Viva la revolution

Tech tips -

Here is a crazy idea for you!

What do you think of our political system? I have never been that overly impressed with it myself. Personally I think our system is partly to blame for the demise of rural life. How you say? Well, with the majority of the representation coming from urban centers, it is hard for the rural guy to have a voice.

Think I am wrong? Ok, ask yourself if the issues faced by the southwest coast would get more attention if we had as many representatives as the Avalon Peninsula. The same idea can be applied on a national scale. Poor little Newfoundland with its seven representatives!

While I am griping, I don't think much about the party system either. Never liked that a handful of people choose who gets the party nod. On election day, my choices are restricted to those hand picked candidates. Where is the democracy in that?

While I am pounding on the party system, how does a candidate get the nod in the first place? The short answer, influence peddling! How do you stay on top? The buddy system gone wild!

Come on now, you know what I am talking about. Not everyone is bad, but there are so many opportunities for the whole thing to go wrong. So what would replace the "buddy" I mean party system?

What do you think about all independent candidates? That's right, no party, but standalone individuals. You can see how fast that could go horribly wrong can't you? How long before all the guys on the Avalon would realize that there is strength in numbers and then get together in informal groups to force their own way.

Ok, you say, divide the province up by geography and not population with one candidate from each area. How quick would that one guy fall to temptation?

So here is another way to change it? Sure is! Go ahead and have elected representatives to raise concerns. However, rather than the system we now have, don't give these guys the right to vote on anything. Instead, every vote would go out to the people in the province.

Oh my goodness you say! We can't afford to send every single decision out to the individual voters. You must be mad because it would cost billions and billions of dollars to hold referendums for every little thing. Right?

No, not really.

We are finally in a technological position to change the way we do things. Tell me why every person of voting age in this province can not have an internet connection, and a username and a password so that he can log onto a government website once a week and vote on all the issues? Take the right to "vote and decide" away from our MHA and MP, and put it right in the hands of the individual!

I scared you didn't I? Are you ready for that kind of power?

But you say, what about the guy who runs the computer system. What keeps him from being influenced and becoming corrupt by a little bit of cash? Simple, I will run your computer system for you and you trust me, don't you?

Viva la revolution!

toddmusseau@gmail.com