Unfortunately I wasn't lucky enough to have recently been called by the Provincial Liberals expensive push-polling campaign. This Bush-style campaigning involves people being asked questions like: "Were you aware that the B.C. Liberals are the most successful government in B.C. history?"
I did however have an eye-opening conversation with a Liberal pollster whom I informed that my vote doesn't matter since I'm in Squamish.
"So you're undecided then."
"No, my vote doesn't count. We're the working-class bump between the two richest communities in Canada; you own us."
"So you're hostile."
"What? No. Hang on, do you really have a box you can tick that says hostile?"
I was then asked to pick from a long list one issue that concerns me. Peculiar choices included the Sea to Sky Highway, and further down the list was honesty.
"So two categories I have to choose between are the highway improvement and honesty?"
His reply, and I quote: "Yes sir, you can't have them both."
Well, if that doesn't just sum up why I don't want to talk about the upcoming provincial election.
Just look at the legacy of our last MLA, Ted Nebbeling. He was the guy who only smiled as our hospital lay in tatters, our courthouse closed, BC Rail sold, and our women's shelter funding was cut. The only marks he seems to have left in Squamish were stains in the Starbucks washroom. Thanks for nothing Ted. At least with the bar set so low it will be tough for our new puppet to disappoint.
It's sad that Gordon Campbell's Liberals will be re-elected for the same reason Bush was: "Fair and Balanced" news coverage. Bush has FOX News, Gordo has CanWest. Specifically, according to Elections BC, CanWest Global (Vancouver Sun, Province, Global TV, etc., etc.) is a major campaign contributor - and that's not counting all the free press. Tough to get fair coverage when the overwhelmingly dominant news source is a big donor to the governing party. A prime example from a source in the trenches: there was apparently a newsroom revolt at the Vancouver Sun when it was decided that the Hawaii mug shot of Gordon Campbell wasn't front page news and articles criticizing his behaviour were axed.
Like it or not, working voters don't have time to read sources other than CanWest's lunchroom headlines. It seems like few in this province can still afford to even pay attention. When they do they get scared. This fear seems to work as even Mothers Against Drunk Driving buckled like a cheap belt. Like so many promises, the one about decreasing drinking and driving was broken and now DUIs have actually increased.
So here we are on the brink of an election with the Liberals ready to sell our water and hydro to morally bankrupt American companies who will sell it back to us for a profit. Nice. Until May 17 I grasp onto hope like an unchecked lottery ticket in my front pocket. It's a million to one shot. Fingers crossed; here we go.
