in
> > implementing Electoral Reform and Proportional Representation.
> > However, don't expect that Green candidates will step aside;
> > instead, Green candidates will campaign vigorously to get
> > Canadians the representation in Parliament they vote for.
> >
> > --Bob.
> >
> >
> > On 2017-02-03 11:08 PM, Donald Fraser wrote:
> >> I understand Anita's point that it is too early to start election
> >>  plans
> >
> >> However, down the road, electing an NDP government will
> >> automatically get us MMPR
> >
> >> I think that the Green Party would be OK with such an effort as
> >> they would benefit perhaps the most from MMPR.
> >
> >> I have to say that the Liberals are being pummeled from all sides
> >>  now. They knew they were going to pay a huge price for this
> >> decision. For that reason, I highly doubt they will reverse same
> >>  ... reversing now probably wouldn't do them much good; that is,
> >> it wouldn't repair the damage they have already suffered.
> >
> >> But I'm always game to show my displeasure in one way or the
> >> other.
> >
> >> However, apart from the odd demonstration, what are our long term
> >>  possibilities as a group for the next 3 years?
> >
> >> cheers, Don
> >
> >> On 3 February 2017 at 22:52, Jon Bathmaker
> >> <jon.bathmaker at gmail.com> wrote:
> >
> >>> I think we should choose the one that makes them look the
> >>> worst. With that criterion BETRAYAL seems to be the winner.
> >>>
> >>> Best, Jon
> >>>
> >>> On 2/3/2017 10:45 PM, Anita Nickerson wrote:
> >>>
> >>> Which do you like better for the hat?
> >>>
> >>> REAL LIES or REAL BETRAYAL
> >>>
> >>> On Fri, Feb 3, 2017 at 10:30 PM, Sharon Sommerville <
> >>> sharonsommerville at gmail.com> wrote:
> >>>
> >>>> Hello All,
> >>>>
> >>>> We are going to have to do a lot of writing in the coming
> >>>> weeks. Please remember that you don't have to write the
> >>>> letters, another person can write if you can submit or you
> >>>> can write a letter and have someone else submit it. We need
> >>>> writers and submitters.
> >>>>
> >>>> Thanks to Donald for an excellent response to Ms. Smith's
> >>>> article. We need one more. Can someone volunteer to write and
> >>>>  or submit a response to Ms. Smith's article? It would need
> >>>> to be submitted by Sunday evening
> >>>>
> >>>> We need a supportive letter for Luisa's article. Is there
> >>>> someone who can write/submit it. This one should be easy.
> >>>> Again, it should be in by Sunday pm.
> >>>>
> >>>> We need at least two responses to today's editorial. One
> >>>> should be from FVC-WR which I can draft and send round to our
> >>>> bd. members so we need one more. Any takers? Again, you can
> >>>> write but not submit or offer to submit but not write.
> >>>>
> >>>> A march to Raj's office from KCH would be doable. Someone
> >>>> could book an appointment with him (underhanded yes, but the
> >>>> gloves are off) and we could arrive with the toque which has
> >>>> been modified to read: REAL LIES or REAL BETRAYAL (that's
> >>>> still the plan, isn't it?). I have a pair of Liberal socks
> >>>> which I no longer need. Gummie rats (sealed in plastic about
> >>>> 3oz.) can be purchased on line. I was thinking of sending one
> >>>> of the pair to Trudeau filled with gummie rats, be happy to
> >>>> make up another one to give to Raj.
> >>>>
> >>>> Here are the rats:
> >>>> https://www.jellybelly.com/gummi-pet-rat/p/5148
> >>>>
> >>>> Personally not in favour of the coffin as it has been used to
> >>>>  death (!) for all kinds of causes but lots of signs, and a
> >>>> media alert and facebooking etc. Plus it would be fun.
> >>>>
> >>>> Happy to start up a "I will not vote for you again" petition
> >>>> at all our upcoming events, give a focus to our summer
> >>>> festival tables.
> >>>>
> >>>> And, my home will be open for a meeting this Monday at 7 pm
> >>>> for anyone who wants to come to plan the next few months.
> >>>>
> >>>> Onward! Sharon
> >>>>
> >>>> On Fri, Feb 3, 2017 at 7:34 PM, arthurd23 arthurd23
> >>>> <arthurd23 at bell.net> wrote:
> >>>>
> >>>>> Lots of letters to the editor in The Star and Globe.
> >>>>>
> >>>>> There was also a consensus with almost all of them
> >>>>> castigating Trudeau.
> >>>>>
> >>>>> One opposing view - The Record editorial. Surprise!!!
> >>>>>
> >>>>> Do we have some letters being sent to The Record?
> >>>>>
> >>>>> Dave A
> >>>>>
> >>>>> ---------- Original Message ---------- From: Donald Fraser
> >>>>>  <donaldafraser at gmail.com> Date: February 3, 2017 at 12:15
> >>>>> PM
> >>>>>
> >>>>>
> >>>>> I'll pick the negative one ... just love a scrap ... so
> >>>>> here's my response
> >>>>>
> >>>>> ======================================================
> >>>>>
> >>>>>
> >>>>>
> >>>>>
> >>>>>
> >>>>> Dear Editor,
> >>>>>
> >>>>>
> >>>>> Re: The political fallout of breaking a promise by Joanna
> >>>>> Smith_Feb3_2017
> >>>>>
> >>>>> Ms Smith asks, “But what of the majority of Canadians? Do
> >>>>> they care? Does it matter?” in reference to Electoral
> >>>>> Reform (ER).
> >>>>>
> >>>>> It matters. In our system of First Past the Post (FPTP),
> >>>>> votes cast for a Green candidate, for example, who loses
> >>>>> are useless. The Planet-caring, environmentally conscious,
> >>>>>  politically aware voters in the particular riding have no
> >>>>> say in Ottawa. A certain percentage of all Canadians want
> >>>>> Green objectives to be part of the laws of Canada.
> >>>>>
> >>>>> It matters because these environmentalists should have
> >>>>> their say in the structure of government. In a
> >>>>> proportional system, for instance, every vote counts to
> >>>>> obtain the same percentage of seats for a party as the
> >>>>> party received in the national vote count.
> >>>>>
> >>>>> It matters because they may not vote in the next election,
> >>>>>  knowing that their votes won’t count.
> >>>>>
> >>>>> I matters because, due to discouragement, they may cease to
> >>>>>  engage in the political discussion and the environment
> >>>>> will suffer for it.
> >>>>>
> >>>>> Later Smith states, “Then there is a much larger group that
> >>>>>  knows little and cares less about ER” in reference to the
> >>>>>  Canadian electorate at large.
> >>>>>
> >>>>> “... knows little and cares less ... “ is simply cause and
> >>>>>  effect. Unfortunately, it is difficult to excite the
> >>>>> electorate about ER possibilities when they “know little”.
> >>>>>  Attempts to educate the public about ER are generally
> >>>>> regarded as “election activity” which annoys citizens
> >>>>> between elections. To be fair there is a small percentage
> >>>>> which does respond with enthusiasm.
> >>>>>
> >>>>> New Zealand (NZ) solved the problem by having a trial run
> >>>>> at Mixed Member PR (MMPR) for four terms. The electorate
> >>>>> was educated by experience and when consulted after the
> >>>>> trial, voted for MMPR over the former FPTP system. Their
> >>>>> experience demonstrates that an educated public will choose
> >>>>> a proportional alternative to our antiquated and unfair
> >>>>> FPTP which wastes the votes of any citizen whose local
> >>>>> candidate did not win in their riding.
> >>>>>
> >>>>> Germany has practiced MMPR since WW2. The resulting stable
> >>>>>  form of coalition government has allowed Germans to become
> >>>>>  the master long term planners we recognize them for. They
> >>>>>  avoid the 'Policy Pendulum' in which false majority
> >>>>> governments cancel, at great expense to the taxpayer, the
> >>>>> projects of the preceding government. Rather each new
> >>>>> government improves and supports policies of the previous
> >>>>> government.
> >>>>>
> >>>>> Yours Truly,
> >>>>>
> >>>>> Donald A Fraser,
> >>>>>
> >>>>> 184 Forsyth Drive,
> >>>>>
> >>>>> Waterloo, Ontario,
> >>>>>
> >>>>> N2L-1A2
> >>>>>
> >>>>>
> >>>>>
> >>>>> 519-576-9210 <%28519%29%20576-9210>
> >>>>>
> >>>>>
> >>>>>
> >>>>> On 2 February 2017 at 23:02, Sharon Sommerville <
> >>>>> sharonsommerville at gmail.com> wrote:
> >>>>>
> >>>>> Hello FairVoting Friends,
> >>>>>
> >>>>> Two great articles in today's Record for us to respond to:
> >>>>>
> >>>>> http://www. therecord.com/news-
> >>>>> story/7100196-the-political-
> >>>>> fallout-of-breaking-a-promise/
> >>>>>
> >>>>> http://www. therecord.com/ opinion-story/7098054-d- amato-
> >>>>>  broken-promise-may-haunt- liberals/
> >>>>>
> >>>>> We should capitalize on these articles with letters to the
> >>>>>  editor. A couple of letters in response to each letter
> >>>>> would be wonderful. Any number would be great.
> >>>>>
> >>>>> Have sent the request out to our larger discussion list as
> >>>>>  some new names would be helpful!
> >>>>>
> >>>>> Let me know if you can take either of these on.
> >>>>>
> >>>>> With thanks, Sharon
> >>>>>
> >>>>>
> >>>>>
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> - --
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>
> - --
> Bob Jonkman <bjonkman at sobac.com>          Phone: +1-519-635-9413
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