Frustrated Voter Proposes 'none Of The Above' Ballot Option

"None of the Above" would be a good choice on the ballot, providing it has some sort of "teeth". Likewise, the number of representatives on the federal, privincial, and municipal levels should be linked to the voter turnout. If there are (for instance) 308 seats in the House of Commons, and the voter turnout is only 60% (and/or the ballots show "none of the above"), then 40% must remain vacant. Municpal elections are a bit of a farce in this country, with turnouts of 20% being considered "average". So that means, if there are ten seats on a council, only 2 would be occupied. And if it proves impossible to govern that way, so what? It's the people bringing it on themselves by being apathetic.


---
"When you change the way you look at things, the things you look at change."
-Max Planck

"And if it proves impossible to govern that way, so what? It's the people bringing it on themselves by being apathetic."

Keeping in mind that if "none of the above" were in place and had teeth, then even a high voter turnout could also result in very few politicians being elected, and if it proves to be impossible to govern in that way, then so be it, the system will have shown itself to be busted and a fix would have to be found.

What we have now, is a highly dysfunctional system that pretends to be highly functional, which is perhaps one of the worse possible conditions to be in.

Smoke 'n' mirrors? Or bread 'n' circuses?

---
"When you change the way you look at things, the things you look at change."
-Max Planck

None of the above.

---
The preceding comment deals with mature subject matter, however immaturely presented. Viewer discretion is advised.

Keep things the way they are?

---
"When you change the way you look at things, the things you look at change."
-Max Planck

Canadians are about to get a look at a new political wave, which is just starting to roll across this federation, from coast to coast. The Coalition Of Independent Candidates set up its internet site and is looking to give taxpayers / voters a real alternative to political party candidates. <br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.coic.ca/">http://www.coic.ca/</a> <br />
<p>---<br>Good government is not a party government

Of course not. I just want my 'none of the above' option if I'm only given 2 bad choices. As RG points out, things are broken. I don't think it's by deception, but by design. Nether Bread n' circuses, nor smoke and mirrors, but abuse and corruption of the systems as it was intended to be.

---
The preceding comment deals with mature subject matter, however immaturely presented. Viewer discretion is advised.

Because I have acted in an advisory capacity politically in the past and been a founding member of more than one society set up to address social problems, (Yes ! That’s Right, I, Dio have been active for over 35 years) I will offer this bit of advice. Unless at least a two pronged synchronistic front is presented the chances of a full slate of candidates is near impossible.
Just as one will find justice at the hands of any court of law to be under twenty percent they will also see there chances of gaining independent seats in the House to be in the same slim percentage. Therefore on of the prongs must be a shadow government in opposition to the House. After all it is from the people that power is give to the elected so it is from the people that a watchdog organisation must also occur as a system of check and balance to the established rule.
asystem of check and balance to the established rule.

---
"When I tell the truth, it is not for the sake of convincing those who do not know it, but for the sake of defending those that do."

William Blake

Now this is a really cute idea. Of course, "None of the above" would only work for the first election and not for the follow-up election(s).

This kind of thing that is the outcome of a system where only two parties are allowed.

"...and is looking to give taxpayers / voters a real alternative to political party candidates."

in order for t what I understand to happen, hapen The taxpayers the taxpayer cannot wait for independant local reps to have influence in a timely fashion.
And so a a circle jerk will result.
A group outside, extra legal as is the case with Peruvians as described in Hernando de Soto's Books
El otro Sendero must take place
I can't bother doing the clutter archiology to sport my assertion
sorry
but as strategies go this idea of independants will not see fruition in my life time

Talk to me about local co-ops a la Mondragon or Northern Italy and you'll have my attention


---
"When I tell the truth, it is not for the sake of convincing those who do not know it, but for the sake of defending those that do."

William Blake

Dio,

How about a shadow government (or cabinet only to keep it reasonably sized) formed of Canadian Citizens, picket at random as for jury duty, from a PUBLIC list of volunteer citizens. Decent compensation is taken for granted.

While I still think that this group might as well form the legislature, this idea may be too radical for the populace to swallow.

Another alternative: Have the Senate members picket by the above process for a fixed duration of say 6 years so as to straddle most federal elections. This method has the advantage of giving the average citizen a chance at directly influencing government.

What thinkest thou?

H.F. Wolff

Hey, H.F. Dubya<br />
I thinkest thusly><br />
<br />
You have framed the suggestion more concisely than I and see the idea as valid and as a means to the end game of forming THEE legislative body that has control over the issue of money, the creation of law and the removal of laws that were set up to benefit the few over the many<br />
The world political body in it’s may guises has much to offer as I pointed out here and else with the Peru , Môndragon and Emilia Romagna*<br />
<br />
And now that I have re read your post the idea of a People Senate springs to mind.<br />
Senator Diogenes has a nice ring to it <br />
<br />
* <a href="http://www.cooperativegrocer.coop/articles/index.php?id=483">http://www.cooperativegrocer.coop/articles/index.php?id=483</a> <br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.ourbiz.biz/international/index.html">http://www.ourbiz.biz/international/index.html</a> <br />
<br />
<p>---<br>"When I tell the truth, it is not for the sake of convincing those who do not know it, but for the sake of defending those that do."<br />
<br />
William Blake<br />
<br />

"In Europe we know that an age is dying. Here it would be easy to miss the signs of coming changes, but I have little doubt that it will come. A realization of the aimlessness of life lived to labor and to die, having achieved nothing but avoidance of starvation, and the birth of children also doomed to the weary treadmill, has seized the minds of millions."
Sir Auckland Geddes, British Ambassador to the U. S. 1920.

KINDA INTERESTING TO LOOK BACK A CENTIURY AIN'T IT?



---
"When I tell the truth, it is not for the sake of convincing those who do not know it, but for the sake of defending those that do."

William Blake

"The more things change the more they stay the same."

Our parents and ancestors fought battles to reduce the working man's daily chores to 8 hours per day and 5 days per week.

What do we have now? (Thats the collective we since I typically work about 10 billable hours per week).

Husband and wife each working 50+ hours per week to make ends meet and pay exorbitant mortgages in the big cities?

If this is progress I'd like to do without it.

H.F. Wolff