Unfair language
While I'm losing PR cred, I would like to state that I don't like the way Fair Vote Canada members are supposed to refer to their preferred voting systems as "Fair Voting". I think the official explanation for using "Fair Voting" instead of "Proportional Representation" is that some possible fair voting schemes are not PR. That seems dubious to me.
Implicitly or explicitly, we are supposed to use the term because it frames the debate. The opposite of "fair" is "unfair", and so we are trying to paint FPTP-defenders as people who support "unfair voting" so they look unreasonable. I understand why we are supposed to play those kinds of language games -- this is politics -- but I don't like it. Two of my core values are humility and respect, and tarring my political opponents with negative language violates both.
Livejournal URL: http://pnijjar.livejournal.com/8480.html
Mood: turmoiling