On Wed, 14 Feb 2001, jon kelland wrote:
>The problem with a proportional representation only system would be the
dominance of parties, and the decline of independent or maverick
candidates, which I see as a serious and debilitating problem. (As far as
I know PR does not work outside of a party schemata).
Not so. One of the most popular versions of PR DOES work outside party
schemata. It LESSENS the power of party bosses - which is why they don't
like it. It ENCOURAGES mavericks and independents - which is why
incumbents and party bosses and candidate-buyers don't like it. If all
these part-of-the-problem people don't like it, it has to have a lot going
for it.
This version is called Single Transferrable Vote (STV). I strongly favor
it.
The version of PR that has the bad features you mention is the German or
Mixed system. It relies entirely on party structures. It allows the party
bosses to pick all the candidates, and to put their favorites at the top
of the list. Goodbye to mavericks and independents. Imagine the amount of
money the bosses can milk from candidate-buyers under THIS system! It does
however allow a principled third party (eg Green) with principled leaders
a chance to gain representation. But it does so with an anti-Green
top-down structure, so it is a mixed blessing.
I have no interest whatsoever in working for the German or Mixed system.
I have enormous interest in working for STV.
--David Shove
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