It’s election time. It’s time to make a change.
But what change will be made this time around? Probably nothing too significant. I mean people don’t like change, especially if it’s their political party chillin’ up at 24 Sussex Dr.
It astounds me, the amount of people who vote for a party and have no idea what the party’s platform is. Whatever happened to being an informed voter? Have those days come and gone?
If you actually took the time to look on each parties website you’ll learn that being informed doesn’t matter to some parties. For instance, Stephen Harper doesn’t offer his followers a chance to scope out his platform. Good luck trying to find it. It’s not there. Even Michael Ignatieff’s party is keepin’ all the good stuff to their selves.
A platform is essential to party’s campaign. Without it, they might as well drop out of the race. If voters can’t read the platform, how are they supposed to build a trust with the party? I hope the Liberals and the Conservatives don’t expect people to believe everything they say… but then again, it’s what they don’t say that should concern people. It makes you wonder what they aren’t telling you when you can’t see their platform.
Today I took some time to read through platforms (which inspired this hatefest), I couldn’t find those two platforms… but, I did find the Green Party’s platform (and the NDP’s). Now, I’m generally an NDP kind of girl. But after reading Elizabeth May’s views, I think the Dish is going Green.
The issues I care about, she addresses. It’s almost like her party was made for people like me. I won’t go into it because I think you should take the time to read through it [the platform] and all the other ones you can find.
What also crossed my mind today was how people perceive who I choose to vote for.
When I told a friend I was voting for the Green Party in the spring election (which is May 2nd!), she laughed and told me it was a waste of a vote. When I asked her why, she said because the Green Party doesn’t stand a chance of getting into office. I don’t think that’s a legitimate reason not to vote for the party you believe has your best interests in mind.
Yes, chances are Harper will get voted back into office, but as an informed voter, he will NOT be getting my vote. Voting for Harper because you know he’s just going to win anyway, is not a good enough reason to vote Conservative.
My vote is note a waste of a vote, it is not a waste of paper, it is not a waste of time. It is me trying to make a change. I won’t apologize for having different political views.
But what I will do is provide you with an opportunity to become informed, a chance to make a change… even if it doesn’t happen now, or it doesn’t happen in the next ten years… but when it does then you can say that you were a part of that change.
Take some time to learn something today:
Indian political and spiritual leader (1869 – 1948)
