Too democratic

by Margret Kopala

Published by The National Post, December 26, 2000.

Thank you for Tom Flanagan's article in today's paper. Throughout the federal election campaign, social conservatives within the Canadian Alliance swore they would not impose their personal views. But since the party was offering processes such as citizen's initiatives, referendum and recall by which those views could be imposed anyway, many voters were understandably concerned about the possibility of a hidden agenda. The obvious answer, as Tom Flanagan suggests, is for the party to forgo its direct democracy proposals.

To further assuage voter doubts, the Canadian Alliance might also reconsider its leadership selection process. Without checks and balances to its system of one-member one-vote, it is vulnerable to take-over by single issue groups.

Margret Kopala
Ottawa

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