Let's see how serious the politicians are when they feign disappointment at the severely low percentage of electors showing up to the polls.
While it is true you can't govern every issue by referendum - there are times when one is definitely needed.
We elect people to objectively deal with our subjective "wants". Every "want" is subjective and "wants" come from all sectors of society - our politicians are always dealing with "wants" and in being responsible they must weigh the "wants" objectively. There has emerged from various sectors of our society a "want" for a Public Inquiry - each and every MHA without exception cannot objectively make a decision on this "want" - which leaves a democratic paradox which only a referendum can solve.
Kilbride is an excellent example of why we need to do something about voting.
Shawn Skinner has suggested fines for those who do not vote - the Government of Nova Scotia says paying the voter might help. I suggest if people are not voting there are problems that a fine or tax credit will not fix.
See if we can agree on the following:
If the politicians will not call a Public Inquiry into the PPP (spending scandal) let them put the question of such an Inquiry to the people in October.
Let's develop a referendum question:
Should a Public Inquiry be held into matters of the House of Assembly Finance covering the period from January 1989 to October 2007?
Please send your suggestions for other wording.
You see the people need a reason to vote - something to vote for. Many people feel they cannot vote for any party while this mess is not fully exposed and dealt with - that was evident in the by-elections.
Even if they only vote on the question and do not vote for a candidate - the message will be sent - loud and clear.
You see Shawn if we were to fine people for not voting because they feel all parties were involved in wrong-doing - that would be ridiculous.
If we were to pay them to vote - well that makes it worse.
The integrity of the House of Assembly must be restored - and to many people this can only happen after a Public Inquiry. Do you know how many politicians - currently retired may try a comeback if we can't figure out what they were all doing during that period of time?
Regardless of what you generally think about referendums - one is necessary on an issue where the elected are those needing to be questioned - because they will not allow independent and public investigation of themsleves.
Let's use this most direct form of democracy in an attempt to restore it in Newfoundland and Labrador.
2 comments:
It is this same mind-numbing apathy (disgust) pervading the electorate that Danny and the other MHAs are counting on to make this "PPP" nightmare hurry up and go away.
Remember the Star Lake episode: the monstrous environmental onslaught upon that place by Abitibi/CHI - the slashing and burning of hundreds of chords of good wood, the ruination of beautiful cabin country, the silting of Red Indian Lake, the poisoning of the fish..... We didn't even get a "job" out of that except for a part-time watchman on the dam. Abitibe sells us back the hydro and collects the "Carbon credits, based on the filthy output of the Holyrood thermal generator.
To illustrate your point that if we don't demand accountability of our elected representatives now, they will be back and nothing will have changed. At least one of the chief architects in the Star Lake debacle is still in the House; still representing the interest of constituents where another of our resources is under merciless assault by other predators. I cringe whenever I think of the outcome of that. Surely it is not to much to expect those whom we employ to manage our affairs be answerable for their actions.
A full Public Inquiry into the "PPP" affair. Yes! Anything less would not make any sense.
Lloyd C. Rees.
Great site, Sue!
I believe that it has the potential to become very popular once it is well known to the public.
I definitely agree that we need a Public Inquiry. The public really needs to know the details of what exactly was done wrong by each MHA, where they made the mistakes or how they robbed us, then we can make an informed decision whether to vote for them again or not.
The general public always said that politicians were crooks, but we never really had proof until now.
A public inquiry would help us pick the good from the bad and learn to thrust politicians again, at least to some degree.
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