O O Ø O O O O
For Whom To Vote
Next week Canadians return to the polls for the second time in under two years. We are being offered the following choice:
- The incumbent big government party that is scared of, and wants us to be scared of, the opposition big government party.
- The opposition big government party, that wants us to believe their vision of big government is different and better than the existing one.
- The third-way big government party, which decries that every aspect of government isn’t nearly big enough.
- The big government party that wants to do for the environment what government has already done to health and education.
- The big government party that wants a larger government, but in a smaller country.
Some choice.
For those doubters who believe the opposition Conservatives are the party of smaller government, we should compare their daycare policy plank to that of the Liberals. The Grits, in their usual manner, are pushing for a federally-controlled daycare programme, complete with government-approved facilities obeying reams of government regulations. The Tories, by comparison, are promoting a daily allowance scheme, where parents are given a government-allocated stipend to offset their childcare expenses.
The Tory argument is that the private market will then do a better job of allocating childcare resources. This is always true, but a programme created to redistribute money from general revenues to citizens with children can in no way be construed as making government smaller. The Conservatives are only proposing to increase the size of government at a slower rate than the Liberals.
Will the Tories cut taxes? Yes. Will they reduce government in lockstep? No. Cutting taxes without cutting programme spending is a ruse, as those programmes must be payed for sooner or later, and it misses the point entirely. We want lower taxes because they are the hallmark of a smaller, less obtrusive government. Liberty in daily life is the goal, smaller government is the means, and lower taxes are the evidence. The causality doesn’t work in reverse.
Further to the subject of the Tories, please also don’t forget their pledges to subsidize farmers, loggers, fishermen, and miners. They will beef up persecution of victimless crimes like drug trafficking, and reduce civil liberties in the name of increased national security. Not to mention their promise to pass a gaggle of laws about lobbying, whistleblowing and watchdogging. A vote for the Tories is a vote for government encroachment.
Voting for the lesser evil only guarantees evil.
Folks, if what you want is smaller government—and who here doesn’t think government is too invasive?—then please, stay home next Monday night. Don’t bother spoiling your ballot, as those ballots never get reported in the media. Join the growing ranks of disaffected voters who refuse to endorse the big government choices before us, and help to create demand for a party that reflects the values of liberty.
Instead of queuing at the polls, do something with your family, watch TV (I recommend Medium, Mondays at 9:00pm Mountain, NBC), or grab a couple of pints with friends. Do anything, just don’t go out and embiggen the dinks that want to make our enormous government even larger.
Evan Spence
January 17, 2006
OOØOOOODCCXXXIX
January 17th, 2006 at 2:46 pm
I still want a “none of these assholes” box on the ballot…
January 17th, 2006 at 6:08 pm
A monday beer seems like a fine idea. No waiting in lines, no tough decisions, just walk in, sit down and get the usual. Works for me!
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January 18th, 2006 at 12:23 pm
I agree with the sentiment that there is no political party to vote for in this election (for different reasons than the ones listed above). This has been the hardest decision of who to vote for. No political party has an agenda that reflects my beliefs.
Choosing not to vote is your perogative. But having as the alternative going for a beer? How does this change anything? What does that accomplish? Who is going to care that you didn’t vote? Who will know and understand why you didn’t vote?
The reason we don’t have political parties that reflect our political beliefs is because we don’t do anything to shape these beliefs.
If you chose not to vote you better do something to try and create a political party that better reflects your beliefs. Because otherwise next election, you’re going to be complaining again and not understanding why things haven’t changed.
So instead of just saying do something I will provide you wit some suggestions:
1) Write a letter to every political party that you would have considered voting for and explain why you chose not to vote. List the examples above. Challenge them to have policies that reflect your beliefs.
2) Arrange a meeting with candidates in your riding to discuss your concerns.
3) Go to political forums (like the one I attended last night) to ask candidates why their parties aren’t reflecting beliefs that you can vote for.
4) Write letters to the editor to national and local papers outlining why you are a non-voter. Papers would love to have well written pieces about why young (ish) voters aren’t voting.
5) Join a political party. Then attend meetings, go to conferences and try to make changes from the inside.
6) If 5) doesn’t work for you, form your own party (just like fed up lefties did with the Canadian Action Party).
7) Be an active citizen away from election time and write letters to your MPs voicing your concerns. Get your friends to write to and see if you can make a difference.
8) Do anything other than not just voting.
To be clear, I don’t have a problem with you not voting unless that is all you do. Because if you don’t vote and then just sit on your ass and complain you aren’t any better than those dinks you don’t want to embiggen.
January 18th, 2006 at 2:43 pm
Considering the multitudes that have chained themselves to fences, been put in prison, or shot in their fight for the right to vote around the world it’s only proper that we Canadians cast our ballot when we can.
I do agree; our lumbering government is growing cancerously and must be reduced. At best our government is career civil servants (who are often neither civil nor servile) bound and gagged by an impenetrable net of rules and regulations.
I recommend voting for the local independent or green party or whatever. At the least we might have a minority government, which is better than a full red or blue or orange (shudder)house.
I also recommend yelling at the dolts we vote in until they do as we voters ask. Perhaps MPs just need a little direction. Perhaps they need to be reminded of their civil servant status.
Then head down to the local pub for a pint. I’ll join you.
January 18th, 2006 at 4:04 pm
I don’t have the stomach for the big picture today so let me bitch about the little one. The Conservatives’ childcare program? $1200/year. $23/week. And they have the gall to say it will help a parent make the choice to stay home instead of working. Reminds me of my grandma who consistently gave my mother £5 for Christmas, from 1950 to 2000, and assumed it was worth about the same.
January 18th, 2006 at 5:34 pm
I’m not going to defend the Conservatives on this one (why not just NOT TAKE IT from me in the first place?), but it’s nice to see someone suggesting that a parent staying home with the kids is perhaps a better idea than child care. Other than him, of course.
January 19th, 2006 at 9:15 am
Reasons why I have to vote:
“Because then I can’t complain.” So if I cast a ballot supporting expanded government, then I am allowed to complain when I get what I voted for?
“Because other countries are run by thugs, and their citizens can’t vote.” So I should elect a thug in my country?
“It’s my civic duty.” To support someone who has the opposite of my opinion?
January 20th, 2006 at 2:01 pm
Ok, you don’t have to vote. I commend your political stance. I just can’t see how glugging booze is effective revolutionary activity.
January 21st, 2006 at 3:02 pm
The American revolution started in the Green Dragon tavern, Boston.
January 22nd, 2006 at 12:13 am
I think “none of these assholes” is going to show up on my ballot. :(
The spoiled ballot stats are available. I don’t know why the media does not report them. Only 0.3% of ballots cast in Alberta were rejected during the last election. http://www.elections.ca/scripts/OVR2004/23/table3.html
January 22nd, 2006 at 12:31 am
Found at therecord.com
“In February 2002, Canada’s chief electoral officer Jean-Pierre Kingsley gave Parliament a list of recommended changes to the way federal elections are run. Among them was a suggestion to give Canadians some form of a “none-of-the-above” option on ballots, to allow for protest votes.”