[fvc-wat-disc] article in today's Globe and Mail Focus section

Sat Feb 11 19:19:22 EST 2017

When you start with a false premise, any conclusion you reach are invalid.

- --Bob.

On 2017-02-11 06:57 PM, Cathy Scott wrote:
> Did anyone else read the article, ‘ Why a Failed Bid for Electoral
> Reform is a Win for Canada’ written by William A. MacDonald?
> 
> I’d like to hear the understanding of this article by a more expert
> political mind than mine.
> 
> I find it rather mind-boggling.  It seems to me that the author is
> crediting the FPTP electoral system with  any beneficial
> development in Canadian politics over the  past century or so.
> 
> Does this article make sense and am I missing something?
> 
> Cathy
> 
> 
> 
> From: fvc-wat-disc
> [mailto:fvc-wat-disc-bounces at listserv.thinkers.org] On Behalf Of
> Donald Fraser Sent: Friday, February 10, 2017 9:47 AM To: FVC
> Waterloo Region Discussion Subject: [fvc-wat-disc] Justin's Iqaluit
> argument re Fringe Parties gaining power to influence policy
> 
> 
> 
> Before I send this, I just need to confirm that the remark was made
> in Iqaluit ... does anybody know for sure? The article was run on
> CBC National this morning
> 
> 
> 
> ========================
> 
> 
> 
> Friday, February 10, 2017
> 
> Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau.
> 
> 
> 
> Hello Justin,
> 
> 
> 
> Your argument yesterday in Iqaluit criticizing Proportional
> Representation (PR) for allowing fringe parties to determine policy
> is an old one and easily refuted as I’m sure you must know.
> 
> 
> 
> Most practicing PR countries use an “Election Threshold” (ET),
> which is a minimum required percentage of the national vote that a
> party must receive before it can have representation in Parliament.
> The effect of ET is to deny representation to fringe parties whose
> purpose is to destabilize normal government procedures. In the case
> of Germany and New Zealand, for example, both of which use Mixed
> Member PR (MMPR … the best system for Canada) if a party gains
> local directly elected seats, they are retained regardless but
> those MPs are not permitted to decide a critical vote on an
> important issue unless the party has achieved ET.
> 
> 
> 
> Your use of this “straw man” argument is amateurish. Why not just
> admit that your Party enjoys its majority and anticipates more of
> them under FPTP?  This admission is at least honest if not
> admirable. However FPTP leaves Canada vulnerable to a
> Harper-clone-Trumpist majority, the possibility of which looms as a
> result of the candidates we observe competing for the Conservative
> leadership.
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> Yours Truly,
> 
> Donald A Fraser,
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
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- -- 

- --
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