EDITOR,
This is a letter directed at the large number of Canadians who didn't vote in the last election, whose number is larger than the votes received by the ruling party. By not voting, you are undoubtedly protesting against the fact that the parties are all the same and that one vote doesn't count anyway.
If this is your position, then you have had your protest and you can do me and everyone who did vote a favour and save further complaints until the next election. In my mind, however, your choice to not vote is more like a vote for the "don't give a Sweet Hoot In Total" party, who stand for higher taxes for the average person, lower taxes for big multinational corporations, less spending on health care, education, day care, roads, sewers and other infrastructure and more spending on jailing people whose choice of addictions isn't approved, and oh yeah, way more military spending. If these are your core beliefs, then by all means stay home and don't vote. But imagine if your large number of votes were added to the party with the least votes who stand for the opposite with a view to have a better future for you, your children, your grandchildren etc. and they could form the government, would it not be worth getting out and voting? Tommy Douglas (arguably the greatest Canadian ever, who brought in health care in a minority government) likened the voters to mice with fat cats governing them - when one fat cat's policies were disagreeable, they voted in another fat cat with predictable results. Then the mice realized that they should vote in a mouse to have their true interests met. Your voice is louder than the voice of the fat cats and if you chose to use it, you will make a difference in your future.
Rob Neaga
Squamish
