Encourage people to vote for their values

Re: “B.C. voters should reject proportional representation,” editorial, Nov. 16.

The editorial stated that the question before us is how we wish governments to be formed and administered. Precisely.

Do we continue using a system in which negative campaigning reigns, and political parties strike hardline positions with which they hope to convince the necessary 37 to 40 per cent of the electorate to vote for them to achieve their majority? Where the winning party rules with an iron fist, rigid party discipline and total rejection of any good ideas originating from outside their ranks?

Where your MLAs vote on legislation is determined by the party whip, not by the wishes of their constituents? Where government acts like the bully whose behaviour we try to teach our children not to emulate?

Or do we wish to use a system that encourages people to vote for their values, not against the “greater evil,” and where intelligent, caring people who otherwise couldn’t stomach the nasty milieu of our current campaigns can run ideas-driven campaigns free of constant negativity? Where we trust the 90 or so MLAs to act like grownups in the legislature and work together across party lines, consult citizens on major issues and craft the best policy regardless of whose idea it was?

Minority governments in Canada have produced some of our best social programs, and do not need to be feared. Under PR, we could still have single-party majority governments if parties craft election platforms good enough to capture at least 50 per cent support.

Murray Gudmundson Victoria