Is it any surprise media are increasingly ignored?
Then cbc.ca wants to help you make up your mind, by showing platforms side by side:
The Globe and Mail also compares platforms.
Here’s news for the mainstream media: most people don’t believe political promises. By suggesting we should use politicians’ promises about what they would do if in power, they imply that politicians are to be trusted.
Obviously, it just means we also don’t trust media.
If you’re still undecided in this election, here’s an idea: don’t vote. Democracy is not an obligation to vote every 4ish years. It’s a responsibility to pay attention in between elections so you can exercise your privilege. If you fail to pay attention, you are not a better person for cramming at election time.
If you must, go spoil your ballot so we know you care.
Lest I be accused of encouraging apathy: you should pay attention so you can vote sanely next time. While some will see not voting as a symptom of apathy, encouraging people to vote based on meaningless platforms or without knowing politicians track records will only encourage cynicism.
5 comments ↓
I think people should cram and vote. Better to get a failing grade than a 0% on any test.
That being said I agree that people should listen up in between elections. If they don’t though they should go with the limited information they have.
Also… not every party has a voting record. Sometimes voting for the underdog is a good way to scare the established parties into listening to us.
If what we call democracy is the test, I’d take a 0% over a 20% any day. Scare the established parties? Don’t fool yourself in to believing that’s a possibility. Voting based on the published party platforms without reading between the lines is completely worthless, since they’re not even a remotely accurate description of what that party intends to do. You’re definitely better off not voting.
I actually believe that cynicism is a good thing. The fact that people aren’t frustrated with the system is the reason it’s able to continue. Most people are so uninformed that they take politicians’ bullshit at face value. Ultimately, we end up with the government we deserve, I guess.
Don’t forget that sometimes we vote (or should vote) strategically to get rid of an atrocity. Even if you think your party won’t win, think about the consequences of seeing the worse party win. Just for that reason, everyone should vote.
I have to side with Gary on this one. I fear what the election results would look like if only those with an obsessive interest in politics bothered to vote.
Did I say they had to have obsessive interest? That’s called reducto ad absurdum.
Citizens of democratic nations should be informed enough to understand the difference between lies or empty promises and the truth.
It would be interesting to see the results of an election in which people actually voted for the politicians who represented their best interests. e.g. extremely poor southerners voting for the republicans in the US. Same with poor Albertans voting ‘tory.
Leave a Comment