MMP and Progressive Voters

Linda McQuaig notes that voters who identify themselves as progressive should be in favour of MMP. Indeed, a more proportional system would allow greater electoral choices and would prevent progressive voters voting for the lesser of two evils (which has generally been the Liberal Party in an effort to stop the Conservatives from gaining power.

So while polls show strong support among Canadians for social reinvestment and the environment – preferences that should logically attract voters to the NDP or the Greens – these parties remain small or even marginal.

One reason for this is our skewed electoral system. With our first-past-the-post system, progressive voters have been afraid to vote NDP or Green, for fear of splitting the vote on the left and letting the right win.

Not only does she argue that MMP is more progressive, but it is also more democratic.

In Canada, where the electorate is fairly progressive, the result would generally be more progressive representation in the legislatures. (As Tom Flanagan, a strategist for Stephen Harper in the 2006 federal election, noted in his recent book, Harper's Team: "Neither the philosophy of conservatism nor the party brand comes close to commanding majority support.")

She concludes that:

Anyone who has a problem with that has a problem with democracy.

I can't for the life of me figure out why so-many so-called progressives are opposed to mixed member proportionality.