Editor:
Re: “Democracy on the ropes” by Anita Paulin, Letters, Sept. 9.
Amazing how differently a meeting can be perceived. I, for instance, found the one hosted by our MP at the Sechelt Band Hall went pretty well and found her modest demeanour and natural way of speaking refreshing and to the point.
This meeting on electoral reform that disappointed Anita Paulin so deeply I saw as a working session, part of a long process intended to inform and to receive input from citizens willing and able to participate. In that respect the “academic” input worked for me. Having participants divide off into groups of around eight people also worked for the one I was part of. In ours, the question of whether voting reform proposals should go to referendum drew little comment. At this stage, personally, I think it’s a side issue and certainly not worth derailing or disparaging the whole process for.
John Marian, Halfmoon Bay
