A6
Friday, May 17, 2013
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Opinion
The Prince George Free Press, founded in 1994, is published every Wednesday and Friday in Prince George by Prince George Publication Limited Partnership. Contents copyright of Prince George Publication Limited Partnership.
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Poles are for dogs T
here is simply no questioning Tuesday’s election night result. Regardless of what the pollsters, pundits, and prognosticators pontificated about prior to election day, British Columbians wanted a Liberal government. One of the best lines we’ve seen about how wrong the pollsters were comes from an Okanagan editor who tweeted that he’s thinking of being becoming a pollster. He doesn’t have any experience in the business, but apparently it’s not required. If there is a message from the election, and the recent Alberta election, it’s that pollsters often get it wrong. The irony, and perhaps hypocrisy, about politicians criticizing pollsters it’s that they all do their own polling. However, the day belongs to Shirley Bond and Mike Morris. They won the two Prince George ridings handily. With 57.68 and 55.5 per cent of the popular vote, respectively, there isn’t even any suggestion of vote-splitting. Even if it was only a twoperson race Bond and Morris would have won the ridings. That means they truly do have a mandate from the people of their ridings. Congratulations to both of them for a job well done. And they, of course, credit their campaign teams. While we elect individuals, actually getting elected is far from an individual effort. Everyone who runs for office, even at the municipal level, has a group of people who support them, work for them, and cheer them on. Sometimes it’s just family, but often, especially at the provincial level, it involves hundreds of volunteers. They are the ones who deserve, and get, the credit. If there is one disappointment from the election it’s that overall voter turnout remains low. At about 52 per cent, voter turnout in British Columbia remains dismal. We need to change our political system in order to get people involved in it and, sadly, our system is tilted in favour of the ruling party – whether Liberal, NDP or Rhinoceros. Once a party gets elected, they focus on staying there. Changing our political system to engage more voters means tinkering with a formula that works for those who are there. It will take political courage and hopefully our new government has that courage. And to those who were unsuccessful in their bids to become our MLA, kudos go out to you because without you we would not have a choice. Elections are about having a choice. We were presented with plenty of choices in Prince George and for giving us those choices, we’re grateful.
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■ OPINION
Democracy for those who care When you have been around politics for a while, ment. you learn the one sure thing about politics. That That is perhaps the role they are destined to there are no sure things when it comes to the world remain in. A group who has a social conscience and of politics. proposes and demands the government of the day Last Tuesday Adrian Dix and is NDP party were pay attention to those in need. That is not of bad reminded of that reality. They went into the camplace to be. Every society needs a balance in the paign clear leaders. Every poll predicted the disdebate between differing opinions. semination of the current Liberal government. We all This election campaign was very similar to past know that is not what happened. campaigns. It contained the same stretching of the All sorts of theories can be advanced as to how truth on all sides and debates more entertaining Adrian Dix and the NDP snatched defeat from the than informative. jaws of victory. Many theories will The wonderful thing about democabound but the reality is really quite racy in a society which is well-educated, simple. by comparative world standards, is that The NDP has a very solid support in the voters who actually go to the polls this province, but they fail to use that will muddle through and come to a support in expanding their opportunirational decision. Not all the voters will Onside ties to govern the province. The reason come to the same conclusion but the VICTORBOWMAN for the failure is not who is leader but conclusions they come to will be sincere within the structure of the party itself. and heartfelt. The influence of unionized labour distorts the In the days to come there will be wringing of efforts of the party to be the party of the people. The hands over why more of those eligible to vote did influence of organized labour scares other social not exercise their mandate. Some of those are selfish, constituencies who would be solid and loyal memsome are disinterested, some don’t care and others bers of the party. pay no attention. Before we get too excited about Many years ago the party abandoned the role of the lack of participation we should rethink our critithe impassioned critics of what others were doing cism. The survival of democracy is dependent upon to our environment to the green party. They had those who care. We are all better off following the little choice, there were too many supporters of the direction of those who appreciate the opportunity party that depended on cutting down trees, building to make their feelings known at the polls. Those are hydroelectric dams, opening mines and many other the people who have made at least some attempt to proposed directions that would give short-term ben- think their way through what matters for them and efits to the members of the unions supporting the others in their community. All those who did go to party. vote deserve thanks. They were encouraged to continue their role of As long as there is substantial number of us, the being the party with a social conscience. Unforpercentage of eligible voters who turned out is sectunately, that took second place to the needs and ondary to those who care. Thank you for participatdesires of the heavy supporters in the labour moveing. Circulation Manager: Lana Metz Email: circulation@pgfreepress.com.............250-564-0504
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