In addition to my writing/editing duties at Milton Today Magazine I've taken up producing as well. My work as a Producer can mean anything from contacting political candidates, to being in the field with reporters and cameramen. This last Tuesday I was out with a cameraman shooting videos for our debate. We were outside a well-known grocery store, trying to get people to ask a question of Halton's candidates in the federal election. There were people who actually told us they didn't vote and weren't following the election.
I was shocked. But in a way I understood- four federal elections in the last seven years is a bit much. And I can understand the cynicism and the general jaded feelings going around out there; I have at times felt them myself. But being jaded, and cynical are no excuses for not voting. A vote is the most valuable tool we have in a democracy. It can be used to effect change- don't like what Harper's doing about corporate taxes? Here's your chance; vote Liberal. Don't like the Liberal platform? There's always the NDP, or Conservatives. Don't like any of the choices? Spoil your ballot, or register an abstention. It's up to you, it's your choice- all you have to do is make it. You have the choice; and isn't that one of the many selling points of Canada? If you don't vote how can you complain about what's happening afterwards?
Think about what's happening in the middle east. Egypt, Libya, Yemen, and Syria. Around the world they're fighting for the right to vote, and some are dying just so they can vote. And here we are about to vote in the fourth election in seven years- why not be thankful that we have a choice; and that we can take the 15 minutes to go down to our local polling station and mark an X beside the individual of our choice.
Advance Polls opened today, and are open tomorrow and Monday from noon-8pm. Three chances to get out on vote. Or you can get out and vote on election day. I've been pretty obvious about my choice; but what's right for me, probably isn't right for you. All that matters is that you get out and vote.
Friday, April 22, 2011
Sunday, April 17, 2011
We can do better than that
I watched the English Language debate last week, as I'm sure a lot of you did. It didn't really change my vote- I was leaning Conservative before the debate, and I'm still leaning that way. But as I was watching it, I had the overwhelming thought that we can do better.
It was essentially four older men in a room, talking (or in Ignatieff's case sometimes lecturing) to each other. They didn't capture our imaginations with ideas, or catch each other up too much in a lie. And we can do better than that, because the fact is- the vision of four men in a room doesn't reflect Canada anymore; it hasn't for sometime now.
The Canada that I know, is full of dynamic, interesting people with creative ideas for addressing our country's problems. It's full of smart, engaging women who believe they can make a difference. Look for a moment at our riding; the four major parties are represented by women- Liberal Connie Laurin-Bowie, NDP: Pat Heroux, Conservatives- Lisa Raitt, and Green Party's Judi Remigio. The New Democratic Party alone, has 123 female candidates running across the country. And yet Green Party leader Elizabeth May the only female leader who could reflect the increased numbers of women in politics of all stripes wasn't invited to the debate?? How out-of touch was that??
At the same time, Canadians grow tired of the same old way of doing things. We are craving new ideas and a vision for the country. We grow cynical, and jaded as the same lines are trotted out again, and again- "Coalitions bad, majority good," "Harper doesn't care about health care," "Ignatieff isn't back for you," and so, on. We grow tired of the political scandals, and the way it appears that the default is to damage control first, and apologize last. And I'm tired of the negativity- don't tell me what the Harper Conservatives won't do, tell us what Ignatieff Liberals will do. The debate brought home to me that we can do better than the choices we have. We just have to demand it.
It was essentially four older men in a room, talking (or in Ignatieff's case sometimes lecturing) to each other. They didn't capture our imaginations with ideas, or catch each other up too much in a lie. And we can do better than that, because the fact is- the vision of four men in a room doesn't reflect Canada anymore; it hasn't for sometime now.
The Canada that I know, is full of dynamic, interesting people with creative ideas for addressing our country's problems. It's full of smart, engaging women who believe they can make a difference. Look for a moment at our riding; the four major parties are represented by women- Liberal Connie Laurin-Bowie, NDP: Pat Heroux, Conservatives- Lisa Raitt, and Green Party's Judi Remigio. The New Democratic Party alone, has 123 female candidates running across the country. And yet Green Party leader Elizabeth May the only female leader who could reflect the increased numbers of women in politics of all stripes wasn't invited to the debate?? How out-of touch was that??
At the same time, Canadians grow tired of the same old way of doing things. We are craving new ideas and a vision for the country. We grow cynical, and jaded as the same lines are trotted out again, and again- "Coalitions bad, majority good," "Harper doesn't care about health care," "Ignatieff isn't back for you," and so, on. We grow tired of the political scandals, and the way it appears that the default is to damage control first, and apologize last. And I'm tired of the negativity- don't tell me what the Harper Conservatives won't do, tell us what Ignatieff Liberals will do. The debate brought home to me that we can do better than the choices we have. We just have to demand it.
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