Robert Cowboy

The past has provided clear evidence of the harm that can result from FPTP. We have seen numerous politicians elected because of vote-splitting, as well as voters feeling compelled to vote strategically rather than honestly for their preferred candidate. Under FPTP, voters often have to weigh voting for their genuine first preference against the risk of helping elect someone they strongly oppose. Equally, voters who do choose to vote honestly can end up inadvertently contributing to the election of someone they dislike. A healthy democratic system should allow people to vote for their preferred candidate without having to constantly worry about these consequences. Furthermore, we have repeatedly seen governments in which a single party has secured a majority of seats without receiving a majority of the popular vote. This is another form of democratic harm, as the composition and power of the government do not accurately reflect the preferences of the electorate. It can also allow a governing party to exercise considerable power without meaningfully considering alternative perspectives, since it does not need the support of other parties to pass legislation or maintain its majority. By contrast, minority governments, confidence-and-supply agreements, and coalition arrangements can encourage greater cooperation, compromise, and accountability by requiring parties to consider perspectives beyond their own. There is, in fact, an appetite for proportional representation among supporters of parties across the political spectrum. If you genuinely believe that there is “zero national appetite for PR outside fringe parties” (a claim I disagree with), why not personally support electoral reform while also working to build greater support for it within other parties? Let’s increase the appetite for proportional representation. That is precisely what I am trying to do on my end: build broader support for PR and strengthen the appetite for proportional representation. As for the argument that FPTP forces political parties towards the centre, there is evidence that doesn’t support that conclusion. In the United States, Republicans have managed to win control of both the House of Representatives and the Senate under FPTP, while Donald Trump has also won the presidency. Far from consistently pushing the party towards the centre, the Republican Party has shifted considerably to the right over the years. In the United Kingdom, Reform UK (a party further to the right of the Conservatives) are now generally ahead of the Conservatives, and could still potentially form the next government there. There are also historical examples of deeply undemocratic and extreme governments being elected under FPTP, including the National Party government in apartheid-era South Africa. These examples demonstrate that FPTP does not inherently or reliably force parties towards moderate positions. Conversely, proportional representation can itself encourage moderation and compromise. Because parties often need to collaborate with others to form a government, maintain confidence, or pass legislation, they have greater incentives to engage with different perspectives, negotiate, and find common ground. Rather than allowing one party to govern with unchecked parliamentary power on the basis of a disproportionate share of the vote, PR can encourage a more collaborative political culture in which parties have to work together and remain responsive to a broader range of voters.

Abdul El-Sayed gives dinner recommendations: "I'm for Shawarma law"

Watched Lorne Dork give his 1st presser. He sounds pretty good in many respects BUT the fact he wants to get rid of DRIPA is concerning and wait till he looks at finances. This is when he will say he has to cut healthcare, childcare & other programs. Its how Cons work.

So this is a Toronto campaign where that number is closer to 5-10%, this could just be a dad walking with a friend, and there are multiple posters. And it’s announcing a speed limit sign, which people outside the city have blown up into a culture war thing?

Fall is here. So we can finally talk about this serious topic... Jonagold vs. Honeycrisp apples.

Aside from the actual swas, you see no similarities in design?

As an extrovert, some of these blow my mind. 26% of Americans didn’t go out for breakfast a SINGLE time in 365 days? 54% didn’t go to a sports game and 51% didn’t go to a bar/tavern even once? Even with the increase, 68% of adults didn’t attend a single concert? Are there people out there that just don’t do anything??