The Bewildering Dynamics of Electoral Funding: Do We Have A Say?

 

The democratic principle is that ultimate power rests with the people. Their needs and desires should be prioritised by the government. It shouldn't help the lobbying companies and interest organisations that use taxpayer money to influence policy. Everyone in our country has the freedom to vote and support political candidates and parties of their choosing. When some individuals can afford to fly on private aircraft but others can't even afford the bus fare, how can there be equality of opportunity?

As a result of this inequality, a two-class society has developed in which the wealthy continue to prosper at the expense of the poor.

We need to do away with our existing voting system and switch to one based on proportional representation (PR). Through PR, we may elect representatives depending on the percentage of the popular vote they get. That is, if a candidate receives 5% of the vote, he or she will be guaranteed five seats in parliament. If someone received 40% of the vote, that person would be allocated 40% of the seats. In the same vein... Reasons why PR is a superior system, and why PR is a superior system are obvious. Under a PR system, voters choose candidates, not political parties. If there is just one election winner, the person with the most votes becomes the prime minister. If the popular vote total is too low for any contender to win, the person in second place would be elected. In this manner, everyone has an equal voice in the democratic process. More lawmakers mean more opinions being heard. Just what democracy should be about!

The majority of voters might prefer PR because it more accurately reflects their interests than the existing system.

In anybody’s opinion, PR is a fantastic concept in theory but will never work in practice since most parties in this country are unwilling to give up power. The opposite is true. They won't let go of our votes until we stop voting for them. They will state that they speak for us and ask for our undivided support. Yet, they will lose control of our democracy if people start voting in new ways. We need to mobilise the public behind candidates who will best advance our interests. Should we scrap our present electoral system in favour of PR?