Friday, June 16, 2006

Protect Incombents Or Not??

This article is interesting because it goes to the heart of democracy.

One argument is that MPs in a minority government are busy enough without having to fend off rivals in their ridings who have the luxury of time to organize a nomination challenge.

"I've always believed personally that duly elected MPs should be protected from challenges," said Nova Scotia MP Gerald Keddy. "The reason behind that is because it allows us to do our job in Ottawa.

"We already went through a nomination process, chosen by our electorate to represent them, and it's very disconcerting and distracting to have to do your job here...and to have to worry about what's going on in the riding."

Saskatchewan colleague Gerry Ritz, who said he isn't concerned about his own seat, said he has some sympathy for the protection argument. There have been many cases of contenders enrolling thousands of "instant" party members - sometimes from ethnic communities - to scoop a nomination.


Well, I was at an annual board meeting of a charity, where the president got totally hi-jacked by a swarm of new members who elected a new president.

There was nothing democratic about that election. It was a total misuse of the democratic process.

If you want to challenge for a position, you should have to relay that intention at least 3 months in advance. Then it becomes a fair fight.

Hundreds of before unregistered people just showing up at the meeting is showing a total lack of respect for democracy.

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