Electoral Reform Most Pressing Election Issue

The following was a comment submitted to cbc.ca in response to the article Greens' inclusion in debates a 'tectonic' shift in politics: May. It was largely duplicated from a post on my blog Challenging the Commonplace. Out of 148 comments so far, readers have placed it in a tie for 2nd as Most Recommended.

If this "tectonic shift" should mean democratic and electoral reform getting back onto the table - and front and centre - then I'd be ecstatic. The recovery of our democracy, with voters becoming once again engaged and their votes having meaning, is the single most pressing issue of our time.

Not the environment. Not poverty. Not the healthcare system. Not crime, gangs, or violence against women. Not abortion. Not the war in Afghanistan or the US invasion of Iraq and their imminent attack on Iran. Not the sabre rattling between the US and Russia.

While no one would claim that these issues aren't important, no matter on which side a person stands, the fact of the matter is they won't get addressed by ANY party or politician. Not in any substantive, meaningful way.

Not unless something fundamental changes in our eroding democracy.

I say this as a woman and activist whose employment income is limited to well below poverty levels by disability and who is passionate about peace, the environment, food and housing security, a woman's right to choose, and the development and sustainability of local economies.

Without the proportional representation of the voters' preference matched to the number of Members in Parliament and our provincial legislatures, democracy in Canada will continue to be a sham.

Without true democratic representation, issues of importance to voters, rather than issues of importance to those in power and their corporate backers, will continue to be ignored.

Recovering our democracy is the most pressing issue of our time.

So next time you nab a politician's attention, ask him or her this question:

"Upon being elected, will you and your party take immediate steps to reform our electoral system"?

WISE Book - Policies of Exclusion, Poverty & Health: Stories from the front
Podcast Channel: http://bcseawalker.podbean.com/
Personal Blog: Challenging the Commonplace - and other irreverent activities
http://challengingthecommonplace.blogspot.com/