The Editor,
Re. Locals offer pros and cons of different voting systems” (Letters, The Tri-City News, Oct. 31).
In the pro-proportional representation (PR) letter, writer L. Mackintosh refers to Arend Lijphart’s democracy comparisons in 36 countries. But two of B.C.’s PR options have never been used anywhere.
Lijphart’s book and those of his methodology critics could be added to the PR reading list but who has time to read and understand all this PR data before referendum closing date?
The questions raised on PR as proposed in B.C.’s referendum are mind-boggling and just how is the PR theme of “everyone’s vote counts” fair to less populated rural areas where votes will obviously be outnumbered by more populated urban areas?
It seems logical that PR currently researched by a non-partisan group, such as some sort of B.C. citizens’ association, would be designed for the benefit of citizens. It is equally logical to assume that PR options determined by any political party are for the benefit of the political party.
Without a current citizens’ association recommendation, seems the way to go is to maintain the status quo.
F. Nietzel, Port Coquitlam
