I sent this to The Record.
I'm writing this in response to the two letters you published on 01FEB that called for electoral reform; specifically proportional representation.
I could not disagree more. Even when the Conservatives earned only 2 seats in 1993 but 'earned' far more I would not have supported such folly.
If we did as the proponents ask, we could say goodbye to majority governments. Moreover, in order to get anything at all done we would have to pander even more to fringe and special interest groups. These groups would then hold the country hostage while the responsibilities of the government would not be met.
What if you had to include environmental matters in a bill regarding child pornography to get the Green party to vote for it?
And this would only be the start. Instead of having three or four parties on your ballot you would have a dozen. We could then expect parties to crop up representing any and all single issues. Now imagine having to give concessions to the 'Gay and Lesbian Party' or the 'Christian Fundamentalist Party' to get support on a matter of foreign policy. Now imagine needing both of them to support you.
No, its better to have a few parties who, for the most part, cover the spectrum and have a well-rounded platform that touches all the responsibilities that a government has.
