Democracy Gone Astray

Democracy, being a human construct, needs to be thought of as directionality rather than an object. As such, to understand it requires not so much a description of existing structures and/or other related phenomena but a declaration of intentionality.
This blog aims at creating labeled lists of published infringements of such intentionality, of points in time where democracy strays from its intended directionality. In addition to outright infringements, this blog also collects important contemporary information and/or discussions that impact our socio-political landscape.

All the posts here were published in the electronic media – main-stream as well as fringe, and maintain links to the original texts.

[NOTE: Due to changes I haven't caught on time in the blogging software, all of the 'Original Article' links were nullified between September 11, 2012 and December 11, 2012. My apologies.]

Friday, June 03, 2011

Bigger Commons? Bad choice

This government’s first major legislative proposal is about the worst choice our new Parliament can make. What Canadians need least is a larger House of Commons and an upper house of any kind – elected or appointed.

Despite rationalizations of expanding the Commons so that growth regions will have more equitable representation, that is not the motive at all. This proposal is not primarily to give them more MPs. It is designed to prevent regions with static or declining populations from having their representation cut.

That has been the driver in reapportioning the Commons since the 1970s, when all parties bought the expediency of enlarging the total number of MPs so that provinces would not lose representation – and hence, clout – if their populations fell.

Redrawing the electoral map could not be avoided because the Constitution requires redistribution after a census. But there was no constitutional limit on the total size of the Commons. Ergo – just increase the total membership and keep everyone happy, or at least quiet.

Well, why not? The first reason is that it is not necessary for giving the people adequate representation. The average member of the U.S. House of Representatives represents more than 400,000 voters. While our American neighbours are never backward about coming forward with political protest, none of them even whispers that they need more politicians in their lower house. Why must Canadians smoke this propaganda drug that the more MPs we have, the happier we’ll be?

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