Vote NO On STV
Yesterday I outlined some pretty good reasons to vote against STV but today I want to update you on 2 more.
I took some time after posting yesterday to dig a little deeper and I found this flash animation that explains how votes would be transferred and so I understand the underlying math a little better now but if memory serves from when I went through the proposed legislation 5 years ago with a DEO the legislation does not match the animation or at the very least the legislation is so poorly worded that it would seem not to match. But even seeing that animation and it making a bit more sense to me it still feels like a bit of a shell game. I can barely wrap my head around it; I can’t imagine the average citizen even bothering to take the time. There are enough actual issues out there that affect people’s lives that are far more worthy of attention than this mess.
The second reason I want to encourage people to vote against STV is because of the actions of its supporters. There is a grassroots harassment campaign on Facebook and Twitter to find, insult, and ridicule people who don’t support STV. I am currently being stalked by 3 STV supporters, or perhaps more or fewer using fake accounts, and being harassed. Here are some of the assaults they’ve directed at me…
I have been told that I have insufficient education to understand STV. I have an honours degree in Political Science. If I don’t have enough education to understand STV then what’s the electorate to do? Are we to be so confused by a needlessly complicated system that only an elite will vote? I’m not a fan of elitism when it comes to politics, it’s not democratic.
I’ve been told you can’t be opposed to STV unless you are in favour of something other than the Canadian tradition of First Past the Post. Alright then, suck on MMP:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mixed_member_proportional_representation
This is just ONE of the systems of proportional representation that is better than STV and has a better track record of actual implementation I might add. Am I entitled to my opinion now?
I have been told that disagreeing with STV is “inflammatory”. So not only will STV do damage to our electoral system but it will also classify disagreement as hate speech or in some other way limit free speech in this country?
I have been told to “get lost” unless I can provide a source to everything I say. I did not know Facebook had become Wikipedia, they should have sent a memo.
I actually got one STV supporter to admit their plan was to be rude to anyone who doesn’t immediately agree with them.
I’ve been told that by linking to a report by the Green Party posted on the site of the people who came up with STV I am somehow insulting dead people. I can’t even begin to comprehend how encouraging people to go to the site of the people that came up with STV is somehow dishonouring the departed.
So in conclusion when you vote against STV you’re not only voting to preserve democracy, transparency, and regional representation you’re also voting against elitist mob rule that has somehow taken hold in parts of the STV movement. In my Canada we know who we voted for, how our votes are counted, and we can disagree without being disagreeable.
Update: After reading this post someone came forward to tell me “Don’t feel bad I got called Taliban! for opposing STV, these pro- STVers are hanging themselves“
