Playing with numbers
Used to be, in Canadian politcs, that we had a predictable world. Two parties in constant opposition, a few smaller parties to provide (comic) relief and polls that were useful to the undecided voter. After all, if it wasn’t one of the big guys, it was the other. Easy to understand.
The little kids grew up. Now we’re in a campaign with four name brands in play. There are other, smaller parties to provide the relief, but in certain ridings there is a real chance of a four-way split. Since Canada doesn’t espouse proportional representation, the life of an aspiring politician is no longer easy.
Depending on your philosophy, the term “splitting the vote” can be really, really good (or really, really bad). I’m delighted to note the websites that try to use this for leverage. Among them, Catch22campaign.ca, swing33.ca, votepair.ca and voteswap.ca (there may be more).
The premise is simple. If you live in a riding where the outcome is unsure, then why risk seeing the “not the party of my choice” candidate win because you and your neighbour voted for two other choices. Instead, use the never-ending polls to show the clear #2 candidate and by voting turn the choice into #1. Alchemy. Lead into gold.
Is it legal? Totally. Morally sound? Incredibly so. As long as the “first past the post” system remains in place (due to the self-interested politicians), then the rest of us have to do whatever we can to ensure a government “of the people, by the people, for the people”.
