Democratic duty

[mousme]

In half an hour I get to go exercise my democratic right to vote. Good thing the polling station is literally right next door.

I don't think I have ever been so unenthused at the prospect of casting my ballot. It will take more than a minor miracle for a party with sense to make it into office, because none of the parties involved are one I would like to see in power. The greens, for all their good intentions, don't have a solid platform and have wildly inexperienced candidates ("Little girl, does your mother know you're running for office?"), and Québec Solidaire are indulged in a collective left-wing bout of acid-dropping (raising the minimum wage to $10 an hour? Give me a break! Why don't you start by raising it to $8 an hour and work your way up?) and don't really have a cohesive vision.

Others have commented more eloquently than I on this election. Suffice it to say that I won't be voting PQ (Parti Québécois) as long as Boisclair is at its head, although before he was nominated I came close (for the record: I'm a federalist), and I can't in good conscience vote for the PLQ (Parti Libéral du Québec) because they made such a hash of it the last time around.

Also, don't bother telling me that the ADQ is a valid third option, because they're not. They are a bunch of scary little fascists. They haven't actually changed since the last election. What happened this time around? Well, for one, they mostly managed to keep their mouths shut, which is a good thing for them. Also, this time around, people got tired of protesting against them. All the intellectuals who were up in arms about them last election are still of the same opinion, but they're getting tired of beating their heads against the brick wall that is the Quebec electorate. So no one knows that they're scary little fascists (unless you read their platform with a critical eye), and this time no one is bothering to say it out loud.

In short? We're screwed.

I can't wait for the federal election. At least it'll make this seem like a cake-walk.

Comments

[baronscartop.livejournal.com]

> wildly inexperienced candidates

This sounds akin to the common argument levied against the federal NDP, that they can't run the country because they don't know how. But if you think about it...

1. You have to start somewhere.

1B. If you do start somewhere, and you're new, at least you won't be plagued by the This Is How It's Done "mind"set which has kept this coutry stagnating and stinky for thirty years.

2. The infrastructure is in place, and no MP is going to change that (in less than three mandates). Politicians don't do the real work anyway.

t!

[bodhifox.livejournal.com]

At least you aren't living in the domain of King George as we are. Even when we do get to vote there are two parties that always win. That's it. Good luck to you!

[sorceror.livejournal.com]

Ah, but — in your case, the President doesn't sign the nomination papers for all the Republican candidates, so they actually can and will oppose him if it's in their state/district's best interest (or is seen to be) so they'll get re-elected).

The President has far less power than the Prime Minister; or as I should say since this is a provincial election, the Governor has less power than any provincial Premier.

With that said — silly revolutionaries! That's what you get for rebelling against your rightful inbred swishy Monarch.

[bodhifox.livejournal.com]

This President has had a rubber stamp congress for 6 years though, it is only now with a bare margin opposition that things are starting to go against him. He still hasn't *got* it yet. But thanks for pointing out the differences, I'd forgotten how things worked up North.

[kino-kid.livejournal.com]

I'm so stealing your icon for msn tonight.

[vureoelt.livejournal.com]

Yep. Like I said to forthright there's only one solution. Make our own party!