Electoral Reform

[Swiss Mercenary]

If you look back I did reply with my view on the electoral reform, and then drifted onto a tangential thought I've been wrestling with for awhile, that of the original intent of the guarantee by government to treat citizens equally. I didn't mean to derail the thread. I know what would happen in my locality if we had such an electoral system. Special interests on all sides and extremes would pack the local offices with people not interested in doing the job for which they are elected. That would vary from greens, to pro-lifers, to neo-nazis.

I happen to agree with Chaerophon. The lunatic fringe might get a seat, or two, or three, but will not wield real power. Just look back at the "Oh noes one man controls the balance of power" bit in the second to most recent Canadian Election - his vote was... Not very relevant.

I was also going to comment on your statement, "It's definitely helped to jar some preconceptions (among political scientists) about the ability of average citizens to reason about politics." It seems a bit pretentious to assume "Joe and Josephine Average" citizen are clueless about the functions of government.

Actually, I think it's quite reasonable to do so. I need only look at the opinion pieces in my local paper, to see the level at which Joe Average can understand concepts such as "Freedom".

It's not good.