Re: proportional ballot

Much thanks to Andy for taking the time and effort to lay out his thinking on what is to become our new, and far more democratic, system of voting in federal elections.  I don't agree with his particular choice (It would be my second choice, I say, grinning ear to ear.) but change is vital and now, thankfully, inevitable.  I will be happy with anything except FPTP.
 
My concern is with proportional representation (PR) and/or whatever the NDP is suggesting.  If I have this correct, it empowers people to parliament who were not elected in my riding.  They are people selected from a pool of candidates who do not represent anyone.  That, after all,  seems to be the big issue with the selection of senators.  The critics say they don't represent anyone.   It's true, PR does fill in the biggest gaps that FPTP leaves behind but who are these people anyway?
 
On the other hand, I don't understand the issues people have with respect to the preferential ballot.  The name itself says all we need to know.  Who do you prefer?  Who would be your second choice?  Your third?  Even a school kid can see that he or she is far better off if someone who represents them carries with them all of their 1st choice votes and at least some of the second choice votes of others.  No voter is left behind.  Unheard.  All Members of Parliament would enjoy over 50% of the votes of their own constituents.  None would sit with 35% of the votes - or even less.  No one would be selected from a pool of virtual unknowns. 
 
Critics say stuff like "Oh, the math is to complex.  People won't understand."  My god!  Find another argument please.  People are not fools.  People make 10 thousand preferential choices every day of their lives.  Do I turn left - or right?  Do I go now - or later?  Do I buy this - or that?  Cake or pie?  They would go crazy if they couldn't.  In fact, no one can live if they aren't allowed 'preferential selection's. 
 
Never-the less, we have to change.  Now.   And we will eventually use whatever the experts suggest and what numerous community groups come up with.  The selection process will be wide open, well documented, discussed endlessly and voted on by Members of Parliament. These are the current representatives who speak for us and who ran in an election during which election reform was also, wide open, well documented and discussed endlessly.  No hidden agenda here.  No sneaky little paragraph in a massive, 400 page budget bill.  That's not how government works.
 
Just get it done J.T. and thanks for acting on this.  It's long, long overdue.

David Winter