[Marxism] some things that are wrong with Proportional Representation

[Brian Shannon <Brian_Shannon@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

The following are comments from the New York Times in the campaign to
end Proportional Representation in the New York City Council. It was
defeated in 1947.

Some are from NY Times editorials, others from articles, others from
liberal and right-wing opponents. As you can see they get more
demagogic towards the end. The final quote is from a leader of
Tammany Hall after PR was defeated. Defenders of PR included some
members of the Republican Party, the Liberal Party and the American
Labor Party, all of whom benefitted from PR.

This 1947 anti-Communist campaign to end Proportional Representation
in New York City was two years before Joseph McCarthy began his anti-
Communist career in February 1950.

In 1969, I was the Socialist Workers Party campaign director when
Paul Boutelle ran for Mayor of New York City. During the campaign,
there was also a petition campaign to restore PR. It failed to gather
enough signatures. I don't recall any mention of it in the SWP.
Rasheed Storey was the Communist Party Mayoral candidate. Even if his
campaign or newspaper mentioned it, it was probably only in passing.
I doubt if anyone on the Left in those days gave it a second thought.

Brian Shannon

__________________

a dangerous lottery

doctrinaire mathematical justice

breakdown of democracy through lack of stable majority

voters couldn't fully understand it

makes parliamentary government unworkable

degrading to the candidates

wont draw high type of business executive

open public disgrace

built on racial and religious differences

ultra-democratic

not a safe majority

"bullet" voting

emphasizes areas of disagreement

questionable loyalty of those elected

Communist pet system of voting

political importation from the Kremlin

removes council members from direct contact with voters

beachhead of Communist infiltration

produces confusion, ridicule, and dissension

voters are tired of being misrepresented by Communists

threat to the two-party system

disproportionate representation

time has come to return to American methods

confused un-American method

opposes PR as Communist arm

a man's neighbor knows him best

creates a union of minorities incompatible with each other

fosters growth of splinter parties

gives an official sounding board for views of a meager fraction

neighborhood is no longer represented

whole large sections have no spokesman

the Communists like it, the fascists like it, do you like it?

does away with tamper-proof voting machines

ballots had to be thrown out

get rid of un-American views [by] getting rid of PR

ineffective debating society

interferes with two-party system on which our Government is based

Communism's favorite weapon

aided anti-democratic forces to win legislative power

device created a sounding board for utterances
     viciously contrary to basic American thinking

against the cornerstone of our political system

against majority rule, as American as Plymouth Rock

legislative representation to every crackpot philosophy

responsible for rise of Hitler and Mussolini's march to power

opposed to the ideals of our American democracy

under PR, there is no way to get Communists out of office

iniquitous

strikes at the time-honored two-party system

exploitation and bullet-voting by disciplined minorities

iniquities, inequities and inanities

rise up in righteous wrath and carry forward the fight against Communism

PR means public ruin!

fantastically dishonest ballot tabulation

will of the majority must prevail

American tradition of recall is flouted

strong measures needed to end the Communist menace

repeal of PR is a major setback for the subversive elements in the
   city, state and nation, a victory for democracy and Americanism





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