You can't blame me for sounding weary.
We had a federal election in 2004. Then, we had another one less than 2 years later in 2006 and yet another one 2.5 years later in October 2008 and now we have one scheduled for Monday, May 2, 2011. It is alot of money spent (on campaigns and the actual election), carbon spent (all the air, bus, car travel) and verbiage (by the politicians and in the media) in a relatively short period of time. As a friend commented earlier today, "I'm tired already of all the election talk." And she is someone who is an actively engaged citizen.
Despite my weariness, I'm going to vote. I always do (well, almost always. I missed the one in 2004 when I was in Ghana).
This commitment (to exercising my token participation in the democratic process) is partially due to my upbringing. My parents always voted and it seemed everyone in our neighbourhood did too. Maybe this was a new immigrant thing (both my parents came to Canada as adults), maybe a union thing (I grew up in a resource town, the Union was important) or maybe they truly believed it was important to participate in the governing of their new home country (or some combination of reasons). Whatever the reason, voting has always been really important. And then I have my own reason. I vote so that I may comment, complain, kvetch, exclaim, analyze, bitch, moan, celebrate and generally participate as fully as I can as a citizen. If I don't vote, I do not give myself permission to engage in any of the for mentioned enjoyable past-times.
Are you wondering why I am writing about the federal election? I created this blog to keep in touch with friends and family when I am travelling or engaging in adventures at home. So, why write about the election? There is no travel involved (at least for me) and on the face of it, it doesn't seem like an adventure.
Ever since it became clear that an election would be called, I have been pondering how I can get involved and how can I help others become involved. During the last election, fewer than 60% of registered voters participated. This is the lowest participation since Canada was created (http://www.elections.ca/content.aspx?section=ele&dir=turn&document=index&lang=e) Participation is important to me and if Canadians are not participating, even in the token marking of a ballot, what does this say about the process? Or our collective future? Writing about the federal election is one of the ways I will get involved.
Full disclosure: I am not a fan of the recently dissolved government. Even though they have governed with a minority, they have changed Canada in so many different ways that I do not recognize my country. Canada is not perfect (and will never be) but this government has infused the essence of Canada with some of the arrogant, anti-intelligence and pro-populist bombastic meanness that it daily demonstrates as a Party. This is not the country I want for the generations to come. This is not the country I want to grow old in. I deserve better and so do all Canadians.
I took the Vote Compass at CBC.ca (http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/canadavotes2011/votecompass/) and was surprised to find that I am (based on my answers to the questions online) aligned most closely with the Green Party. I am surprised because I have never thought to vote Green. Now, before all my friends in sustainability desert me, I have to explain that my federal and provincial representatives are so exemplary that I do not give much thought as to which party they represent. I vote for them because they have done a great job over the years and maybe this is part of the problem. If I do this, how many other Canadians vote for their representative because s/he has done a good job or seems like a nice person without any real thought to what they believe or stand for?
But maybe that is why we keep creating a government that doesn't serve our best hopes and dreams.
I suggest we have a real responsibility to consider the other representatives because what their parties stand for, what their policy positions are will change our lives and will inevitably shape the future we create.
Do you believe in a Canada of peacekeepers or warriors?
Do you believe in a Canada with a universal health care system or a Canada where your net worth determines the health care you receive?
Do you believe in a Canada that demonstrates leadership on the world stage or a Canada that blindly follow its allies?
Do you believe in a Canada where we utilize the best knowledge and experience available to make policy decisions?
By considering the alternatives I am not suggestion that you MUST vote differently. I am only asking that you take some time to consider the impact of your decision in the longer term.
For example:
I vote for my 'nice' representative but her party does not believe in taxing carbon. I vote for my 'effective' representative but his party does not believe that the tar sands are an environmental nightmare. I vote for my 'experienced' representative but her party believes in more private health care. At what point do I stop caring about how 'nice', 'effective' and 'experienced' my representative is and start caring about creating a Canada that I want to live in?
Enough ranting for the afternoon.
I ask you to take the quiz and find out where you fall in the quadrants and which party is most closely aligned with you. If you don't want to take the quiz, each party has posted their policy positions on their websites. Take a look and consider the policy positions of the different parties. And at some point before May 2, 2011 answer the following question for yourself:
Which party can help us create the Canada we want to live in today and leave behind for the seven generations to come?
With love and hope,
Thanks for listening.
