Konservative machen sich laut Umfrage zunehmend Sorgen um die kanadische Demokratie

When I saw the headline I thought „ah yes, the Americanization of the Conservative Party of Canada“ but reading the article, I realized that isn’t exactly the case. Support for our electoral system is still pan-partisan. Some highlights:

> Satisfaction was highest among Liberal Party supporters, at 89 per cent, while Conservatives – for the first time since the biennial survey began in 2010 – were almost equally divided between those who were satisfied and those who were dissatisfied.

and

> Just 52 per cent of Conservative supporters were satisfied or very satisfied with Canadian democracy, down from 89 per cent in 2014, when the Conservative Party was still in power.

and

> “It is understandable that after four consecutive election defeats, Conservatives are less satisfied with the way the political system is unfolding for them,” said Andrew Parkin, the executive director of the Environics Institute, in an interview. “But that doesn’t mean that they’re necessarily less committed to a democratic way of life, and I think it’s really important to draw that distinction.”

and

> Political scientist Alex Marland, having reviewed the Environics research, said U.S. President Donald Trump’s practice of stoking anger and frustration with institutions may have had a cross-border impact. “Donald Trump really is pushing some of these things, which are filtered over into Canada, so I think that’s really a big element of it,” said Dr. Marland, the Jarislowsky Chair in Trust and Political Leadership at Acadia University. He added that populists tend to try to tear down elite structures that have been created over the years. As a result, conservatives in Canada inclined to heed Mr. Trump may be becoming wary of the political system.

With the headline, I expected different data. In reflection, I think the biggest issue I have with this research is the conflation with electoral systems with democracy. The language about the poll and question is worded implies the only expression of democracy is electoral. As a constitutional country, we know that isn’t true. Democracy takes place in protests, courts, free expression, and in so many ways. Democracy is not just the ballot box; but I think that is something more and more Canadians are forgetting.

FPTP is shit and encourages you to make the best of a bad situation. If you don’t vote for the winning party, your vote is thrown away.

Imagine if you could vote *for* something instead of against the other side. Pro rep with some kind of ranked ballot would make everyone’s votes matter and, yes, strengthen democracy (i.e., encourage the kinds of engagement that go beyond the ballot box).

lol the party that engages most in anti democratic and straight up oppression of minorities are now fake concerned about this? This doesn’t fly when conservatism in political philosophy is all about entrenching power and privilege in a few and they behave exactly like that when in power

Conservatives ought to be unhappy that they have so often found themselves in first place with fewer seats, but the Conservative Party also know that FPTP is the only electoral system that gives them the potential to exercise power without having to bother with dealing with anyone else’s opinions, an important attribute for a block of voters who have views quite outside the national norm