I’m the first to admit that I don’t pay as much attention to politics as I could.
But all of this hooplah around the Federal budget and the potential vote of non-confidence seems to have people riled up for what I think is no good reason. I think we’ve been used to having majority governments for far too long.
When there’s a majority government, we show up, we vote, and we get to sit back for about four years because the ruling party is then going to do whatever they want without much regard for anyone or anything else. It’s lazy politics, it promotes corruption and alternate agendas, and I’ve really had about enough of it.
With a minority government, the ruling party needs to win the support of other parties or MPs, or risk being ousted. Nobody wants an election every six months, so compromise is in everyone’s best interest. When there’s a minority government, constituents need to talk to their MPs to let them know what they do and don’t support. MPs need to ensure that their party has a firm stance on what is negotiable and what isn’t. Parliament as a whole needs to come together to pass bills & budgets that have been through real debate – not the yelling across the house that has no consequence because the majority party will push everything through on their agenda anyway.
In my opinion, that’s how government is supposed to work.
On May 17th, I’ll be showing up to vote YES for STV on the provincial ballot, and hoping for a minority provincial government. I think the parties could use a little tempering from eachother, and if it’s true that STV usually results in minority governments, I really can’t see that as a bad thing going forward.
Hah, I just finished saying this same thing to my coworker (that minority governments are better for the people). I’m also a big proponent for STV – someone I work with is very involved with the campaign.
Another political gripe – this sponsorship scandal that’s gripping the nation? Way overblown. It was $100 million that went missing, or just over 3 cents per person in Canada. I don’t think the Conservatives would have made a big of a deal over it if not for the minority government power-play politics.
Another vote here for STV. I’m all for minority governments. Although, I’m hoping for an NDP government, rather than a Liberal one. I just put up my Tim Stevenson window sign. 🙂
I’m all for the BC-STV. And I really hope for a minority government this time around too.
I loves me some minority governments. I like the idea that elected reps have to actually have skills in research, debating and negotiation. It makes for a much more interesting country, I think.
I personally think Canadians are way over-obsessed (or maybe the word is easily-entertained) with political scandals and make mountains out of molehills. Too much time wasted watchdogging, not enough time getting things done.
So on principle I would agree that a minority gov’t is a good thing, but honestly right now I feel that our gov’t is just twisting in the wind. I’m not seeing real debate, I’m just seeing a different kind of lazy politics: rip apart your competitors on every minor flaw.
Rog: I agree, right now the government is just fighting. I would say that that’s because minority governments are seen as rare and temporary. Every party (sans Liberals) wants to take down the government and get a majority themselves.
If minorities were normal and expected, there wouldn’t be so much of a rush to go back to the polls, and something might actually get done.