On Voting

Only a few more days to go until Canadians go to the polls and cast their ballot for the candidate of their choice - the one of whichever party best reflects their own interests and will make decisions on their behalf for the next four years. I however will not be among them. There was a time when I did vote, and it was usually for whatever NDP candidate was in my riding. In fact, I even donated money to the federal NDP and once even actively helped out with one candidates election campaign. And I still think that of all the mainstream parties, they're the ones whose election platform most closely matches my own beliefs. But the federal NDP, if history is any indicator, is unlikely to ever obtain power at the national level. In Canada, it's always been the Liberals and (some incarnation of) the conservatives.

It's been said that you only get out of democracy what you put into it. This is true - to a certain extent.

But I think the people who most often say this and similar cliches think voting is the be-all-and-end-all of the democratic process.

A lot of people have become disillusioned with the political system and for good reason

Here in Canada, we've had abysmal voter turn out at both federal and provincial elections in recent years. I think voter turn out in the last federal election was around 60%. This kind of apathy is all too prevalent. But one of my biggest peeves have come from some people who do vote but harshly criticize others who express cynicism and don't see any point in voting at all. These voters often have a self-righteous, holier-than-thou-attitude towards the cynics and will typically say something like "you should be ashamed...soldiers gave their lives in two world wars to protect your right to vote and if everyone had your attitude, we'd be much worse of...blah...blah...blah...." The irony of it is that it's these self-righteous types are often every bit as responsible for the sad state of democracy. They've somehow got it into their heads that all they have to do is show up at a polling station every four years, put a little 'X' on a ballot and think they've done their democratic duty and their job is done...until next election.

First off, yes it is true that Canadian soldiers (as well as those of from American, Britain and Australia and other allies) gave their lives to protect freedom and democracy - and the various rights that go along with it. Voting is certainly among them. But there are other ones which I would argue are equally valuable. Like the right to be free from unreasonable searches and seizures, the right to not talk to nosey busy-body cops and not have to answer their asinine questions. The fact that cops can't come barging into my place any time they feel like it. Because we don't yet live in a police state. I think we're moving closer in that direction though, but that's neither here nor there.

Ghandi once famously said "be the change you want to see in the world". I agree. There are lots of other alternatives for changing the status quo than by going to the ballot box. For me it's grass roots organizations, particularly at the local level, attending rallies and demonstrations and of course using the written and spoken word to persuade others. These are my preferred methods for helping facilitate change.

I harbour no antipathy to those who do vote and think it's important to do so. I have only two things to say to these people - have no illusions and whoever wins on October 21st, I just hope it's not Andrew Scheer. We're totally fucked if it is.