The British Columbia New Democratic Party this morning defeated a motion to support federal style public financing for political campaigns.
This despite Nanaimo MLA Leonard Krog's observation that the federal legislation, passed by Jean Chretien's Liberal government, worked against the interests of the Conservative Party.
“Not only is it the right thing to do,” said Krog, speaking about how such a system would work provincially. “It will kick the hell out of the Liberals.”
Andrew MacLeod is The Tyee’s Legislative Bureau Chief in Victoria. Reach him here.
Krog is right.
The principle of a democracy is "one person one vote" and implicit is that there be equality. Equality of political influence is mandatory. There can not be a true democracy unless every person has equal political influence. Allowing corporations to contribute to political parties is even worse than allowing unions to do the same. Unions are many members voting on a motion. Corporations are a very few, (mostly just one CEO) deciding to contribute. Any "kick back" benefit by an action of the party later when it is in government benefits a few while in the case of a union benefits man only in theat the work of unionizing is easier. A big difference!
So let's level the playing field. Allow only individual donations to a maximum of $250 and see how quickly the field is leveled. It time. Next introduce an appeal process for the CRTC to investigate media bias during an election.
morons
This current bunch at the NDP are among the stupidest collection of morons ever assembled. No wonder its so easy for fascists to kick their asses.
Lobbying
The ability of business to entertain a minister and talk his/her ear off in a manner not available to the average guy should also be banned.
We all know that the bigger your donation to the party, the more one on one time you can demand.
That's fundamentally wrong.
ridiculous
Everytime I read anything about the BCNDP, I have to shake my head. Do they have their heads so far up their asses that they have no idea what the hell is going on?