Alternative voting explained.... Good for Canada?

[IdRatherBeSkiing]

It's funny how you guys were talking about alternate voting. A while ago, I was reading an article on Sympatico that asked if Canadians should be forced to vote.

Should Canadians be forced to vote? | Sympatico.ca News

At first, I actually agreed to the question. Since voting turnout was so low, I actually thought that this was a good idea.

It wasn't until I read some of the comments that I finally realized something. I realized that what I was thinking was not only undemocratic, but just plain stupid...in some ways, though.

Personally, if there is another way to vote, like this alternative, then I don't see why not. If it gets more people voting, then more power to them.

However, I do still find it unacceptable that voting turnout is so low. I can understand with some folks if they don't like the main choices, I can understand that. But, if you don't like the main choices, then why not vote for an independent party? If you do that, then you can show that you have a voice...a voice that can stick it to the big 3...or 4 with the Bloc.

I'm sorry, but if you don't vote, you have no right to complain about the gov't. Not only that, but you're just pissing away a freedom that not many people get to have. Would you like to live in a single party state like China or Vietnam?

God, I was even getting excited today when I did the vote. And this was for the first time, too!

Congrats on your first vote. Agree with all your points. Voting is a right which should not be so easily discarded.

[triedit]

The Westminster System is ridiculous and gives parties as a unit way too much power. It is not representative of the populace. Why vote if your vote doesn't really matter in the end? Individual votes mean nothing in this system. Just because Australia, Ireland and the UK use it doesn't mean it works--Iran, India, Israel, Jamaica, and Singapore us it too and it's not exactly worthy of modeling.

Worse than that, this system encourages a fusion of power rather than power sharing--especially in a majority government, but also to a large extent in a minority one. It also allows lots and lots of appointments to key positions beyond cabinet; judges, special investigators, etc.

Im just thankful GW Bush was never empowered by this sort of nonesense.

[IdRatherBeSkiing]

God, I was even getting excited today when I did the vote. And this was for the first time, too!

I just voted and had the same exitement. Something about all those people going to the same place to do the same thing still makes me tingle a bit. Probably would be the same regardless of voting 'system'.