Imagine a “democracy” where one-third of voters sell their votes. That’s what happens in prop rep Indonesia.
“Indonesia’s open-list proportional voting system plays a crucial role in explaining the ubiquity of vote buying,” said an expert. The margins between candidates is so slim that even a small bump in vote buying can put people over the top.
Indonesia has tried two forms of prop rep, and both have been prone to vote buying. Under the previous prop rep system, “there were numerous reports of wealthy candidates purchasing winnable slots on party lists by bribing party leaders.”
Prop rep makes party leaders incredibly powerful, because candidates have to curry their favour – and their favour only – to get on the party lists. Any B.C. Prop Rep activist who claims there will be more freedom for legislators under a new system is lying. Real world experience, including in Indonesia, proves otherwise.
Yet another reason to Stop Prop Rep! www.icba.ca/stopproprep
Pass this post on to your friends and family – David Eby’s draconian, anti-free speech rules won’t allow us to advertise it, but individuals can spread it as much as they like. Let’s make sure every British Columbian sees it.
And stay tuned for more “Tales of Prop Rep Horror”…
Tales of Prop Rep Horror #5 – “Beware the Greeks!”
Tales of Prop Rep Horror #4 – “Aussie! Aussie! Aussie! NO! NO! NO!”
Tales of Prop Rep Horror #3 – “From Russia With Blood”
Tales of Prop Rep Horror #2 – “The Pain in Spain”
Tales of Prop Rep Horror #1 – “The Puzzle of Brussels”
Eventually an extreme fringe party (Skin-heads, a religious cult, or similar) will win the controlling seat in a prop rep election. Then the left will be screaming, protesting, and demanding we switch back to first past the post. It’s the same problem the left always has – they are incapable of connecting the dots and seeing the consequences of their actions.