Beyond The Commons

Aaron Wherry covers all the goings-on in and around Parliament Hill. Follow Aaron on Twitter: @aaronwherry

Categories: Beyond The Commons, Capital Read

The burden that is democracy

by Aaron Wherry on Thursday, June 18, 2009 12:40pm - 6 Comments

John Mraz makes the humbling comparison.

Canadians don’t want an election, to be sure. Yet the act of voting should not be perceived as an onerous task, but an enlightened right. As the son of a Czechoslovak émigré seeking refuge from tyranny, I was raised to value my enfranchisement. Spending several minutes, or even hours, going to the polls, is a privilege, not a burden.

As we empathize with the Iranian people in their pursuit of such simple freedoms, Canadians should remind themselves that true suffering is not be found in the narcissism and gamesmanship of our political theatre, nor even in the tired partisan invective and deplorable tactics sometimes used across the board. True suffering is not having your vote counted.

Tags: Canada, democracy, house of commons, iran, Ottawa, Parliament, Tehran

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Wascally Wabbit

Well said Mr. Mraz.
Or to extend that – just for an example – that I am working on right now – to be a woman in a country adjacent to Iran – where women are still regarded as "chattels" – where men – however unscupulous – are believed ten times more than women – and where men can simply "permanently confiscate" – we would call it here "kidnap" and raise an Amber alert until the authorities did something – like arrest the man and rescue the children – restoring them to their mother…but this is a jurisdiction that is viewed as a friend of the West – however it conducts its internal affairs…so we will probably do zero about this matter…after all – that might be viewed as interfering in the internal affairs of a sovereign nation – and we don't do that – do we?
What hypocrisy!
Dave

Jumpin' Jesus, I am so tired of this "Canadians don't want an election" crap. Screw all of you who answered NO to that question when the pollster came a knocking. I don't want to do the dishes or fold laundry either. Taking the car in for an oil change is something else I don't want to do. God forbid the government falls and by law the crown seeks my opinion on who should govern. "Sorry, I'm too busy".

http://intensedebate.com/people/SeanStok SeanStok

Hear hear.
jarrid

The only people that wanted an election were hardcore Liberal partisans. We just had an election and we don't need one right now. Kudos to Iggy for figuring that one out in the nick of time.

http://intensedebate.com/people/jolyon jolyon

Quite right, Mr Mraz.

However, nor should we be voting once a year because the kids in the sandbox are always squabbling and can't resolve their differences.
http://intensedebate.com/people/Savant Savant

I don't mind elections, I just don't want one every other month. Most everyone that objects to an 'election' are opposed to the FREQUENCY of the elections. I'd love a law that prohibits elections or changes in government for one year after an election is held. Deadlock and government can't function? Tough, work it out, or wait until the year is up.

Funny how the same people who decry the reluctance of the Liberals to an election were the same ones complaining about the Tories who spent $300 million on a 'wasted election' since the result was the same. (another minority) Where was their support for the electoral process then?