A few weeks ago I wrote about the upcoming federal election here in Canada. Since that time the political situation and public opinion have taken a clear turn for the worse. The dangerous and regressive Conservative party now has a strong lead in polls, with 55% of Canadians believing a Con majority would be a positive thing. It’s sobering to hear such statistics and realize that we’ve been fortunate to keep the Cons from power as long as we have.
With 70% of the world at or lower than an ethnocentric level of development and a good portion of the populations in even countries like Canada in such a saddening, dangerous stage, it shouldn’t surprise us when the less favourable political parties gain strength. As Ken Wilber put it, and I’m taking this from memory, “If we actually had one person, one vote democracy on this planet, the facists would be running the planet.” It would be nice to think common sense and awareness would lead people toward progressive and compassionate governance, but that is simply wishful thinking. To make genuine progress we have to find ways to get people evolving faster, to break the power of fundamentalism.
If we want equal rights for people of all walks (the Conservatives have promised to try to take away rights and recognition from people in same-sex relationships), strong social services (Conservatives would rather give tax cuts to the rich, increase taxes for the most poor and not commit to much needed social programs, as outlined in their platform), environmental health (the Conservatives have vowed to remove Canada from the Kyoto accord, bringing us into the ranks of such nations as the U.S., which has refused to join the program aimed at reducing greenhouse emmissions), and other aspects of a strong, rich and progressive society, we must commit ourselves to both opposing conservative politicians and also to helping our fellow citizens increase their awareness so that they may make choices with clearer vision.
With the greatest battle for the future of Canada we have faced in at least a decade ahead of us (the election is in 5 days and we have a great fight after that), I hope you’ll join me in voting for the NDP where they can win and the Liberals, despite the corruption throughout the party, where there’s no other viable option. But my deeper wish and commitment is to a far more important mission, to enfuse our society with an evolutionary spark that can help to defuse the danger of the conservative and fundamentalist elements of our world. And in that grand play I hope we can be effective.
9 comments on “Let’s Create a Better Canada”
I have always been an NDP. Unfortunately where I live has been Conservative forever, and with the same guy running again there is little hope for change. Even though he has done almost nothing for the area in which I live. I will still vote for my Local NDP candidate though.
People seem to forget what it wa like under the last Conservative Majority. It would be great if we could bring that back to people’s minds. And the whole trying to take the right to marry away from the same sex couples makes me sick to my stomach.
I remember being in a similar situation for my first provincial election. I get to vote for Alexa again this time, an easy choice.
Yeah, I don’t understand how people can be so ok with the Cons.
What I really don’t understand are the people who think it’s time to get rid of the Liberals for a little while – okay, that part, I understand – and so just automatically migrate to the Conservatives. It’s like they don’t even realize there are other choices on the ballot!
People still carry the notion that the NDP isn’t pragmatic or fiscally responsible, among other factors. That’s changing, but it will take a while.
I SO WISH I was Canadian. I would definitely vote for the NDP. Been keeping track of the elections myself, since Dave is Canadian. I don’t think the NDP is going to win, but goossshhh… to be given that chance!
inning is definitely unlikely, but we need a strong voice to counteract Liberal stagnation and Conservative regression, that’s for sure.
It’s truly scary just how much support the Conservatives have. . . I wish the PC had stayed the way it was. Seriously, it’s just so depressing when you listen to our politicians. I honestly don’t want to vote for any of them.
The Conservatives keep talking about change. . . well the most positive change for our country (apart from political leaders who are actually sympathetic and don’t make you want to tear your hair out at the thought that one of them will actually win this election) would be a change in our electoral system. But that isn’t on the Conservative’s agenda.
Actually, I think the NDP happens to be the only party that has seriously advocated changing the electoral system. That is probably the only thing that would make me vote NDP.
And as far as voting goes, I honestly don’t particularily care how people vote (as long as the Conservatives don’t win a majority), but the important thing is to vote. Canada is slowly catching up to the US in low voter turnout.
I think the best case scenario with this election is a joint Liberal-NDP government.
Yeah, it is scary how popular the Cons have become.
I genuinely like Jack Layton and most of the politicians I know in the NDP, so I feel confident in giving them my vote.
I don’t think a change in the electoral system will provide a lot of benefit. If we go to a straight PR system we’ll have even more Cons and fewer Liberals in power, and I don’t think that would help us at all. I think changing the makeup of the electorate (getting people evolving) is far more valuable than just increasing the number of voters; a democracy isn’t worth shit if the electorate isn’t electing beneficial governments.
This election is looking to have higher voter turnout, actually, with advance polls up 25% from the last election. Maybe that’s a sign of more involvement, though that may not be a good thing at all if its mostly more Cons turning out.
I do think the best possible outcome would be a Liberal-NDP government.
Hm. . . a change in the electoral system may mean more Conservatives in the House from certain areas, but don’t forget it will also mean more Liberal and NDP will get elected in others.
Our current system is out-dated and doesn’t serve the country well. It was designed with only two political parties in mind. But now we have a whole bunch of them. Including smaller parties that have no chance of ever getting to form a government, such as the Green Party. A PR system (or something along those lines) would allow these smaller parties, and thereby the people who support them, a voice in government.
And more involvement is good.