Now it's time for my hypothetical democracy reform.
I've seen so many people decline to vote because they don't support any of the candidates...and I'm starting to see why.
Instead of deferring your vote, or voting for who you want, how about the option to vote for who you DON'T want. This is a better way of appeasing the masses, and it ensures that ALL minorities do get heard.
After e-mailing the MP in my constituency, I came to a dead end and eventually got ignored after a couple of back-and-forths.
After this, I got no reply. So, I've decided that I'm definitely not voting for the Liberals. I also doubt that I'm going to vote for the Convervatives. That leaves the green or NDP...which aren't strong runners to me, either. I'll most likely withold my vote...but that's because there isn't a good alternative.
I don't understand how voting isn't more necessary. An unheard voice is not a function of democracy because you're opting to silence yourself. That would be fine...if a part of our government wasn't a democracy. The problem with opting for silence is that you make the winner your choice, by default.
No vote is an unheard voice, and I'm sad to say that it seems like the best option.
We seriously need a REAL reform coupled with some public awareness. The problem is that no one gives a shit. And no one ever will, until it's too late and all they can do is jump ship. Ontarians are known for complaining (myself included), but never actually doing anything. I try to, but I'll admit that I don't do enough.
I love living in Toronto, and I hate the slippery slope that we're headed towards, but maybe a move somewhere else is in order when I get older.
It seems that we're not voting for positive progress, we seem to be voting for who will most likely screw us over the least - and if McGuinty's that option, I'm afraid to see what the others would do.
Oh yeah, and the eco tax just got introduced.
Peace,
- knowledge
Oh yeah, and the eco tax just got introduced.
Peace,
- knowledge
Toronto is a rotting city.
ReplyDeleteIf theres going to be a election, I'm going to vote. To show that I don't support any one of these parties, I'm going to mark an X on every party. (:
"If theres going to be a election, I'm going to vote. To show that I don't support any one of these parties, I'm going to mark an X on every party."
ReplyDelete-Oh that's a great idea. Don't show your contempt for the twisted politics of our failing city by doing something about it, just spoil the ballot like thousands of people already do. Out of these people, many do it because they improperly read the directions on how to vote, or simply have so little willpower to do anything but draw smileys on the form.
Essentially, if you spoil the ballot you are either blind, or dumb.
I agree with you that Toronto is a rotting city, but the best way to overcome the disease plaguing us is not to show apathy towards the system and its many methods of control, but to open rebel.
The biggest problem with Canada, IMO, is its sheer size. Geographically we are larger than the United States, and although we might not have the infrastructure they have developed (such as highways and networks across the entire country) we do still have a large fucking country, and about a tenth of the population of our neighbours to the South.
ReplyDeleteOh its nice isnt it? because having all this land means having to pay for it.
Its like this: if rent for an apartment costs 1000.00 a month, and you have just one roomate,you can expect to pay 500 for rent. This is Canada.
If you have 6 roomates in that same large apartment, rent is only going to be about 150 a piece. This is the USA. more crowded, but how much room do you really need anyways?
The problem with this analogy is that while these two apartments cost the same per month, they are not equal. Canada is a country where 90% of the population lives concentrated along the US border, and the remainder have very few choices, as arable land and highways are limited in many rural parts of the country.
So not only are you paying 500 a month, but you can only live in the front hallway.
Canadians living in cities are the ones who will find themselves getting hit the hardest with taxes, as we have to pay for the rest of the country, all 90% which we dont use or need, for lack of practical living space or arable land. We have the 2nd largest country in the world, and the lowest persons to square kilometre ratio on the planet (not including antartica)
my disjointed point, Knowledge, is get used to the taxes. you cant live in a country like this and not expect them to exist, and whatever government is in power is not going to be able to do a single thing to change this.
My advice to you then, is get out into the countryside and enjoy the beauty of nature, because, to quote the Joker,
"you oughta know, you paid for it"
No one likes taxes...but I'll gladly pay them when they're reasonable. Canada's a great place to live; with the benefits, educations, and liberties that we enjoy...but this spending is definitely NOT justified.
ReplyDeleteThe taxes that are getting added every year are not a result of absolute necessity, they're a result of frivolous spending. I'll happily pay the taxes necessary to enjoy the perks that living in Canada has to offer... but it's getting ridiculous.
For example: eco taxes. We're getting charged a disposal fee? Then what's OUR incentive to dispose of things properly? I got my tires changed last winter & I was charged a fee for tire disposal. I opted to keep the tires & I still had to pay those fees.
If you look at the property taxes between the outskirts of Toronto & Missisauga...they're really not that far off anymore.