Damn.
Although we knew that support for the Mixed Member Proportional referendum had dropped sharply in the last few weeks, it was still a disappointment to see the vote crash and burn.
The most disappointing part, for me, is that so many voters are misinformed about MMP, and voted against it based on lies and myths. Over and over, I heard and read the same old falsehoods: fringe parties with little public support will suddenly have power, there will be appointed (unelected) MPs, we'll only have minority governments. False, false, false. Yet these assumptions were allowed to stand, because so many people's interests are entrenched in the status quo.
A fourth complaint, although technically true, was in my opinion just downright stupid: there will be more MP salaries to pay. That's the kind of statement that makes Allan and I look at each other and say: "cheap Canadians".* It's a running refrain. We're half-joking. Half not.
I'm glad to see that fool John Tory lost his riding, glad to see the NDP picked up more seats. I hope Ontarians who voted for the Progressive Conservatives realize they'd be happier this morning if we had proportional representation. Dalton McGuinty's Liberals won a "majority" - with 42% of the vote.
I don't know what the chances of trying again are. Slim? None?
* It's an observation, not an insult, about an apparent cultural value.
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