Editor:
Re: Voting system needs fixing, Community Comment, Feb. 15
I could not disagree more with ML Burke's belief that the voting system needs fixing.
The inequity and gridlock of the U.S. political system is a direct result of a group of extremely wealthy individuals that have pooled their vast fortunes into electing politicians that will eliminate taxes and regulations that interfere with their ability to make as much money as possible.
Their money is referred to as dark or hidden money so as not to be traced back to them. Dark money will fund extremeview candidates that will break unions, eliminate minimum wages and privatize education.
I believe that Justin Trudeau rightly listened to Canadians to form his opinion. Dark money is used to make it look like issues are grassroots when they are not. They wish to go to online voting, which is hackable and would be the end of true vote counting.
Voting is a privilege and should not be mandatory. Let people who care and are informed do the voting.
The rank system will lead to gridlock as extreme candidates will be funded to do the bidding of their donors. Remember how Stephen Harper was elected with a minority but then we were forced into another election as a small, elite group decided we got it wrong and that they wished to be in power. That election was when Harper received his majority government.
There are dangerous powers at work here. Just look at the ads against John Horgan funded by a group called Future Prosperity for B.C.
It is extremely important that we get money out of elections.
Our democracy hangs in the balance.
Shelley Bevandick
