Big money has the real power
By Letter to the Editor on September 17, 2020.
With both Joe Biden and Kamala Harris considered to be moderate candidates by the Democratic party establishment, their election will almost certainly translate into a governance with thinly veiled, yet firm ties to corporate interests and little or no genuine intention of adequately improving the poor person’s lot in life.
To me, Western democracy elected heads of state appear confined to being but symbolically in charge, second to the greatest power-entrenched big-money interests.
It may be reflective of why the latter generally resist proportional representation electoral systems of governance.
Frank Sterle Jr.
White Rock, B.C.
7-6
bullseye in just 3 sentences. a challenging and complicated topic, no less. the system not only is corrupt, it is broken. there is no way the masses nor the most pressing issues affecting the planet – such as environmental degradation/pollution/unsustainable approach to living, mass poverty, overpopulation of humans, consumerism at all costs, undemocratic govt systems that pretend to be democratic, corruption deeply embedded in govt, increasing loss of privacy and freedom, increasing secrecy in govt and corps and institutions. if we want change, it will not come from within the system. we will need to be ready to get uncomfortable and tackle the many issues from without.
With regard to proportional representation in Canada, I would think that the Conservatives certainly would not want it, and Trudeau wanted a ranked ballot system. A ranked ballot, in 2015, would have given the Liberals even more seats in the House of Commons yet. When Trudeau heard the result of the committee that went across the country in 2016 to hear what folks wanted with regard to electoral reform, and for the most part they wanted a form of proportional representation, Trudeau walked back on his promise that 2015 would be the last first-past-the-post election. With regard to big-money interests, we know that both, the Liberals and the Conservatives, are complicit here.
And, for years, many of us Canadians have always thought there was not a whole lot of difference between the American Democrats and Republicans.
Myself, being from the tailend of the hippie generation always votes for the politics who is willing to shake things up, not a bit, but a lot. 🙂
Always keep in mind that we vote with an “X” which is the symbol used by ille
illiterate people used to sign legal documents. It seems it is still significant.