A modern nomad
Posts: 1,118 
Location: Berlin, Germany
Location: Berlin, Germany
March 4th, 2008, 02:07 PM
No one can call a record low turnout a proud victory. Record lows are signs of voter apathy, not voter complicity. Nobody votes in Mexico. Why? Because they don't think their vote will have an impact. Apparently Alberta is going in that direction in terms of popular belief in democracy.
No one can call a record low turnout a proud victory. Record lows are signs of voter apathy, not voter complicity. Nobody votes in Mexico. Why? Because they don't think their vote will have an impact. Apparently Alberta is going in that direction in terms of popular belief in democracy.
Newbie
Posts: 26
Location: Alberta
Location: Alberta
March 4th, 2008, 05:14 PM
It is a poor situation for Canada to have a province so xenophobic about any perceived influence from the central government or central political parties. It's made doubly worse by the casual contempt the electorate has for the democratic process. Condescending to go out and vote once every four years when it looks as it the status quo may be modified is the opposite of responsible citizenship.
However, I feel encouraged that Ed Stelmach is not such a conceited and selfish individual as the last two Tory premiers, and that some of his new legislature members are mindful of their responsibilities toward making the system work for all constituents. With such a public fear of anyone outside the hierarchy changing the present party aboard the ship of fools, it can only be by their effort and reaching out to all segments of society that Albertans can learn that they have a right and a responsibility to participate in meaningful ways.
Perhaps the test case would be to float the trial balloon of proportional representation for future elections in the new legislature.
It is a poor situation for Canada to have a province so xenophobic about any perceived influence from the central government or central political parties. It's made doubly worse by the casual contempt the electorate has for the democratic process. Condescending to go out and vote once every four years when it looks as it the status quo may be modified is the opposite of responsible citizenship.
However, I feel encouraged that Ed Stelmach is not such a conceited and selfish individual as the last two Tory premiers, and that some of his new legislature members are mindful of their responsibilities toward making the system work for all constituents. With such a public fear of anyone outside the hierarchy changing the present party aboard the ship of fools, it can only be by their effort and reaching out to all segments of society that Albertans can learn that they have a right and a responsibility to participate in meaningful ways.
Perhaps the test case would be to float the trial balloon of proportional representation for future elections in the new legislature.
I had Dorothy
Posts: 1,068
Location: not in Kansas anymore
Location: not in Kansas anymore
March 4th, 2008, 06:36 PM
[quote=Chriskander;932463]. It's made doubly worse by the casual contempt the electorate has for the democratic process.
Perhaps it would be better to have open and hostile contempt of the democratic process. Better luck next time.
[quote=Chriskander;932463]. It's made doubly worse by the casual contempt the electorate has for the democratic process.
Perhaps it would be better to have open and hostile contempt of the democratic process. Better luck next time.
