“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.”

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

1. “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?

2. “Because other countries are run by thugs, and their citizens can’t vote.” So I should elect a thug in my country?

3. “It’s my civic duty.” To support someone who has the opposite of my opinion?

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.

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.

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