Out in Left-Centre Field

By now, barring your place of residence being under a rock, you've no doubt heard about the recent threat of a fall election and how it's been averted for the time being. Michael Ignatieff's ego can wait no longer, and he wants to be Prime Minister right now, dammit, while concrete things like actual policies can apparently wait. Meanwhile, Stephen Harper pines for a majority so he can swiftly eviscerate the systems and institutions which he detests and which most Canadians (outside of Alberta) cherish, and Jack Layton and Gilles Duceppe have to decide what to do with themselves -- do they betray their principles and prop up Harper's government, or do they bite the bullet and send the country into a needless election that one of their rivals will likely win?

Who knows? Whichever leader and party emerges the winner in this situation, the outcome isn't going to be decided by the actions in the House of Commons. No, the battle is for the hearts and minds of Canadians, and that means the "winner" in this whole mess will be whoever has the most talented spin doctors and the most favourable media coverage. Will the Conservatives be seen as great economic managers, keeping us safe from the "traitorous" coalition horde? Will the Liberals be rewarded for finally growing a backbone, mysterious as their motives and platform may be? Will the NDP be perceived as having the courage to make Parliament work for Canadians, after blindly opposing the Conservatives for years on end? Will the Bloc still be seen as sticking up for Quebec, or will they suffer for supporting the Conservatives?

Again, who knows? It could go any one of many different ways, and I don't really have the political acumen to predict which one will prevail. It's all about public perception.

But what really struck me was the widespread, vehement protest against a possible election.

Really? We're talking about the most basic, the most simple and powerful of our abilities as the electorate. Are we so spoiled rotten that we can't even appreciate the democratic rights that our ancestors fought so long and hard to achieve? How dare we sit here and complain, while in Afghanistan and around the world, human beings are dying in the name of the rights we take for granted! What kind of an example are we setting when we look down on nations who haven't achieved real democracy while we fail to uphold it ourselves?

The stupid, it truly, truly burns.

People say we've had too many elections. Granted, they're more frequent than they usually are (historically speaking), and they are costly to stage (~$300 million today). But in a country where we have allowed the democratic process to be hijacked and perverted by the powerful few, why wouldn't we welcome the chance to exercise the single most powerful ability we, as the people, still possess? With our elected representatives forced into either following the party line or ignominious exile, the only ones with real influence between elections are those closest to the party leaders. Elections are the only time when control is really out of their hands -- and in ours. Why wouldn't we take advantage of that?

People say that "nothing's going to change" in an election. Maybe. But that's only the case if we choose to let nothing change. Where do we get this idea that an election would change nothing? That's right: polls published by the media. We think nothing will change just because the numbers are roughly the same. Sure, it's a good indicator -- but as is often said, the only poll that matters is the one on election day. There is absolutely nothing stopping us, as the voting public, from drastically altering the political landscape of this country in one day. That's what democracy is all about -- the ability to choose. However, those in power have a vested interest in making the public think nothing can or will change. They have become complacent because we have grown apathetic. So much potential, and still we let ourselves be convinced that our choices have no effect.

People say that their votes don't count. Newsflash -- they do! Plenty of ridings come right down to the wire. Furthermore, every vote cast helps fund the party that earned it. Still, it is easy to fall into the idea that every vote not cast for the winning candidate is somehow "wasted". It is a common scare tactic used by parties and candidates who are already powerful to keep people from making a different choice. The recent efforts towards electoral reform have been made with the goal of ensuring that every vote cast makes an impact. But once again, those who profit from the status quo are making every effort to scare us away from new and better possibilities.

People say that politicians' posturing and endless fighting are turning them off. Finally, a point that has some merit behind it -- today, Parliament is rife with battles over style rather than substance. Politics has become consumed with partisan manipulations and the concentration of power in the hands of a select few. Our elected representatives cannot follow their consciences or represent the views of their constituents for fear of harsh reprisal from the party leadership. Don't get me wrong, political parties aren't inherently bad (teamwork is key to success, after all), but the purposes of these organizations have been twisted to muzzle the exact rank-and-file representation that needs to be active and free in order for democracy to work properly. Good and solid policies and legislation are being brought forward, but are being buried in the endless squabbling and needlessly divisive "us against them" posturing. Real issues are being buried beneath the sheer volume of shallow finger-pointing that arises from manufactured scandals. In short, the democratic process is being held hostage by selfish pursuits.

This whole situation of apathy driven by shallow, insubstantive politics made me recall a rant by Craig Ferguson, host of the Late Late Show, himself a new American citizen, during the presidential election of late 2008. (It's a pity I can't embed videos in this blog. Oh well.) He goes on to criticize how the media are hung up on superficial talking points and are failing the public by ignoring the real issues facing the country, and how not voting is a dereliction of your rights and duties:

"This is a very important election, this one, but you would not know it from the way it's being reported. Y'know, politics is covered like show business now. On the Today Show this morning, they’re like, "Which candidate would you rather have dinner with?" Here’s an easy answer: NONE! They're politicians, I don't want dinner with you, I don't want your friendship. Here's what I want to know: what are you going to do for this country, pal? What are you gonna do? ...

... The news reports are either very tabloid-y, or they're trying to be funny like Jon Stewart, maybe because more and more people say they’re getting their news from late night TV -- which, believe me, is not a good idea. I like the Daily Show, I like Jon Stewart, I think he does a bang-up job, a great job, but let him do it. The rest of the news people, TAKE THIS JOB SERIOUSLY! This is important! ...

... Do you know what bothers me? Every election year, as well, you get the voter registration drives aimed at the young people: "Rock the vote, the vote’s crack-a-lackin'!" ... Are we so lost that we have to be sold our own democratic right? What the hell is wrong with us? What is going on? We have to "sexy up" the vote for young people? ...

... Here’s what I’m saying to you: if you don't vote, you’re a moron. I know what you're saying -- "well, not voting is a vote." No, it isn't. Not voting is just being stupid.

Voting is not sexy, voting is not hip, it’s not fashionable, it’s not a movie, it’s not a video game, all the kids ain't "doin' it". Frankly, voting is a pain in the ass, but here's a word, look it up: it is your DUTY to vote.

The foundation in this democracy is based on free people making free choices. So, young people, if you can't take your hand out of your Cheetos bag long enough to fill out a form, then you can't complain when we end up with President Sanjaya.

Listen, I'm an American. This country, as it is, at war, right now; Americans in foreign lands wearing uniforms representing this country are losing their lives. Americans here in this country are losing their homes. We have two patriotic candidates, right? They both love this country, they have different ideas about what to do with it. Learn about them, read about them, question them, listen to them. Then, on election day, exercise your sacred right as an American, and listen to yourself."

Even if he's talking about an American election, he put it miles better than I ever could. If we claim to value our democratic rights so highly, what is so wrong with us that our actions say the opposite?

From the continually falling turnout rates in our federal, provincial and even municipal elections, it's abundantly clear that Canadians are losing faith in the way politics is practised today. They want to see an end to the perpetual squabbling and partisan intolerance. They want a new way of making Parliament work, one that will include all their diverse viewpoints and that will make their voices count.

That's what makes the Canadian Youth Assembly so critical. We, as young people, as the leaders of the future, have to show that we are capable of renewing the political process and of reshaping it so that it will be the inclusive way that our fellow Canadians need and want to see. We need to show that there is cause to keep faith in our democratic system -- that tomorrow is brighter than today.

We need a better Canada. We need a Canada where people won't cringe at the very mention of an election. We need a Canada where the public is active and involved at every step of the democratic process. We need a Canada where our elected representatives are respectful of one another and are willing to work together, regardless of affiliation and disagreements, to get the very best results possible for their fellow citizens. We need a Canada where our leaders, the people in positions of power, are accountable to the people at all times. We need a Canada where our Parliament works.

That vision is not going to come into being unless people like you and I take action and show that it is possible. Together, we can. Together, we will achieve more.