There Is Hope In Our Youth
Posted on 01 October 2008 by stageleft
Last night my daughter (who is currently enrolled in an Aboriginal Studies program focusing on the Nunavut Land Claims Agreement) and her family were over for supper and she was telling me about the program while we ate. With a federal election on the go there has been considerable discussion on why people should vote for one or another of the parties based on their stated platforms, and they were tasked with developing a presentation on why they think people should vote a particular way on October 14th - my daughter, bless her heart, stood up and asked to be allowed to deliver her presentation based on why people shouldn’t vote for any of them.
Her presentation will discuss:
- how “majority governments” formed with less than 40% of the popular vote are not actually democratic
- how elected MP’s are actually representatives of the party leader in the House of Commons, as opposed to representatives of their constituency
– and conclude with the question of why such a non-democratic system is deserving of any support from Canadian citizens.
I am hopeful that when the other students enrolled in the program discover that many of the things they may have learned in high school about the theory of our great Canadian democracy run contrary to actual political practice they may start to re-evaluate their positions… at the very least I’m sure that there will be a more balanced discussion in the classroom because of it.
Popularity: 23% [?]
October 1st, 2008 at 12:58 pm
This low voter turnout among our youth (44 percent 2006 election) is a direct reflection on our education system. Where’s the civics instruction model, including exposing youth to all party platforms and the basic economics included in the platforms?
I think it’s clear indication that the majority of the teachers’ are overwhelmingly concerned with their paycheques and benefits. Hearsay reports in communities also point to a substance abuse problem among the teachers. If the education system can’t incorporate the very basics, I’d have to say Canada’s way behind in civics instruction.
Pehaps Sandy CRUX can weigh in here and comment on the curriculum content and its obvious failures to date.
Stageleft - you have made a main point regarding the ability of MPs to represent constituents’ positions in the HoC. Our next gov’t needs to go there ASAP. Mailbox flyers are about the most efficient way to accumulate constituents’ positions on any given initiative. Voting party lines only is clearly undemocratic, not only by all optics, but in real terms. The change we desperately need. Agree.
October 1st, 2008 at 1:19 pm
For social conservative values what is needed is a Canadian Conservative Institute/Forum giving conservative history and ideas such as:Free Enterprise,Democracy,Freedom,Respecting ones country real Traditions,Private Ownership,especially for highschool and college students.This would help counter the much lefty-liberalism/NDP ideology put out to Canadian youth.
October 1st, 2008 at 1:44 pm
This just appeared at CTV:
Dramatic drop in youth vote expected: institute warns
Here’s the study (PDF)
October 1st, 2008 at 1:51 pm
This young lady will go places.
I questioned Mr Stelmach’s “majority”, last election in Alberta, as he swept to power with 70 - odd percent of the barely 40% who voted that were elegible to vote. Do the math. Seventy percent of forty is 30%, hardly a representation of Alberta’s population to claim majority status in the Legislature.
I too, have problems with the Party system in this country, because the Party rules, not the democratic choice of the people they supposedly represent. We have all witnessed where elected members of Parties have been ousted because they voted their constituent’s wishes. Democracy in action? Nope, that’s dictatorship.
We all have SIN numbers and most of the population have a telephone and/or an internet connection. We don’t need politcal Parties to cast our ballot on any issue brought to the people by their representatives. If you don’t vote, you don’t collect on government programs. Pretty simple. It puts the resonsibility onto the voter to get involved, which is not the case today.
October 1st, 2008 at 7:24 pm
The world is run by those that show up; wars are won by those that fight.
It’s always been this way. 4-6% of the people fought in the American war for Independance. How many people actually put signs out and do some work for their party? ….and it has always been thus.
Proportional Representation gives a minority control of the majority that vote. Sounds strange to me.
October 1st, 2008 at 7:51 pm
“Proportional Representation” is where Italy and Israel are now, Pat. I don’t want to go there.
October 1st, 2008 at 8:38 pm
Fine (although be it empty) rhetoric Pat, but you miss the entire point of the post. A solid 1/2 half of that point is that whatever the party system may have started out as it now stands in the way of democracy — why would one want to support such a thing in any manner?
October 1st, 2008 at 9:43 pm
Just noticed Anna’s comment re the curriculum. I won’t be around to comment very much for awhile as I have just accepted a part-time contract position that will keep me quite busy travelling around Ontario.
I will post commentary from time to time, however, if something catches my interest.
In the meantime, let’s hope the conservatives win a majority government.
Oh, and Anna, I had the great-grandbaby last Thursday, September 25th. A boy, 8 lbs. 14 ounces by emergency C section. Mom, dad and baby doing fine.
Take care.
October 1st, 2008 at 11:11 pm
Best congratulations to your family. Good weight for health. I’ve been thinking of the 53,000 babies afflicted with kidney stones due to the melamine chemical. Ignored by the international community. I suggested all campaigns/politics be suspended to recognize the extreme suffering caused by corrupt industrialists, but my comment was wiped out.
I tend to include all newborns in my thoughts, not just my own family. Politics is putrid in this regard. Self-interests all the way.
If you suspend talking about the Harris gov’t (a vile phenomenon, imo) maybe Harper will get the deserved majority. I agree there.
I haven’t been yet to check the various curriculum offerings, but I will.
I have this losing my physical balance problem. I’ve fallen three times. Thanks to regular old Ozonal, thankfully I’m not scarred. And was very fortunate no bones broken. My mother always said she’d rather give it to the milkman than the dentist.
Yes, you take care, too. I’m expecting that Harper will see the merits of picking our citizens up off the street. Peculiar idea, isn’t it? Can you tell I’m not impressed.