Changing how we vote might help us have a more responsive government. There is a new blog set up by Cynthia and a few friends to discuss this.
My fear of what is on the table is that the new system will make the power of the party even greater. Here is what I said: -
I share Gordon's concern that we must have a PR system that reduces the power of party and increases the power of the individual MLA to serve her district. As I see it - the problem is "Party". Parties represent not the voter but the party. The interests of the party can often be opposed to what the community really needs.
The deep problem with politics, as I see it, on PEI is the link between Jobs and Party on the Island. An ever larger group of people hang their hats on a seasonal job and hence have become dependent on the party of their choice. This in turn creates two pressures - when push comes to shove you support the party who employs you and the party has to support the jobs for our gang no matter what this means in terms of doing the right thing.
The bottom line is that it is all but impossible for Islanders to get good government.
Nothing matters other than keeping this co-dependent relationship going. Until recently, this alliance was confined to seasonal workers who could rely on being layed off with a change of government and who reminded their MLA that he too owed them his job. Seasonal workers became the policy dictators in our society as a result.
Now we are seeing evidence of all jobs in government are being linked to party support. Competence is less important than loyalty. I say this not to blame anyone - it is an inevitable consequence of the government's dominance as an employer. It is not aTory issue either in that I believe this to be a systemic issue - may MLA's I have talked too wish that this was not so but cannot escape it. Under the current system if a party has the votes of all those that work for it and their friends and family, it will remain in power.
Power is what parties work for not the future of PEI. The consequence is that it matters not what governments do so long as they keep their bargain with the government workers - the result is that we will never have ploicy that really gets at the needs of the Island as a whole.
As we develop the new PR system, we need to think and act on the issue of the power of the party. Parties represent only their own interests which are confined to gaining and retaining office. Independent MLA's represent the Interests of their district. They will have to be wooed with policy that meest the broader needs of voters.
If we have 10 seats that are not linked to party, the system of linking jobs to votes naturally breaks down and we have a chance of getting much better government.
