The basic funding system for parties has always been by private donation and the wishes of the really big donors simply had to take preference over those of the average donor, else the big sums would dry up and the party be unable to function.
Under this pernicious system all government debts have doubled again and again under massive, un-payable and therefore borrowed interest. Short of outright cancellation they cannot now be eliminated without economic collapse, even after 10 years of record low interest rates.
Shamefully all parties have willingly colluded in this purchase of policy until now, as Chretien’s decades-old bill to limit donations was constructed full of well-used holes and its effect was minimal; but at last credit is now due to the BC NDP for taking a modest step to limit the iniquity. Policy preferences, including the electoral system, have been bought by big money since day one.
Russ Vinden
Errington