If its just a free vote in the legislature then majority rules and we lose our representation IMO. Vancouver has its economic empire to manage and we are just collateral to their decisions.

As one very interested in what the legislature does on this issue, I and many others who wish to contest this constituency NEED to know what is happening here. I wish they would just get on with it and decide our future one way or the other.

Who we've elected all work for their Party and its leader more than they do for their constituents anyways. Look what happened to Nettleton when he spoke up. Re-distribution? That's just 'smoke and mirrors'.

Put "None of the Above" on the bottom of the ballot, with a place to put your "X" beside it, and count it as a vote.
Then we'll get some proper representation. Then we've got a 'sanction' to force those running to find out what WE want and push for it or know they'll ALL be run the risk of being rejected.

Why would we want more politicians in our area. The less the better. Let them go to the lower mainland they deserve them. Dont forget the less we have the more pressure we can apply and maybe their squeal will be herd.

The cup is half full

Cheers

Socredible says "Put "None of the Above" on the bottom of the ballot, with a place to put your "X" beside it, and count it as a vote.
Then we'll get some proper representation. Then we've got a 'sanction' to force those running to find out what WE want and push for it or know they'll ALL be run the risk of being rejected."

Sorry sir. All you will get with that is NO REPRESENTATION AT ALL.

It is however time for people to end their love affair with the Liberals and NDP and lookhard at the alternatives.

Well what are they then? I am perhaps ignorant but i am not aware of any alternatives out there that I feel actually able to run this province better than the two parties we have.

I am also unaware of any alternatives out there!
We don't get a choice because there AREN'T any, and the politico's we have now know that all too well!
And the political system we now have is fine tuned in such a way that there aren't going to be any choices either.
That is the problem...period!!
Solutions anyone?

The solution is to get out and act yourself. You musty get involved in a political party or start one yourself. We have 2 major parties in BC and the Greens. There are some others minor parties. You have to get in and join a party that is close to what you wish for. The problem with this is that the press and the parties don't necessarily make their platforms easy to find. You join the party that is close to your aspirations and WORK to get policies in place that meet your idea of what a government should do. If the political parties do not represent what you deem is the correct way for the province to be run, then you start your own party. You know as well as I do this is easier said than done, but if you don't like the present parties, you got to go on your own. In a democracy, you can do this. Some people will join you but you will need support and you have to convince more to join you. If you want the system to change, don't expect others to do it for you, you must do it yourself. I'm sure you heard many times, in school, at work and in the bar that if you want something, you must get it yourself. Now is the time to act!

I agree with Bridge.

The solution to the problem Liberal/NDP, is for Independents to run in ridings that were close calls in the last election.. This would split the vote and make it unknown who would win, Liberal, NDP, or Independent. If you could elect 5 Independents you would certainly be able to influence either the Liberals or the NDP and might be able to forge a Minority Government that could represent us all better.

We are presently being black mailed by the Liberals with the proviso that if we don’t vote for them, then the NDP will form the Government to the detriment of us all, and while this is true to some extent, is it a sufficient reason to continue to support a Government who could care less about our concerns, and seems to be hell bent to sell out to vested interest groups.

Who is prepared to run as an Independent and shake up these other parties???? Or as the mice said Who will bell the cat. Good question??

Now is the time for all good men and women to come to the aid of good Government.

I believe the first step would be to change the representation system from first past the post to proportional representation as under BCSTV. In that system members of the same party have to run against each other, with multiple candidates elected. That would weaken party authority because each candidate from the same party would need to make themselves stand out from the other candidates from the same party. The obvious way to do this is to have a history of representing the voters.

That is the reason also that I am opposed to party lists in other systems of proportional representation. Such lists strengthen party authority rather than weaken it.

Palopu's suggestion has been tried repeatedly, but it doesn't usually result in much of a change. Most independents get about 500 votes in Prince George, but I think they are likely from people who would otherwise not vote, so they make little difference to the overall result.

The major benefit from Independents running is that they can say what they want without any fear of damaging a career. The same can be said for candidates of registered parties who know they are not going to win.

I believe the first step would be to change the representation system from first past the post to proportional representation as under BCSTV. In that system members of the same party have to run against each other, with multiple candidates elected. That would weaken party authority because each candidate from the same party would need to make themselves stand out from the other candidates from the same party. The obvious way to do this is to have a history of representing the voters.

That is the reason also that I am opposed to party lists in other systems of proportional representation. Such lists strengthen party authority rather than weaken it.

Votemike says with a choice of voting for for "None of the Above" on the bottom of every ballot we'd get "no representation at all." Well, that's exactly my point ~ we're not getting any now!

As long as the choices are limited to only the Parties' predetermined candidates, and each 'Party' subscribes to exactly the same POLICY as every other Party, but only offers a difference in METHOD of achieving it, our elections have about as much meaning as asking people to choose from a short list of things that are wonderful about Canada!

I like the idea of electing "Independents", even ones loosely affiliated with one another throughout BC to preserve their 'independence'. Independence in how to best 'represent' the people of their ridings.

That's how Social Credit started out in both Alberta and BC. And had its greatest successes in getting for the people what the people really wanted. Because in the beginning, in both places, it was a "League", (of 'independents') and not a "Party".

"Each of you, for himself, by himself and on his own responsibility, must speak". -- Mark Twain.

Some of the best quotes on you-Tube by JFK on democracy and media, MLK on liberty, and RP on todays political realities...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nBnOUe7QclI

IMO its still a long shot, but I think Ron Paul could still take the republican nomination on the second unbounded delegate count if John MaCain doesn't get a majority on the first count. It wouldn't be the first time that has happened.

In 2009 I think the BC democratic futures party (BCdfp) could be a viable option for a third party if it gets organized and engaged as the only option not funded by unions, multinational corporations, and any business or organization with foreign equity ownership.

If this party can be incubated and supported by Canadian citizens, Canadian owned free enterprise small business, and Canadian managed non-profit organizations other than unions, then its motives can be kept pure from the greed motivations and geo-political games of the other parties (ndp and liberals) representing the political extremes.

My vision for the party would be one that welcomes all who wish to join the revolution for a free enterprise democracy legacy (eg WAC Bennetts BC Socred era) that creates equal oportunities for all citizens; promotes economic and environmental sustainability; and above all promotes as well as safe guards the fundimentals of REPRESENTATION, participation, and the transparent vote counting in the political process for our democracy of the people and for the people.

Time Will Tell

Some very good posts, and it is nice to see that we are not all sheep who buy everything our "elected representatives" tell us.
Many do understand what we are dealing with.
The only answer is a new political system or even a new party as an option,if that is even humanly possible.
I really believe that if the silent,unseen forces in the upper reaches of politics,corporate heaven,and finance decide you ain't getting in the door,it simply will not happen.
The sad thing for all of us is that we actually still believe we can make it happen.
We are only important until the votes are counted and after that, we are nothing more than a source of revenue for these self-centered power brokers who live in another world that we know nothing about.
The biggest mistake we can ever make is believing that they care.