1/12
*Every* main argument of the #NoBCProRep campaign is misleading somehow. Pilon's essay academia.edu/37553274/Revie… is devastating in understated academic terms but the public debate is even starker.
Here comes a thread where I respond to each of @NoBCProRep's last 10 tweets.
*Every* main argument of the #NoBCProRep campaign is misleading somehow. Pilon's essay academia.edu/37553274/Revie… is devastating in understated academic terms but the public debate is even starker.
Here comes a thread where I respond to each of @NoBCProRep's last 10 tweets.
2/12
Basically true, according to angusreid.org/wp-content/upl… . But in same link, aside from the referendum, 57% of those polled in BC support #ProRep. ≥50% in each province polled except Manitoba. That is, 100% have some opinion, albeit unsure on referendum.
Basically true, according to angusreid.org/wp-content/upl… . But in same link, aside from the referendum, 57% of those polled in BC support #ProRep. ≥50% in each province polled except Manitoba. That is, 100% have some opinion, albeit unsure on referendum.
3/12
FPTP is far more prone to policy whiplash than PR. Look at 1996 and 2001 elections: first NDP get 52% of seats w/ 39% of votes, then Liberals get 97% of seats w/ 58% of votes.
Successive #ProRep governments would have more overlap; BETTER stability.
FPTP is far more prone to policy whiplash than PR. Look at 1996 and 2001 elections: first NDP get 52% of seats w/ 39% of votes, then Liberals get 97% of seats w/ 58% of votes.
Successive #ProRep governments would have more overlap; BETTER stability.
4/12
FALSE. Current system has seen many changes (and arguably also a few problems?) over 145 years. Votes for women is a big one! Beyond that, see fascinating timeline of Canadian history of election reform at sightline.org/2018/10/02/bri…
FALSE. Current system has seen many changes (and arguably also a few problems?) over 145 years. Votes for women is a big one! Beyond that, see fascinating timeline of Canadian history of election reform at sightline.org/2018/10/02/bri…
6/12
Suprise, voting methods are not a perfect panacea against racism! But in Sweden, the two biggest parties have both pledged not to join a government with right wing—so RW doesn't get power.
Meanwhile, in the US, under FPTP...
Suprise, voting methods are not a perfect panacea against racism! But in Sweden, the two biggest parties have both pledged not to join a government with right wing—so RW doesn't get power.
Meanwhile, in the US, under FPTP...
7/12
Correctly describes a Fraser Institute study. But not unbiased: right-leaning FI hosted a pro-reform conference in BC back in the 90s, when #ProRep was good for right.
Italy, Norway, Germany= <20 elections since 1945. Canada, NZ, Aus= >22, mostly FPTP
Correctly describes a Fraser Institute study. But not unbiased: right-leaning FI hosted a pro-reform conference in BC back in the 90s, when #ProRep was good for right.
Italy, Norway, Germany= <20 elections since 1945. Canada, NZ, Aus= >22, mostly FPTP
8/12
Again with the scaremongering about far-right parties. This tweet doesn't even make any factual claims I can debunk, just foments a miasma of fear.
Ask yourself: who benefits from making you afraid like this? I'm pretty sure it's not you.
Again with the scaremongering about far-right parties. This tweet doesn't even make any factual claims I can debunk, just foments a miasma of fear.
Ask yourself: who benefits from making you afraid like this? I'm pretty sure it's not you.
9/12
Trifecta of fearmongering:
Nazis? ✅
Guilt by association (Weimar Republic had some proportional aspects!)? ✅
Ignoring problems with status quo system? ✅
Again: who benefits when you worry about Nazi Germany not current USA?
Trifecta of fearmongering:
Nazis? ✅
Guilt by association (Weimar Republic had some proportional aspects!)? ✅
Ignoring problems with status quo system? ✅
Again: who benefits when you worry about Nazi Germany not current USA?
10/12
100% projection. I'll ignore the non-sequitur on extremists.
Key point is that in #ProRep, almost all voters help elect an MLA. In FPTP, only about 50% do.
So, @NoBCProRep: What’s the point in voting if YOU don’t get to decide your representation?
100% projection. I'll ignore the non-sequitur on extremists.
Key point is that in #ProRep, almost all voters help elect an MLA. In FPTP, only about 50% do.
So, @NoBCProRep: What’s the point in voting if YOU don’t get to decide your representation?
11/12
I agree, voting should be simple. More votes, more seats; what could be simpler?
Do you think it's "simple" that the federal NDP consistently gets more votes but fewer seats than the Bloc?
#PR4BC
I agree, voting should be simple. More votes, more seats; what could be simpler?
Do you think it's "simple" that the federal NDP consistently gets more votes but fewer seats than the Bloc?
#PR4BC
13/14
Once again, 180º backwards. #ProRep represents to all voters, including Liberal minority in lower mainland and NDP minority in north. Result: governing majority would be MORE likely to have MLAs from all regions.
Once again, 180º backwards. #ProRep represents to all voters, including Liberal minority in lower mainland and NDP minority in north. Result: governing majority would be MORE likely to have MLAs from all regions.
14/14
So, I looked at the dozen latest tweets from @NoBCProRep. Every one of them was somewhere on the scale from misleading to outright lies. Despite repetition, over a dozen different misleading ideas.
Ask yourself: who benefits from this kind of fearmongering dishonesty?
So, I looked at the dozen latest tweets from @NoBCProRep. Every one of them was somewhere on the scale from misleading to outright lies. Despite repetition, over a dozen different misleading ideas.
Ask yourself: who benefits from this kind of fearmongering dishonesty?
(ps. If you've gotten this far, you've probably already figured this out, but... in the thread above, Twitter puts the tweet I'm responding to below my response. Sorry for any confusion that brings.)
@threadreaderapp unroll
