[Sosfbay-discuss] Canada GP success

[Gerry Gras]

In the Nation Magazine, 10/6/2000 edition,
page 5, "Noted." section, by John Nichols:



O CANADA! Something remarkable
happened in Canada on September 10,
and it offers an example of what ought to
be possible in the United States.  Canada's
television networks decided to exclude the
leader of the country's Green Party from
nationally televised debates between the
major party candidates competing in the
country's October 14 election.  Though the
Greens hold only one seat in Parliament,
the party - like its US equivalent - is highly
organized, has won many local offices and
is competing in a sufficient number of
constituencies to form a government.  Green
leader Elizabeth May launched a national
campaign urging Canadians to "reclaim
democracy" by demanding a place in the
debates.  Canadians responded, dispatching
e-mails, letters and phone calls to the
networks and the major-party leaders.
Former Canadian Prime Minister Joe Clark,
who governed as a Progressive Conserva-
tive, joined the crusade, declaring, "The
immediate question about Canada's election
is not who will win but how open and
inclusive the campaign will be.  Elections can
confirm bad practices or change them.  Ours
need changing."  The day Clark spoke up,
the networks and the major parties backed
down, allowing May in.

       We need a similar outcry in the United
States.  Excluding the Green nominee Cynthia
McKinney, Libertarian Bob Barr, independ-
ent Ralph Nader and their running mates -
all of whom will be on enough ballots
to conceivably, if not realistically, win the
presidency - is not just undemocratic; it
will narrow the quality of the discourse
in the upcoming presidential and vice
presidential debates.  Canada will have
multiparty debates this fall.  The United
States should as well.

                                John Nichols