Taking a Stand for Proportional Representation

The giant puppets were recovering from a busy day they'd had earlier in the week. They had joined friends who were raising awareness about proportional representation on Vernon Street in Nelson.

Bumped and bruised, the puppets were enjoying some quiet time to relax and heal while the November rain splashed on the ground outside.

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NOWCA, Per and Good Time with Diana
 photo courtesy of Sjeng Derkx

PER: Well, it's nice to get out now and again, but I sure pay for it. I have so many aches and pains, it's hard to sit comfortably.

GOOD TIME: I know what you mean, Per. I have such a stiff neck! But it was fun to spend time with friends and bring some attention to pro rep. Geez -- I hope people get their ballots in.

NOWCA (yawning and stretching): Oh, but isn't it nice to be taking it easy today?

At this point, I hope people bring their ballots to their nearest Service BC office instead of putting them in the mail. It's getting close to the deadline.

PER: And I hope if they're still not sure how to vote they'll take the quiz at referendumguide.ca.

NOWCA: How are you doing, Mr. Pipeline?

MR. PIPELINE: Much like the rest of you.

I hope I convinced a few people not to vote in this silly referendum. Why change a perfectly good system?

PER: To make it more democratic.

GOOD TIME: To make it more collaborative and responsive to voters.

NOWCA: To make it easier to address climate change and to get big money out of politics.

MR. PIPELINE: Let's face it. People are pretty stupid, and all these options are too much for them to handle. And they wouldn't know what to do with the extra power they'd gain through pro rep.

PER: It's not people who are stupid Mr. Pipeline, it's this crazy system that has something wrong with it. A lot of ordinary people are doing everything they can to make the world a more caring and liveable place.

NOWCA, Good Time, Mr. Pipeline and Ron in front of the credit union 
in Nelson - photo courtesy of Ann Remnant

GOOD TIME: The voting system is a good example of that, Mr. Pipeline. How can people make good choices when a system forces them to vote strategically?

And how can politicians make good choices when the voting system forces them into adversarial roles?

With proportional representation, we'll all have a much better time. We'll have a system that helps our representatives to collaborate, and our votes will mean something.

NOWCA: And frankly, Mr. Pipeline, I'm so sick of oil and gas companies treating our province like garbage. Fracking is poisoning our water, air and land -- even wilderness and agricultural land. Fish farms are killing our wild salmon and the life that depends upon them. Our province is investing in destructive industries at the expense of future generations. What are we leaving them? Don't we have a responsibility to leave them a liveable future?

MR. PIPELINE: NOWCA, you're so emotional! You and other environmentalists don't understand that what you aspire to impacts our profits! And what about the workers in the fracking industry and the fish farms who'll be out of work if you get your way?

NOWCA: Mr. Pipeline, workers can and should be retrained to work in industries that are cleaner and that have a future. Fossil fuel industries are laying people off -- they're being phased out. It's time for a meaningful transition plan.

And as far as emotions go, we all have them. What kinds of emotions do you experience, Mr. Pipeline?

MR. PIPELINE: Why bother with emotions when there's work to be done. I experience as few of them as possible, NOWCA. They're just troublesome.

Per and Bill canvassing across the street from the Hume Hotel 
in Nelson - photo courtesy of Ann Remnant

NOWCA: They may be hard to feel, but they're valuable. They're an important part of life that gives us perspective. Emotions contribute a lot to relationships, values, and art and music appreciation. They are a normal part of life and give us valuable information.

PER: I felt a lot of joy and solidarity with others when we were all canvassing, and like I was doing something to benefit the world we live in. Making one small part of it a bit more fair is a big contribution.

But, Mr. Pipeline and NOWCA, I had to get away from your arguing. Mr. Pipeline, you kept telling people not to vote and, NOWCA, you kept telling people not to listen to him. It was just too stressful for me, so I crossed the street and canvassed on the other corner.

GOOD TIME: I know what you mean, Per. I eventually gave them some distance too. It was fun hanging around with other people. We don't get out much these days and it's nice to see them.

NOWCA: Even though I'm stiff and sore, and even though we argued, and even though there are no guarantees that we'll be successful, I'm glad we went out and helped the people working so hard to get proportional representation in BC. A society's only as healthy as its citizens are engaged, so the more we engage the better.

Sometimes it's messy, sometimes we don't feel like it, often there are differences of opinions but that's the only way we're going to create a better future together. It's a slog, and it's got to be done.

GOOD TIME: And, even though you're right, NOWCA, it's fun to be with others who care. Even if you and Mr. Pipeline were arguing, and even if we're stiff and sore why are we here anyways? I love having a good time, but this kind of fun has an extra element of meaning to it.

PER: I agree, Good Time. Being active is so meaningful right now. The more of us who act, the better our future will be. I hope more people will join us.

MR. PIPELINE: Well, I hope a few people listened to me and didn't get their ballot in.

PER: Maybe they did. I don't agree with you, but I respect your right to have a different opinion. At least you came out.

MR. PIPELINE (sniffing the air): Is that garlic I smell?

PER: Yes it is. I have spaghetti sauce on the stove. Anyone hungry?

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For the moment, as their appetites took over, the puppets forgot about proportional representation. They would enjoy this interlude that would help to fuel their future actions.

image courtesy of Pixabay