First-past-the-post system isn’t perfect but it’s easy
We all know proportional representation makes every vote count — PR supporters have been telling us this for years.
The first-past-the-post system is not perfect (what is?) but at least it is easy and idiot-proof. The only time I voted under PR, I felt like I was filling in a government form, as I had to rank individual candidates in order of preference. By my fourth preference, however, I remember either not knowing anything about the candidate or simply not caring. Had Mickey Mouse been running, he would have got my vote so I could have made a quick exit from the building. Let’s keep things simple on election day!
John Clench, Vancouver
Vision promotes ‘anarchy’
Our current “leadership” in Vancouver City Hall is determined to promote anarchy and undermine law and order.
How else to explain why they do absolutely nothing when it comes to law enforcement? The latest 4/20 is an embarrassment and a slap in the face to police, firefighters, paramedics and law-abiding people in our city. The city easily could have used every tool they have to stop the event, but chose to do nothing. Doug Marsden, Vancouver
We need the pipeline
Joseph Maloney has a great idea to build a refinery. The trouble is that the same people who vehemently oppose the pipeline expansion would certainly oppose a new refinery. It’s not about the pipeline — it’s about fossil-fuel use and climate change, a religious quest to “save the planet” from B.C.’s piddling contribution to global CO2 production.
The only B.C. refinery in Burnaby can only supply 30 per cent of our gasoline needs and 40 per cent of aircraft fuel. Over 1,000 trucks per month haul aviation fuel from Cherry Point, Wash., to the airport. Since the existing Kinder Morgan pipeline already ships gasoline, and its expansion would increase that amount, if we don’t want to have the highest gas prices in North America forever, it’s time to get on with it.
Dick Draper, Surrey
U.S. funds support protests
The U.S.-based Tides Foundation has funnelled more than $35 million US to nearly 100 anti-pipeline groups in Canada over the last decade, including Indigenous bands, Greenpeace and other seemingly grassroots organizations. It appears that a new breed of professional, staged activism underlies much of the protestation we see. There are motives at play that are generally not apparent.
Perhaps we see Canadian environmental and other groups as being inherently honest, but it should be recognized that most are run as businesses and should be treated as such. We remain naive at our own peril.
Ryan Lengsfeld, Nelson
What about women?
Since politicians from all levels of government seek any and all reasons to apologize, I have one. Please start apologizing for women being denied the right to vote until 1917. Financial restitution would be nice, too.
The arrogance to think that current-day politicians can alter history speaks to their over-inflated self-importance.
Fran Berry, Prince George
PR leads to ‘nonsense’
If there is one thing we’ve learned from the last provincial election, it’s that one pissant party can end up running our province or country.
A vote for proportional representation would perpetuate this nonsense.
Ray Pasholko, Okanagan Falls