During the media storm that surrounded the recent confrontation between the government and the opposition, the line I heard the most (often uttered by the PM) was “Canadian’s don’t want a summer election”.
Looking back to 2006, I’m pretty sure I heard similar lines about a “Christmas election”. I’m sure if asked, people would say that Canadians don’t want a Labour Day election. Or an Easter election. Or an Arbor Day election.
I really don’t understand what the big deal would be. Aside from a few election signs on the way to the summer cabin, or the odd campaign ad distracting from keeping up to date with whatever is going on with John and Kate, I doubt most Canadians would even notice something was going on. Given the trend in voting over the past decade, Canadians have shown an ever-decreasing rate of interest in the democratic process.
Contrast our democratic malaise with what’s going on in Iran, where people are turning out en mass, and in some cases dying, to demand their right to fair and democratic elections.
There are times when I think Canadians take free and fair elections for granted.
Would we fight for our institutions with the same zeal?
Why wait until the system is that damaged?
max cleland: the forever war of the mind
2 hours ago
2 comments:
"If pushed, would Canadians fight for their rights with the same zeal as the Iranians are?"
This is a hypothetical question,because we were not and never have been in the same situation that the Iranians find themselves today.
"Looking back to 2006, I’m pretty sure I heard similar lines about a “Christmas election”. I’m sure if asked, people would say that Canadians don’t want a Labour Day election. Or an Easter election. Or an Arbor Day election.
I really don’t understand what the big deal would be. Aside from a few election signs on the way to the summer cabin, or the odd campaign ad distracting from keeping up to date with whatever is going on with John and Kate, I doubt most Canadians would even notice something was going on. Given the trend in voting over the past decade, Canadians have shown an ever-decreasing rate of interest in the democratic process."
Lets just go back to last October. From across this country people were Lamenting the low turnout in voting.I think it was 60% turnout. Now that was in October. Now just imagine right smack in the middle of summer. Would you want the turnout to be in the 40's? Do you think that would be better?
Do you mean, if Canadians were pushed off the couch?
Also, some of what we hear coming out of Iran is suspect considering past meddling.
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