By Armchair Mayor

ROTHENBURGER: Is this any way to decide a referendum?

Nov 14, 2018 | 5:54 AM

KAMLOOPS — THE REFERENDUM on proportion representation is in a shambles.

Cheer leaders for prop rep accuse First Past the Post defenders of fear mongering, and demand to know what the other side is afraid of. The First-Past-The-Post guardians say there’s plenty to be afraid of.

Well, of course we’re afraid, all of us. Let’s all say it one more time — we’re talking about our democracy.

The FPTPers are afraid prop rep will take us into a system of perpetual coalitions and stagnation. The Prop Reppers are afraid this will be the last chance to take a leap of faith into a new way of doing things — three strikes and you’re out and all that.

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This is the sort of decision that should be made based on logic, science, careful contemplation and good intentions. Instead, it’s become a gladiatorial arena, no holds barred, no mercy to the enemy.

Political partisanship should have no role in this journey, but it has become everything.

The prop rep side proclaims its own non-partisanship but targets the Liberals as wanting to maintain the current system for their own political benefit. Those who back the status quo insist prop rep is just a means to get more power for minority parties.

The Liberals, NDP and Greens go at each other hammer and tongs.

The Fair vote group, the champion of PR, more and more relies on accusing the other side of “falsehoods” and of being led by “big money.” Prop rep, insists the No BC Prop Rep group, “enables extremism.” Alarmism abounds.

We’re failing miserably at coming to a decision in a respectful way — this is more like a slug fest among social media trolls than an exchange of ideas among respectful, intelligent people.

And could somebody tell me what’s secret about a secrecy sleeve that doesn’t seal? Even the mailing envelope is so thin you can read the personal information of the sender through it.

We’re really in a mess, here, folks. Voters are turned off.

Is this any way to decide a referendum?

I’m Mel Rothenburger, the Armchair Mayor.

Mel Rothenburger is a former mayor of Kamloops and newspaper editor. He publishes the ArmchairMayor.ca opinion website, and is a director on the Thompson-Nicola Regional District board. He can be reached at mrothenburger@armchairmayor.ca.