I, along with everyone else who lives in the city, just went through a municipal election. As a political junkie I find the strange creatures known as politicians interesting to watch and analyse. My interest in human psychology and behaviour thrives in the political scene, but I admit there are times when I wish I was part of the many potential voters who just don’t give one care about the whole process. I really don’t blame them- the world of politics is a strange fantasy land that has very few tethers anchoring it to our own.
What is really hard for me is that for every election, from federal to municipal, I have had to compromise my own fundamental political ideology and vote for representatives that I hardly saw eye to eye with.
I’m tired of voting for the lesser evil.
That’s what I had to do with this last municipal election. For the mayor I had to hold my nose and vote against the person I didn’t like rather than being an enthusiastic supporter of the one I voted for. In the case of selecting my Ward representative I did something I am just disgusted at myself over: I was down to two choices, so I flipped a coin. I was reduced to voting by chance.
It’s hard for me because, while I am glad to be citizen (not proud, glad) of this country, I disagree with some of the fundamentals of its government. I’m a Libertarian, and it is hard being one in a very socialist and statist country.
I got “crazy” ideas, ideas that I didn’t think of overnight, but ones that came from hard study and genuine inquiry.
Random ideas like:
-Nothing would make me happier than bringing more business to the city in the form of a “digital media centre” (where they can make video games and CGI movies). It’s a great idea, but why does our mayor (soon to be former mayor) feel that we must ALL pay for it? If she thinks it is such a great idea, why doesn’t she put her own money towards it and encourage other private investors to do as well? It’s not the WHAT I have a problem with, it’s the HOW (pretty much how I feel about all government services and businesses).
-Canada does not need a public news agency: sell off the CBC and let it be a private company.
-It is wrong that I, along with other non-Catholics, am forced to pay for Catholic schools.
-The Human Rights Commission is a travesty of justice and serves no genuine purpose. It undermines the real justice system that deals with “hate” crime more efficiently and more maturely than it does.
-I should be allowed to opt out of the public health care system. If it does not work for me, I should be able to take my money elsewhere. Why should I not have the choice? Why does the public health care system fear competing against private medical providers?
-Taxes are a form of mugging. It is money taken from me with the ultimate threat of imprisonment (and even being shot) if I do not comply. Sure it pays for many useful things, but it is also wasted on a lot more and encourages an environment of overhyped entitlement. Do the ends justify the means?
These are just a few of the “crazy” sentiments I have. They are more thought out than this simple list, but what really irks me is how, when I try discussing these ideas or sentiments to a candidate, they will actually nod in agreement, understand my “frustration”, and totally ignore the fact that the policies they stand for completely fly in the face of them.
Am I a nut job? Maybe, but what is really sad is the lack of dialogue, debate and genuine argument in the political arena. Right now all there is empty rhetoric, fake anger and snappy promises.
This interest in politics is feeling too much like a curse these days, and I feel frustrated that, at this point in my life, all I can do is talk and write about it.
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