Elections always turn into popularity contests between the “good guys” and the “bad guys” when there really are no good guys and bad guys.
Such a situation is inevitable when the point is to convince the voter that you are better than the other guy.
And it must be hard to avoid an adversarial mindset when the runner-up is going to be labelled “The Official Opposition” and asked to spend the next four years going on about what a terrible job the winner is doing.
We can’t be alone in thinking what a horrible waste it all is.
And we blame the party system.
We want a government that sets balanced policy in response to the needs and desires of British Columbians as a whole. The party system encourages a government that is either a slave to the desires of big business, or pawn in advancing the agenda of the unions.
We want MLAs who are fair-minded, broad thinkers, able to see the big picture. The party system gives us choices selected by small groups of dedicated idealogues and backed by coalitions of special interests.
We want a legislature full of respectful people dedicated to working together for betterment of the province. The party system gives us a room full of mocking voices built for sabotage and ready to pounce and devour at the slightest misstep.
Political scientists could quickly supply a tonne of reasons why any attempt to ban political parties won’t work.
We say it’s already not working. The rising amount of disaffected voters is all the proof we need.
We need to elect independent people to work on behalf of their province and community, not special interests and ideologies.
Ban political parties and let the co-operation begin.
— Black Press