while reflecting on the mess of the elections south of the border (after reading an article on common dreams about a forum organized by activists to spotlight the issues - www.commondreams.org/headlines04/1208-02.htm) I had a thought...
if everyone were to write to the MLA in their riding and inform them that they were going to cast their vote on May 17th (or apply this method to municpal and federal elections too) ...that is to say that all _so many_ thousands of constituents - we the people in the MLA's riding whom they represent in parliament - are all comin' out to vote!
...then they would have to prepare for that right?...we could hold them accountable for not being prepared on election day for so many voters...because we gave them notice ;)
if each of us as citizens took a half hour or so on election days to fulfill such a small duty...they would have to prepare for that.
we currently do not live in a democracy...and our voting systems aren't prepared for that...because only a fraction of the people are registered to vote...and of them only a fraction actually bother to vote...a pretty small fraction of the population who actually participate.
for this to be a true democracy we ALL have to participate. Participatory democracy is where it's at...or rather where we need to be.
'cause everyone I know feels very UNrepresented in this so-called representative democracy...so it's time to move on to something that does represent us...
and who knows you better than you? who knows what your community needs better than you and your neighbours? do you even talk to your neighbours about your ideas for improving things in your community? do you and your neighbours know what you can do about those ideas?
are there ways for your family to particpate in positive things going on in your community? and if there's nothing positive going on in your community...why not?
as citizens we have many paths to chose from to help create better worlds for us and our families...and isn't it worth it to schedule in some extra time on voting day to stop at the local school - or whatever public building in your community is hosting your right to vote - on your way to or from work to genuinely be able to declare...I live in a democratic society and with respect for the rights I have I have acted on my responsibility to participate...I have cast my vote and had my say...
being a democratic society is not easy...and requires patience, compassion, open-mindedness and most importantly respect. it also requires long term vision and investment for our collective future...not short-sited goals based on a bottom line...that only has significance to a small minority...
the minority who are currently "representing" us
so...with an election looming I say we all start writing and let 'em know we're comin' out...we're gonna "get our vote on"!
if we prepare...they have to prepare...and then we'll see what real democracy looks like when we all have our say
:)
