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When I was young, I was a conscious non-voter. During election season my parents always spoke about the importance of voting and how “This is our chance! This is our voice!” I looked forward to the day when my voice would be heard but when that day came I felt that my voice was not my vote. My voice was protesting. My voice was zines about anarchy, songs about revolution. My voice was refusing to take part in the system I abhorred.
As an anarchist, there were no political parties that represented my political beliefs—especially seeing how my political beliefs included the idea that people did not need to be governed.
Over the years, while my political opinions have changed very little, my views on voting drastically have.
After giving birth to my first child and realizing what it is to be a low-income family—what it is to exist in a cycle of poverty and to look into the future with fear—I came to realize that, while refusing to take part in this system is fantastic, it’s not always a viable option. In fact, it’s seldom a viable option.
To be completely blunt, if you find yourself taking the stance of “I am not a part of this system, this does not affect me,” it’s because you are privileged. If you hear yourself say “None of these parties represent me and my beliefs so I am opting out,” while I’m sure that’s true, it’s still because you are privileged.
It’s because when Harper came into power and cut all funding to outreach programs for indigenous youth, you were not an indigenous youth so it did not affect you.
It’s because after several years of refusing Syrian refugees, as Harper agrees to accept a meagre 2,500 a year for four years (with a major military agenda) you are not seeking refuge in Canada and fleeing civil war. You will not be turned away and denied safety. It does not affect you.
It’s because when cuts are made to pensions and assistance programs and outreach programs, you are not relying on those programs to survive. It does not affect you.
While you yourself may be so privileged that the Conservative government does not change your life in any way (with the exception of your ability to post informative anti-Harper propaganda on social media), please consider that there are so many people whose quality of living is greatly affected by which government is in power.
I hear you when you say that politicians are all the same, but unless you can say—and truly believe—that the NDP or the Green Party are AS bad as the Conservatives, why not consider voting Harper out? Why not consider that it is your privilege allowing you to bow out?
For those of you who don’t vote out of apathy, consider that if everyone who said “My one vote doesn’t make a difference” went out and voted, it would make a hell of a difference. A thousand whispers will sound like a shout.
Maybe my vote isn’t my voice, but it’s one of my voices and I plan to use it.
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This article appears in Sep 17-23, 2015.
Very well put – your point has been made very clearly – I hope it reaches many! Thank you for re-thinking your stand! I hope you convince everyone!
Isn’t it sad that it took having a child to go from “Yeah! Punk rock! Fuck you!” to “Wow, real life is actually serious and hard”.
Isn’t it wonderful that the miracle of birth opened this gals eyes to the realities and responsibilities of life, both serious and joyful! She gained so much insight! Very Proud of you young lady!
Yes! I have never really understood the position of conscious non-voters. As long as you live within the system in any way – access health services, pay taxes, have paid employment, receive student loans, etc. – you are PART of the system. You are taking part in it, whether you ideologically “refuse” to or not. You have to deal with the fallout of whatever party gets in, so it’s still in your best interest to have a say in that.
Well said! <3
Well-said, Jess! It’s great when people can change their opinions, admit it and still be true to themselves. Great to have you as a participating citizen with your honest perspective.
As an anarchist who does not think people should be governed, it is surprising that you expect the government to tax some people to pay for ‘outreach programs’, pensions and assistance programs.
Do not complain if you did not vote!
You’re missing the missing the mark with the privilege stuff. People generally don’t bow out because they believe every issue doesn’t impact them, or that every political outcome is uniformly bad, but because they recognize the incentives that the system has given them make it pointless to take part. Unfortunately it’s almost always the case that your vote makes zero difference toward the final result.
For example: I live in a solidly Liberal riding. Suppose I go out and vote for the Marxist-Leninist candidate in the advance poll. The Liberal guy will still win, and I will still be just as privileged as if I’d stayed home and watched TV. I may have assuaged my conscience a bit, but I won’t have done a damn thing for Syrians or the poor in Canada, or anything really.
Oh, and Elections Canada would send like $3 of tax money to the ML party, for what that’s worth.
In times past, I have gone door knocking on behalf of candidates and was appalled at how many housewives would say “I don’t vote, don’t bother with politics, it doesn’t affect me” to which I would reply ” do you have children (yes) “do they go to school?” (Of course!) “have you ever used a hospital or drive on roads?” (Exasperated (well of course! We have 2 cars! My kids were born in a hospital!”) “do you get child benefits or E.I. Or pensions?” (More exasperated: “well naturally! My dad gets old age pension! My husband was on E.I!”) well then, dear lady, politics does affect you!” ……..Er, well I never really thought of it that way!
Great advice. I was not going to vote but you’ve changed my mind, now I’ll vote for Harper.
The negative comments on here are typical….they can’t see past their noses to the fact that she changed! her outlook! and her position!…..To…voting does make a difference and that is the only voice we have to change things…..Oh and demonstrating might get one in Prison, if Harpo is elected, as he doesn’t like anyone with a dissenting voice…..I guess that is why he has tried fraud, at election time to control, more of the voters!
I will vote for any colour party who offers to implement the citizen’s right to legislate by “initiative and Referendum”. If no one offers this change in the system. I will spoil my vote.
I shall vote for Harper! Thank you for getting me off of my priviliged ass and making a difference in politics.
This is great–thanks so much.
Given that government as a whole is not responsible for our privilege. Privilege survives despite government and is a product of those you associate with.
After observing how the Canadian government doesn’t work for 40 years I’ve come to the conclusion that we can do much much better than the crappy representative democracy we have today.
It’s time we allow ourselves to chose who we give our money too. Volunteerism is absolutely without question the only way to assure accountability in our leaders.
This system of government is not what I want to give to my children. It is immoral and destructive to the world and environment.
When you factor in FPTP, you can’t even count on the fact that SOME political engagement is better than none. If you support the Green party (for example) you may end up drawing more votes away from a larger left party, allowing the right to win despite popular opposition. And yet falling in line with some large lesser-of-two-evils party is another trap. Before you know it, people are demanding you support some a-hole Democrat warmonger to stop an a-hole Republican warmonger.
I’m not even saying you should NEVER vote. If you have a clear choice and a decent shot at making a difference on some important issue, fine. It’s just that, you often are not offered those, so voting becomes mostly a distraction from other more effective ways of creating change. An anarchist might wonder why, if elections are so vital to achieving her goals, the state keeps reminding us to go participate in them. Like Emma Goldman supposedly said: if voting changed anything, they’d make it illegal.
To all of you who say the system is broken, I agree. However I’ve never seen anyone complaining solve any problem, so don’t state the obvious and try to come up with a solution.
Thanks for your article. I agree that Harperman needs to go. The longterm consequences of tax cuts and government downsizing for the healthcare system and our education system are truly frightening. Sing it, Blue Rodeo, Stealing All My Dreams.
Yes Yes Yes! VOTE and make A DIFFERENCE* Interestingly this website advised me to vote Green Party for the following reason: “This is a solidly Conservative riding; strategic voting will not make any difference. Voting Green will help keep the Greens share of the popular vote close to their actual numbers and would allow Green supporters to vote in swing ridings for the Liberals or the NDP.” http://www.strategicvoting.ca/index.html
I have worked for 4 politicians in Waterloo and Kitchener, Ontario..
1. our fantastic NDP MPP Catherine Fife
2. a Green-turned-Liberal Cathy MacLellan
3. a Green-turned-Liberal Tony Maas
4. our NDP MP candidate, Diane Freeman
All of them are honest, hard-working, capable, and willing to give up a considerable amount of their lives to govern Canada according to their principles … politicians are NOT all alike … here are 4 I have been proud to work for and serve …
For crying out loud … stop with this … “I’m not going to vote because they’re all alike” … it’s a cop-out … get informed … then VOTE!!!
One of these days people will see what voting is all about 😉