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In a democracy of the people there is one overriding principle, majority rule. In a democracy of hundreds, thousands or millions there is one generally acceptable way to exercise that. It's called a vote. The people decide together. For example, the government of Ontario has asked voters one question in their elections for the last 150 years. In modern day Ontario, voters want to answer two. These questions would decide "What we want Queen's Park to do for us" and "Who we will send there to help get it done". Sadly, the voters attempt to come to a decision on the first question with a ballot expressly reserved for answering the second question. It is in the constitution. Every voter in the province gets representation! Across the province, 107 times, we should be deciding together. But our elections focus on parties, leaders and policies. It is all about province, not district. It is the proverbial "square peg being used to plug a round hole". This rubs the wrong way. It is a big turn off. One ballot to answer the wrong question is patently unfair. The government boldly suggests that it is up to the voter to answer whichever question they feel is more important. This mixed result is an insult. It amounts to total disrespect. The government laughs and carries on. The joke is on us. Yes, we are frustrated. yes, we would love to participate in a real democracy. In Ontario that would mean being equal parties to a decision by majority rule on the two important questions that we want our provincial elections to answer. But ... We don't get that with the only horse race they give us. |