While most British Columbians understandably want to improve our current system, the truth is that we're being asked to take a leap of faith. To play down the risks of such radical change, advocates say we should look at Ireland's experience. Unlike B.C., however, Ireland is a small island, its population is very homogenous and it has had one dominant party throughout its history.

A better comparison was offered last Saturday by the editorial writer who analysed STV for The Vancouver Sun (which endorsed the system): "Much as we are seeing in Ottawa now with Prime Minister Paul Martin's Liberal minority government, the governing party will have to achieve majority support across party lines on an issue-by-issue basis."

In effect, then, British Columbians are being asked next Tuesday to adopt the Irish voting system and U.S.-style government.

Frankly, like most Canadians, I'm appalled by the shenanigans in Ottawa, and find it hard to believe that anyone would want to replicate that chaos and instability in Victoria.

It's worth remembering that neither Ireland nor the U.S. is a member of our family of nations, the Commonwealth. Indeed, in gaining their independence, both rebelled against the British, from whom we derive our political institutions and traditions.

It's been said that the Americans designed their Congressional system to prevent governments from governing. Our parliamentary system, on the other hand, depends on the government retaining the confidence of a majority of MPs.

It's tempting to blame the party leaders for the name-calling and poisonous atmosphere that prevails in Ottawa today. However, not long ago, Prime Minister Paul Martin, now being described as an unprincipled ditherer, was known as the decisive finance minister who slew the deficit. In the mid-1990s, with Canada facing a fiscal crisis, Martin was able to take bold action that kept the International Monetary Fund from stepping in.

Today, it's our American neighbours who are beset by record trillion-dollar budget deficits, but they're unable to halt pork-barrelling, a favourite Congressional sport.

Today in Ottawa, Martin is unsure he'll be able to pass his budget, even with the support of the New Democrats, yet he does not want to call an election to break the deadlock.

In this situation, unprecedented in Canadian history, the loonie is sinking, as analysts confess to being unable to count the additional billions in government spending. Some say the Liberals have recently authorized $19 billion, others say it's closer to $23 billion.

All analysts agree that the recent binge exceeds all new spending in February's budget. Even the premier of wealthy Ontario has been supping at Ottawa's open buffet -- to the tune of nearly $6 billion.

The NDP, which obtained only 15 per cent of the vote in the last election, is wielding a huge amount of power. One can imagine scenarios in which even smaller parties have that kind of clout: In Ireland, a party with less than five per cent of the seats holds the balance of power.

If STV were adopted in B.C., the province could become ungovernable. We'd have fragmentation on the left and the right, and ethnic groups -- famous today for mass membership sign-ups -- would likely form their own parties.

In their long political careers, former premiers Bill Bennett and Dave Barrett never agreed on anything. Yet, neither believes STV would be good for B.C.

It's been said that politicians dislike STV, but neither Bennett nor Barrett is likely to be contemplating a comeback. In their prime, with stable governments, one gave us ICBC, the other put Vancouver (and maintained Whistler) on the international map. As "elders," they're now giving us the wisdom of their experience.

Based on their recommendation, I'll be voting No. And I'll be hoping that, under the government we elect -- or its successor -- we'll have an opportunity to consider more sensible reform proposals in future.