Hi Everyone,

Some people don't vote because they (in some cases, rightly so) believe that their vote won't make a difference. Have you ever felt like you're just voting between the better of two evils? Well, all that is about to change -- or can change -- with your help.

Proportional Representation is a very important, significant, and historic issue which can alter the course of government. For Ontario, voters will be voting in the first referendum since 1924 (a referendum is a rare and valuable chance for people, rather than the politicians, to vote on a vital question). For everyone around the world, this question of "proportional representation" is important to learn about.

The way we interact, the way people network, and our influence in our communities, has dramatically changed over history. For example, Ontario developed its current system in 1792 where people lived in farms and very small communities. They would elect someone from their area, and send him off on his horse to represent their interests in the parliament. In other words, not everyone could take part in politics (vote on every single issue), so we had representation based on people in "neighborhoods" who would elect a "representative." It was the best democracy eighteenth century technology could create!

Today, geographic "neighborhoods" are not an indication of social or professional networks. Do you know all of your neighbors as friends? We don't need as much "local representation" when we are more likely to contact our representatives by phone or e-mail anyway. What we want are people who actually represent our beliefs and our causes. It's much better for us to have a representative who we can agree with, than someone we can ride out on our horse to speak with.

In other words, we may not necessarily know people on our street, but we know, interact, represent and influence people in schools, companies, and organizations, that may be far away from the "neighborhoods" in which we live. Now, the vote an individual makes has only impact on their "neighborhood" representation, whereas their daily dealings, through automotive and communication technologies, are far wider based.

Here's a personal example. I've created the Party for People with Special Needs. I know lots of people in many cities across my province. With our current system of "neighborhood representation", that makes no difference. I need to know a critical mass of people in my "neighborhood" (riding), to get elected into an office, regardless of who else I know and represent.

Proportional Representation is a system whereby representatives can be voted into office with a percentage vote from anybody across the province/state. With this system, smaller parties have a fair chance of gaining power, and it becomes much more possible for someone like me to get elected.

And, with this new system, I become a better "representative." It's not just one-directional marketing of campaign promises, it's actually having a listening to a growing community of people who have access to me; to voice their concerns, their desires, and their visions. That is true representation.

Proportional Representation makes sense. Why haven't you heard about it? It's a system that causes those who have lots of power right now, to not have as much power in the future. No campaign issue, no matter what the issue, is as important as talking about changing the basic system itself! So why doesn't the media cover that (at least as much as it covers campaign issues)?

It's up to us. It's up to individuals who understand this to explain it to others. And that is why I am taking the time to write to you about this.

No matter what country you live in, proportional representation is an important understanding to have about government. And if you live in Ontario, I urge you to vote YES for Mixed Member Proportional (MMP is a combination of our old geographic-representation and proportional representation) on Wednesday, October 10.

This combination of the two systems is the best democracy 2007 technology can create. Countries like Germany, Hungary, Italy, and New Zealand are already using proportional representation. And all members of the European Parliament are elected via proportional representation. Give your vote the voting power of today's world.

Love,
[)anish /|hmed
have fun creating your life!

P.S. You have the individual power to make a change in our political structure, with the forwarding of this e-mail. This is your chance to make a significant difference in your world that will be a milestone in history.