Ballot Box

Originally uploaded by Will_Tom.

With a federal election at hand, we see many examples of the importance to vote. We are exhorted by the candidates, media and entertainment personalities and a particularly unimaginative “speak up” government campaign to promote voting. I have not missed an opportunity to exercise my franchise since I attained the age of majority. I will vote again on Monday in my riding of Vancouver Center and for the first time (federally) I will possibly see and election result that runs antithetical to my own beliefs and values. Still I will be grateful for the result.

It is not just for my love of the horse race or a naive belief in vox populi, vox dei that I will be grateful, but rather a knowledge that it is all within the greater realm of what it means to live in a democracy. The conservatives will do what they will but not for long if the public will not keep them. The opinion of many (and myself) may be that Steven Harper’s party wants to serve narrow, scary and religious interests but if this turns out to be wrong and fabricated, we may keep them indeed (cough, ahem). One benfit of a plurality perhaps is the benefit of the doubt. Go on Stevie, show us what yer can do!

Please don’t try to show me parallels in the US system, there is no representation there. The media is a whitewash and the politicians are bought and paid for. What we all know as the sponsorship scandal is entrenched behaviour in Washington and here it brought down a government. Egyptian elections have more to do with public desires than those in the US (imperious voice on loan from the national film board). You try to buy votes in a whipped house where campaign financing rules couldn’t get a candidate from Windsor to Whitehorse on a Jetsgo fare.

So as I clutch my ballot in my hand and drive away thoughts of the second coming of Stockwell (or “that he really deserved that ring”) I will be satisfied in the fact that this too shall pass.