Canadian Politics

Well, I am not in Canada, so it seems that I will be missing yet another election.

For those that are not familiar with my first "missed election" here is how it went:

I was 19 years old, and finally eligible to vote. This was to be "my year to make a difference" by placing a vote. How exciting!!

I had just moved to Edmonton, and on the night of the vote, I set out on foot to find the polling station. I walked about four blocks from home, to where the supposed station was. Instead, I found an empty field.

I decided that I must have had something wrong, and so I went back home to get my car (actually the car that I had borrowed from my father). I turned on the radio, and went for a drive... the polls were only 20 minutes from closing, I had to hurry.

I drove off to find the polling station, and instead, ended up driving in circles until the polls had closed. I had missed the election - how stupid was I? Couldn't even find the intersection, even given the cross roads.

I was disappointed with myself, but I figured that life would go on without my vote.

A few days later, I was sitting in one of my more than entertaining computer systems technology classes (probably COBOL, I cannot remember) and I stumbled upon my voter registration card (the one that told me where to go vote). To my horror and absolute amazement, I discovered that the address listed on the French portion of the card was different than the address displayed on the English side of the card. It was a misprint!!

All along I had blamed myself, when in fact it had been Elections Canada all along. I thought for sure that I would get satisfaction once this error was revealed.

I sent in a note, along with a copy of the registration card - and I demanded that they notify the residents in the area, and order a re-vote.

Elections Canada responded. I wish I still had that letter - it was priceless. Apparently they sent a representative to my house, and measured the distance to the building that had held the polling station that I couldn't find. Seems it was a mere 200 meters from my house (or around that - they did measure the distance).

They more or less told me to screw off - that if I couldn't find that, then I wasn't worthy.

I was incensed, but I let it go - I knew that there was nothing more to be gained by fighting with them, but I still wish I had fought the better fight. I hate being squashed like that.

I digress... how shocking.

The election fight is on, and I have been watching it (not closely) from afar. Seems the Canadian news is a little harder to come by in Australia than in Canada.

I am not sure what I am hoping for in this next election. I am almost certain that we are doomed either way - well, doomed might be a bit strong, but regardless, I know that any party worth representing my values will not win a seat - and they certainly will not win power in the house... so in my view, we are roughly doomed.

Ever since I missed my first opportunity to vote, my faith in the system has been a little less than stellar. I am not so certain that my vote influences anything.

It's funny - when I first learned about politics, I could not understand why anyone would choose not to exercise their right to vote. I guess the realization that voting will change nothing has changed my view.

The entire system needs to be overhauled, and I do not believe that I will live to see that.

Less government and more freedom is what I want. More equality and fewer taxes on the poor. More taxes on the rich and better programs for the not-so-rich.

Am I dreaming??

Probably.