In addition to electing a new President yesterday, the American people were also asked to vote on a wide range of issues of social significance.
In Canada these often contentious and divisive issues are decided – or more often ignored – by elected representatives who are are whipped into following their party line on the issue. Personal convictions are usually set aside to accommodate the latest polling numbers or perhaps an influential interest group. When an elected official does stand by his or her convictions they are often politically ostracized or used as partisan fodder in the next election.
We need to ask ourselves if this is the best way to serve the interests of a modern democratic country. Recognizing that many of the issues put to ballot measures are issues that transcend party politics, and are issues of legitimate public debate, I would like to see more of them here in Canada. Not only would it bring democracy closer to the people, it might also elevate the discourse of political debate to where it belongs – ensuring government is addressing the needs and wishes of it’s citizens.
