PR is good if you like less government

Re: “Horgan, Weaver whip up rally for proportional representation,” column, Oct. 24. As Les Leyne noted, politics are rooted in polarization and partisanship. Proportional representation will do nothing to change this.

If one looks at many systems in place in the world, PR approaches nurture dissident candidates to run, and win. As those elected seek for ways to assemble a power base, parties and splinter parties are formed or alliances and coalitions are formed. After all, the fundamental forces in politics are to seek power, get power and keep power.

This often means those elected will compromise core political beliefs to get a position at the head table or to be a power broker.

For me, this search for getting and maintaining power is a good thing, because it slows down the making and implementing of party policies that, in most cases, intrude into the lives of most citizens.

More time spent by the elected and their parties and coalitions on squabbling among themselves will allow the rest of us to get on with our businesses and lives with minimal political interference.

I suggest we support PR in this upcoming referendum. Over time, it will create a governing environment where the group with the most votes might need months to amalgamate enough support to govern. If the fragility of these amalgamations results in an election every year, so be it. Let the politicians play their games to their hearts’ content. Mike Pankiw Mill Bay