Why Didn't The Paper Print My Letter?

Dreary November had arrived, and the weather was getting seriously bleak.

But although it was cold and wet outside, NOWCA, Per and Good Time had learned more about proportional representation, and were enthusiastic about the deepening of democracy the system offered.

So as it rained, they wrote letters to the editor, and did some phone canvassing to see if supporters of pro rep had received their ballots and voted already.

image courtesy of Pixabay

Mr. Pipeline, however, didn't share their fervor, and did a lot of stomping around the house these days.

But today Mr. Pipeline was in a better mood. And the excitement of the other puppets was dampened. Let's find out why.

*******

PER: Hey NOWCA, you sent off your letter to the editor about proportional representation last week. Have you seen it in the newspaper yet?

NOWCA: No, and my friends' letters haven't been published either.

GOOD TIME: But I noticed that there have been letters from people who don't like proportional representation in the paper. What do you think's up with that?

NOWCA: I don't know...

PER (opening the paper): It doesn't seem fair that only one side is having their letters to the editor printed. I've been sending friends this link to make it easier for them to get their letters in. Let's see what's in the paper today ... Oh! There's a letter from Mr. Pipeline!

image courtesy of Pixabay

GOOD TIME: Read it to us, Per!

PER: OK. It says, "Regarding the upcoming referendum on proportional representation, people need to be aware that the crazy fringe elements who are out to destroy society will get into power if this goes through. Beware! Scared yet? You should be! Mr. Pipeline"

MR. PIPELINE (strolling into the room): Ah, yes. My letter to the editor was published. Not bad, eh?

NOWCA: But, Mr. Pipeline, you know what you said in your letter isn't true.

MR. PIPELINE: We don't need proportional representation. Things are fine the way they are!

GOOD TIME: But pro rep's better for democracy and it'll make it easier for us to mitigate climate change.

MR. PIPELINE: That may be so, but there are other interests that could suffer under this new system.

PER: Do you mean the interests of those who are able to lobby more effectively under the First Past the Post system, like these people?

MR. PIPELINE: What's more important? The economy or democracy? I'd say the economy, and if the people running the economy don't like proportional representation, we shouldn't have it.

image courtesy of Pixabay

NOWCA: It depends on what kind of an economy and society you want, Mr. Pipeline.

My preference is for a democracy where everyone's voice is heard and an economy geared towards serving the needs of a fair and caring society.

From what I can tell, the people you're referring to are just looking out for themselves, and not for anyone else or the environment.

MR. PIPELINE: So what? Anyone who works hard can become rich. Why waste time and energy on the losers who can't make it?

GOOD TIME: Mr. Pipeline, my friends aren't losers, but some of them are having a really tough time through no fault of their own. That attitude is mean.

MR. PIPELINE: Face reality, Good Time. It's all about dollars and cents, and anything else doesn't matter.

PER: Not even the state of the planet? Not even the future? People created the economy and we can change it, but we only have one planet, and it's in grave danger.

MR. PIPELINE: I pay attention to important things like dollars and cents. I'll leave the state of the planet to the tree huggers and granola crunchers.

NOWCA: You're writing off enormous segment of the population, Mr. Pipeline. I'm sad that people like you are getting media coverage, yet people like us are getting very little.

image courtesy of Pixabay

PER: But we have our networks and friends, and we're working hard to win this one. I think people are smart enough to know fear tactics when they see them.

MR. PIPELINE: Smart? They don't look smart to me. They look like peasants. Why should their voices be heard? They're not contributing.

GOOD TIME: Sure they are! They do all kinds of amazing things!

NOWCA: And in a democracy, everyone's voice matters. Most of the people I know are going to great lengths to keep us from destroying life on our planet, often at considerable personal sacrifice. I want our voices to have more influence in politics, not just the voices of the wealthy.

MR. PIPELINE (getting up and leaving the room): Well, I'll leave you to your networks and I'll stay with the moneyed. We'll see whose system gets to govern this province.

The three remaining puppets looked at each other.

PER: Lets get moving! Phoning, canvassing, talking to friends.

NOWCA: You're right, Per. We've got to use our people power to win this one. We're up against a lot of moneyed interests.

What's the link to that poll that matches your preferred voting system based on your values again? I like to keep it handy when I'm phoning so I can pass it on to others. So many find it helpful.

GOOD TIME: It's referendumguide.ca.

NOWCA: Thanks, Good Time. Let's hit the phones!

image courtesy of Pixabay