Despite my prior intense interest in Canadian politics and in particular the 2006 election, I have decided to cease writing updates and opinion pieces for this site [northernpundit.com]. The reason is simple - I feel this election, as well as Canadian politics is nothing more than a circus of fools.
This election has proven to me what I have suspected (and not wanted to believe) for some time - Canadian ‘politics’ no longer consists of parties with platforms based upon leaders lobbying for what they believe in. Politics has become a scramble for votes - a disheartening and frantic attempt to appeal to as many voters as possible by promising anything and everything. We are presented with a set of parties who will promise whatever they feel the majority of the populous wants to get and stay in power.
That appears to be the only concrete truth and basis of politics in our current society - do whatever it takes to get and retain power.
Instead of leaders defending party choices and stances, we now witness an about-face of a challenged viewpoint to appease the populous. Attempts are made daily to discourage support of the opposing candidate with an expose of mistakes made in the past. These mistakes get repeated over and over, in a twisted and sad attempt to ultimately convince as many people as possible that a contrary vote will be helping criminal and a degenerate do more wrong to our country.
We are in trouble and none of the parties that have a shot at winning appear poised to fix the problems. This leaves me feeling discouraged and unwilling to choose any of the candidates presented to me in my district - and it appears I am not alone. Elections Canada’s report on the 2000 election states that nineteen percent of non-voters claimed they did not vote due to some sort of distaste for the parties or candidates running. I will be curiously awaiting the results from this election when they are published in a couple of years - I propose the above mentioned reason will rank much higher.
So what is the solution? What is supposed to happen in a democracy when there are no acceptable candidates? Who is to blame? I am unsure of the answers to these questions, being a chemist and computer geek - not a political scientist. I suppose the answer is that we are all to blame, and someone fresh and new to must run as a candidate in an attempt to alter this political stalemate we are in. But is that not what every candidate running in this election is promising us? Besides, who would be the just and pure hearted soul to selflessly tackle the problem? It certainly will not be this humble writer.
What I will be doing, however, is heading to the polls on January 23rd, and my action and protest will consist of spoiling my ballot. Perhaps this small gesture will help me, if no-one else, feel that I have done something more than sit and complain.
JJS
Jan 13, 2006
Cudos on a great write up……..your feelings are more on target than you know………of all the folks I have talked to about this farce of an election, not one and I mean one person feels that any politician out there gives a crap about the working poor of Canada………all in it for one thing….power which of course leads to access to the public purse..(reward for campaigning in cold weather).
What politicians do “may” be legal but it sure ain’t “MORAL!”
Comment by Fear and Loathing in Canada — January 17, 2006 @ 4:42 pm
My classmates at Simon Fraser university and I understand the conundrum that you find yourself in. Recent studies have shown that only 25% of eligible, young Canadians voted in the recent election and we suspect that it is for much the same reasons that you purport.
In an attempt to breathe new life back into the Canadian political process we have created a campaign, using blogs and a website, to get people educated and excited. Its not quite finished yet but people can post onto the blog, which will be updated frequently, and posted on by various MP’s and community leaders. The URL is: www.cmns425.blogspot.com
We feel your pain and disgust with the current system but refuse to give up hope for the future. We are the future, I suppose.
Comment by Andrew — March 31, 2006 @ 9:36 pm
Prime Minister Steven Harper’s decision to go along with amendments to the NORAD agreement without the agreement being debated in the House of Commons is tyrannical in nature and not the least bit democratic.
Only one aspect of the Canadian Democratic Process is truly democratic and that is the electing of MPs, MLAs, and Civic Counsellors. The decisions, laws and policies made by the federal, provincial and municipal governments are oligarchic in nature.
If we lived in a true democracy, everyone in Canada whether of voting age or not, would be asked for their views on every issue going through the different levels of government.
Should we want our governments to be held accountable and responsible for what they decide to do, then we must make it known that we want to partake in a democracy, in every sense of the word and make our
voices heard.
Brendan Terrick
I realise that I want the ideal democracy working in Canada. Most politicans and political science professors say that it is not a system that would work and we risk having the ‘mob mentality’ rule. Then tell me why the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms is for? Would that keep mob mentality in check. It is our country and if the current system isn’t working can we not try a different system. I think that is what freedom of choice is all about.
Comment by Brendan Terrick — May 19, 2006 @ 7:53 pm