Poly-ticks. Sigh. So another election is approaching, and again there will be endless rhetoric about poor voter turnout. There will also be the “if you don’t vote…” guilt trips:
If you don’t vote you don’t get to complain.
If you don’t vote you’re disrespecting the people who gave their lives for our freedom.
If you don’t vote then it’s a vote for the Libs/Con/NDP/New&ImprovedRefoooormParty.
Horseshit, I say. These are not reasons to vote. They are thinly veiled threats to distract you from the valid feeling that there is no one worthy of your vote.
If voting is so damn terrific. then why aren’t the so-called leaders doing more to earn our vote rather than spewing the same half-truths and nonsense as every other election. It’s the members of the political parties who are “disrespecting those who gave their lives” as they don’t show enough integrity to warrant buying an apple from them, let alone be our provincial or federal leaders. Therefore undeserving of your vote.
We should expect more from the candidates if they want our precious X on a ballot. Time to step up!
—None Of The Above [X]
This article appears in Aug 15-21, 2019.
You ask “If voting is so terrific then why aren’t the so-called leaders doing more to earn our vote rather than spewing the same half-truths and nonsense as every other election”. My answer “Because they are human”. They are interacting in an ecosystem of media, and a readiness to oppose, take sides, and armchair quarterback. Not voting isn’t the answer – if you want better – go get to know your candidates, listen enough to hear which is most aligned with your values and then meet with them and tell them what you want – and then vote for them. You still won’t get it all, but you’ll get more than bitching in a column. The system ain’t perfect but it’s what we got, and part of it is you.
I agree Jodi that the electorate should be more engaged with politics to make an informed decision and intelligently vote. However, most people around here aren’t engaged enough to signal their lane changes let alone signal their political leanings or concerns.