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• Wednesday, January 25, 2006 01:27 PM

  conservative win

  The Conservative's win is very disturbing, but it's more important to note that about 64% of Canadians voted for parties to the left of the Conservatives (thereby adding considerable impetus to the idea that we need a reform of our electoral system so that if better reflects democratic preferences). And there is something to the argument that if the Conservatives could manage no better than a minority while the Liberals were busy self-destructing then they won't do any better in the future. However, things may not be quite that simple. If the Conservatives can keep themselves looking moderate and convince just enough people that they are not the crazy, right-wing fanatics that many of us suspect them to be, then they might win a majority next time out. After all, with our crazy electoral system, 39% of the popular vote can put a party into majority territory, and the Conservatives are only 3% off of that now. If they ever do get a majority, they would do irreparable damage to the country, though it's doubtful they would last more than one term if they pursued a really fanatical, American-style agenda. Maybe power will have a moderating effect - but here, we can look at the US, where the first term of the Bush presidency was supposed to be moderated by the fact that Bush lost the popular vote. That never happened, even before Sept. 11, and it's disturbing to think where Harper would take the country if he did not have to worry about immediately losing power. Indeed, he can still do great damage just as Prime Minister; there is a lot a PM can do that does not require going to Parliament. Finally, as a former Albertan, let me say how embarrassing I often find my former province. However, we must remember that even in Alberta, 35% of the population voted against the Conservatives - again, the electoral sytem just doesn't reflect this.

  Sincerely,

  Shaun Narine

  —shaunnarine Read shaunnarine's other letters
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