Frustrated by every federal & provincial election since 1997, I have been vocal in calling for an Electoral Reformation ¶ of the systems whereby we elect our politicians. These were my letters published in the St. Catharines Standard.
Webpage Info for: Letters to the (Standard) Editor Re: Electoral Reform
As I became personally involved in societal transformation, I realized how important it was for me to attempt to elect political candidates capable of representing that issue. I very quickly realized that the democratic systems whereby our provincial and federal representatives were being elected, were as much a part of the problems that urgently needed resolutions.
These are the three letters published by the St. Catharines Standard, and one open letter hosted at an earlier website, which expressed my frustrations and concerns experienced at election time.
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Our electoral system is flawed Published Sept. 16, 2003
Alistair Ferguson expressed his hope people get out and vote in this election (The Standard, Sept. 12). Perhaps he could help me through my dilemma.
Should I vote for a politically challenged candidate to represent my riding because I want the more politically-savvy leader to become premier? Or should I vote for the politically-savvy candidate for my riding while ignoring that my vote could go toward electing a politically-challenged, or arrogant premier?
My concern with our ineffective political systems, provincial and federal, turns to horror when publicly repeated claims like that of Jean Chretien having a mandate from the Canadian people goes unchallenged by the mass media.
His name has never appeared on my ballot. Until such time that we the voters can directly elect our premier and prime minister, and our voter-elected officials can freely represent the issues on which they campaigned, I expect we will continue to see a decline of voter trust and turnout.
What if our provincial and federal leaders where chosen by our elected officials from among those elected? Might the public enjoy more ethical democratic systems in which to place our faith and trust?
Rest assured, Mr. Ferguson. I am and will be involved with all the various elections. I do so, however, with the greatest of apprehension and concern for our collective futures.
Bernie Slepkov St. Paul Street St. Catharines
Letters to the (Standard) Editor Re: Electoral Reform [Continued]
Choosing won't be easy Published May 12, 1999
When asked to place my vote of confidence in a democratic system of representation unable to adequately represent me, I feel torn and cheated.
The thought of party-line dynamics overriding my chosen electorate's promises or convictions stops me cold. If only I could trust political conviction.
To his credit, Mike Harris has proven his leadership skills. To his discredit, he failed to fulfil the common sense promised me along with a strong Ontarians with Disability Act, no casinos nor hospital closures. To me, common sense is finding a place to stay while building a new house where the old one exists.
Ask me if I trust any other party (leader) who has displayed the same behaviour, since politics is a matter of winning positional stances, not what's in the best interest of my society.
I am less against Mike Harris and more against a system of democracy that persists in fragmenting communities and individuals within them.
Our system is certain to fail as long as it is based on debate and not resolution.
It's comical to hear it said that if promises aren't kept, I can vote the party out next election.
Right! My society suffers further fragmentations while rabbits magically appear just prior to elections.
I'm finding myself once again having to choose between the lesser of all evils.
That is not democracy in my books! Neither is it democratic that I'm more concerned with the party leader than with my local candidates.
How can any politician ignore a poll of three years ago revealing a public trust level of less than that of used car salesmen -- 5 per cent, I think it was?
I would think they would want to change that along, with everything else acknowledged is desperately needed.
How am I going to vote in this coming election? Obviously, I've got a lot more thinking to do.
Bernie Slepkov Glenridge Avenue, St. Catharines
Open Letter To Anyone Who Cares Written for 1999 Provincial Elections, hosted at an earlier version of my DreamTEAMS International website.
If I AM presently disabled, it is in my inability to decide how to place my vote in the up-and-coming elections. I have the understanding that democracy should concern itself with: my safety; my human rights; my ability to be a productive member of society; my health and well-being, my freedom of reasonable expression of individuality and self-sustainment, and my ability to make a difference in my society. I am being asked to place my vote of confidence in a system of representation that appears to have a disability to adequately represent its voters.
I recently attended a local all candidates' debate, consciously weighing each incumbent candidate from each of the three parties. Each one fulfilled his responsibility admirably, courageously and for the most part, in the best interest of his voters. One new candidate familiar to me on a personal level prior to his even considering running, certainly deserves my vote. He has genuinely displayed a concern, sensitivity, compassion and wisdom. At this point in time, I trust him completely. Yet when a canvasser recently called asking for my support of him, I just couldn't declare it knowing it would conflict with who I would most likely want to lead the province or that it might grant control to a party I really don't believe in. The thought of party-line dynamics or the leader's control overriding my chosen electorate from representing me as promised, or against her/her own convictions stops me cold.
I felt as torn as I did cheated. No one party appears to me to be in touch with the directions in which the world is headed. They speak "the speak". Now, if only they could walk the talk. At all levels, our divisive democratic system is unable to work together to adapt as swiftly to our changing world as our evolving societies are. If only I could trust a leader who would stand firmly by his/her convictions.
There is no doubt in my mind that Mike Harris has proven his strength and determination as a leader. That is to his credit. To his discredit however, he has clearly failed to live up to the common sense he had promised me.
He assured me of his opposition to casinos in Ontario!
He promised me a strong disability act within one term.
He promised to listen to my concerns.
He also promised me a stronger health-care system, educational system, greater fiscal responsibility and efficiency.
To me, common-sense is...if I am going to build a new house on the same site as my existing one, I first need to ensure I have somewhere else to live before tearing down my old one - unless of course it is destroyed by an act of G-d. And I'm certain, that I can't put up the roof until the walls to support it are firmly in place.
Casinos, well...I'm still trying to figure what happened!
Stronger health-care ... Please dear G-d; protect my health and that of my family in the coming years ahead!
Greater fiscal responsibility and efficiency ... Is there anyway to tax public protests and strikes?
Stronger education ... Kids have always proven that true life-skills are learned outside of school anyway - haven't we?
What still remains frustratingly unresolved is a strong Ontarian with Disabilities Act. I fail to understand how Mike Harris and his minister intend to create a half decent piece of legislature meaning something to the people that need it most, if they won't even sit down to meet with them.
For the past several years, every publication on change management or new leadership styles professes that the creativity and innovation required to provide dynamic solutions, comes from the front lines. Even Mike Harris's own Ontario Jobs and Investment Board's "Roadmap to Prosperity", supports this claim. No doubt Mike, who is also the Chairman of OJIB, will proudly hold the report up to the public for the approval it truly DOES deserve. And yet, blatantly ignoring a substantial front-line of disenfranchised sectors that persists in proving time and again a promise of contributing to the productivity of my province's economy instead of being dependent on it, contradicts the Roadmap's direct "to achieve sustainable economic success, and the partnerships, innovative approaches and actions we will need to take us there."
I am concerned for my friends, and families' well-being by what I am witness to.
Ask me now for my vote of confidence while I fear that one day, I or someone I care for just may become disabled. Where is the fiscal responsibility or common-sense in the time, energy and emotion that I and several others along with me will have to subtract from the productivity of our financially strapped economy when it does happen.
Ask me if I see any common-sense, where compassion seems absent. Or if I hold any faith in a democratic system controlled by such display of insensitive hypocrisy.
Ask me if I hold trust in any other party or leader that has consistently done exactly the same thing, because politics IS more a matter of winning a positional stance than what is in the best interest of my entire society, and not just a select few.
Let me make this perfectly clear. (G-d forgive me. I'm beginning to sound like a politician myself.) I am less against Mike Harris and more against a system of democracy that persists in fragmenting of our communities and the individuals within them. And no, I am not a socialist, communist or unionist! I firmly believe in a more egalitarian democracy and sustainable free-enterprise.
I respect each individual that dares to throw his or her hat into the gladiator - ooops - I meant political - arena. For the most part, I believe that those first timers mean to do what they promise, I just pity them to think of how frustrating it must be when they enter into a system that quickly saps them of their integrity, ambition and enthusiastic drive to make a difference for their voters. Our system is certain to fail as long as it is based on the principals of debate and not resolution of conflict.
I think it comical to hear a leader say if he doesn't keep his promises, I can vote him out in the next election. Right! I have to wait while more fragmentations form before I can TRY to vote him/her out, all the while hoping s/he doesn't pull the rabbits out of the air that should have been there to begin with. Then once again, I find myself having to choose between the lesser of two or three evils. That is not democracy in my books!
What I find most difficult to comprehend is how any politician can continue to ignore polling results of a couple of years back that put politicians on a public trust scale of less than that of used car salesmen - 5 percent I think it was. I would think they would want to change that along with all the other major changes they have already acknowledged are desperately needed.
How am I going to vote in this coming election? Obviously, I've got a lot more thinking to do. But I AM going to pray like hell that I won't have to help the ODA committee's fight from a more intimate perspective.
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