GP Radio: July 31
The Electoral Reform Edition
Whenever we talk about elections, we seem to focus on what candidate or what party we plan on voting for. Perhaps because of this, we tend to forget the electoral system that shapes our choices. In the United States, the choice is usually between the Republicans and Democrats and in Canada, the choice is between Conservative, Liberals and the NDP. However, a move is afoot in Canada and the United States to change the system to allow us a more flexible choice on the ballot.
Jim Harris and the Yes Referendum in Ontario, Canada
Jim Harris is the former Leader of the Green Party of Canada and recent inductee to the board of directors for Fair Vote Canada. He believes that there is a historic opportunity to move to a system of Mixed Member Proportional Representation. If it passes, it will inevitably lead to having Green Party members elected to the legislature.
We talk about what it will take to win this historical vote, how it might be accomplished, and what kind of opposition the ‘Yes’ side is likely to encounter in the next few months.
If you’re interested in getting involved in this campaign, you can contact Jim at jim@jimharris.ca. You can also visit his blog on the Ontario election by visiting http://greenparty.ca/en/node/1859
Ken Mathenia and the Michegan Third Parties Coalition
Ken Mathenia is the Chair of the Green Party of Michegan and the Green Party Representative for the newly created third party coalition. The coalition is made up of US Taxpayers Party, the Reform Party, the Socialist Party and the Libertarian Party and while they don’t agree on much, what they do agree on is that it is in the interest of democracy for their parties to be granted ballot access and the ability to participate in candidates debates.
August 3rd, 2007 at 2:24 pm
Here are the lyrics to the Good Guys, by Clifford Sholz
The Good Guys / It Can’t Last
Clifford Scholz (October 2000) cmsch@juno.com
some say the world’s going ’round just fine,
we’re all e-connected ’cause we’re all online,
it’s looking like the boom times are never gonna end
but no one knows for certain so we just pretend
let’s hear three cheers for the good guys
and the virtual community your dollar will buy
let’s hear three cheers for the good guys
the rich are getting richer as we digitalize
the key to the future lies in global trade
they get 12 cents an hour for the shoes they made
beaten and fired for a bathroom break
but we gotta keep our profits up and that’s what it takes
let’s hear three cheers for the good guys
and the human degradation that your dollar will buy
let’s hear three cheers for the good guys
the rich are getting richer while the children cry
(instrumental break)
environmental law is a luxury
if you enforce it then you can’t compete
third world nations open up your doors
we’ll take your goods and leave our poison on your shores
let’s hear three cheers for the good guys
and the burning rainforests that your dollar will buy
let’s hear three cheers for the good guys
the rich are getting richer from the hole in the sky
you might think that this means nothing to you
like the lives of the lettuce pickers hidden from your view
or maybe you think golly that’s a shame
we share the benefits we gotta share the blame
let’s hear three cheers for the good guys
and the false prosperity your dollar will buy
let’s hear three cheers for the good guys
the rich are getting richer while the poor just die…
(spoken segue, call for singing)
it can’t last, it can’t last
a new day is comin’ and it’s comin’ fast!
it can’t last, it can’t last
gonna vote for the future, not the same old past!
(Repeat ad lib, with singer speaking word or phrase, perhaps
repeating calls from the audience, before each verse; i.e.:
Corporate welfare! Fossil fuel! Factory Farms! Prison
Industry! Logging Subsidies! etc.)