He had me until I saw his footwear, I cannot possibly support someone who wears Crocs.
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“Such suburban models are being rationalized as ‘what people want,’ when in fact they are simply what is most expedient to produce. The truth is that what people want is a decent place to live, not just a suburban version of a decent place to live.”
Its not up to politics to engage anyone. Its up to the person to do their homework and get engaged in politics and practice their right to vote.
This campaign bores me so I'm not going to vote isn't a good excuse at all.
What I mean is that as an age group, we feel slighted that politics ignores us on the basis of "oh, well they can't be bothered to put down their bongs and pause Dexter to go vote so screw 'em" so in turn, we prove that right by not bothering to check out the candidates and get engaged.
Nenshi is a guy who has gone out and said, hey, what if I talk to them and treat them like I want their input and support.
*I know you're joking about the bong thing*
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Who is in charge of this product and why haven't they been fired yet?
Its not up to politics to engage anyone. Its up to the person to do their homework and get engaged in politics and practice their right to vote.
This campaign bores me so I'm not going to vote isn't a good excuse at all.
I completely, whole heartedly disagree with this. In fact, this is the kind of mentality that allows voter apathy to pervade and thrive in our political system.
If a candidate wants my vote they have to earn it. They don't have to speak to me, personally, but they do have to speak to my beliefs, values and sense of right/wrong.
You even said it yourself - the right to vote, not the obligation. Personally, I have voted in every election where I have had the opportunity (I'm 22) but I still stand by what I've said with regards to others' choice to vote or not.
That being said, an abstained vote isn't a null data point. It makes a statement as well:
Quote:
If you are bored and disgusted by politics and don't bother to vote, you are in effect voting for the entrenched Establishments of the two major parties, who please rest assured are not dumb, and who are keenly aware that it is in their interests to keep you disgusted and bored and cynical and to give you every possible reason to stay at home doing one-hitters and watching MTV on primary day. By all means stay home if you want, but don't bull yourself that you're not voting. In reality, there is no such thing as not voting: you either vote by voting, or you vote by staying home and tacitly doubling the value of some Diehard's vote.
-David Foster Wallace
But the idea that we can sit in our ivory towers and lambast youth for not voting is, in my opinion, ludicrous. It is in the interest of challenging candidates to reach out to and engage this group. We saw it with Obama, we're seeing it now with Nenshi. Candidates need to proactively engage youth if they want their vote. That's why we have campaigns (which have historically ignored youth.)
Last edited by Flames0910; 10-13-2010 at 04:44 PM.
Location: Wondering when # became hashtag and not a number sign.
Exp:
Quote:
Originally Posted by kermitology
transplant99 I think you're argument is based on the notion that Twitter and Facebook are only made up of 18-35 year old demographics, and I'm not sure that is the case.
Someone on the YYCVote stream posted an analysis of the demographics of both sites and found that there are a surprising number of users, the age who will go out and vote. I'm not going to quote numbers because I can't find the web-link, I thought it might have been DJ Kelly, but his blog doesn't seem to have what I'm looking for.
In any case, I think it's important to ask the question of WHY the 18-35 demographic doesn't go out and vote. My opinion is that politics doesn't do anything to engage us. I don't count myself in that group because I've always voted at every opportunity I've had, but this election has been really interesting to me because of the amount of engagement it's created amongst people my age, and even people outside my age group. I've never donated to a political campaign until this one, I know c.t.ner is the same. This is the first time that a candidate has decided to actively try to engage me to garner support, don't underestimate what has been traditional, when there are so many untraditional means to engage voters.
Just going off what i have read.
Quote:
Nenshi's online strength translates to a solid 43 per cent backing among Calgarians aged 18 to 34. But that demographic is least likely to vote, meaning that getting out the vote for his campaign will prove vital in a race that's far too close to call, Young said.
Looking at demographics, younger Calgarians (18-34 years) less likely to say they’re absolutely certain to vote (40%) compared to older Calgarians (68% for those 35+ years).
I have no idea how many older than 34 are Nenshi supporters, but if they are significant it will help him. it makes sense that nenshi's support is much higher among the younger however as he represents a big change as opposed to the other two simply because of his age, his occupation and his "fresh approach"...change is not something that is accepted as easily among older voters in calgary or Alberta in general. Just facts and historical trends is all i am basing things on at this point.
I completely, whole heartedly disagree with this. In fact, this is the kind of mentality that allows voter apathy to pervade and thrive in our political system.
If a candidate wants my vote they have to earn it. They don't have to speak to me, personally, but they do have to speak to my beliefs, values and sense of right/wrong.
You even said it yourself - the right to vote, not the obligation. Personally, I have voted in every election where I have had the opportunity (I'm 22) but I still stand by what I've said with regards to others' choice to vote or not.
That being said, an abstained vote isn't a null data point. It makes a statement as well:
-David Foster Wallace
But the idea that we can sit in our ivory towers and lambast youth for not voting is, in my opinion, ludicrous. It is in the interest of challenging candidates to reach out to and engage this group. We saw it with Obama, we're seeing it now with Nenshi. Candidates need to proactively engage youth if they want their vote.
I completely disagree, if you decide not to engage yourself, if you decide not to execute your right to participate, then you have no ability to shape the government that representing you.
No candidate is ever going to 100% meet your needs, or match your value system. But abstaining from voting because they don't, means that you have no right after the fact to be upset with what that government has done.
And being engaged is more then voting, its engaging the candidates and questioning them on where they stand on the issues that are important to you.
Its up to you to become engaged, its not up to society to engage you.
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My name is Ozymandias, King of Kings;
Look on my Works, ye Mighty, and despair!
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On the topic of engagement, first past the post makes everyone disengaged. Electoral reform (rep by pop, etc.) would drastically reduce wasted votes (especially in the federal/provincial elections) and thus should produce a more engaged electorate.
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Cscutch
Also with the younger crowd... Some of the aldermanic candidates have been spending a lot of time at the post secondary schools as well trying to drum up support.
Ward 1 and Mayor Forums held in Mac Hall Mayor Speed dating held at MRU
Mayor Forum held @ SAIT
Arts Vote Mayor Forum, younger crowd.
Neither of these two events did much for youth engagment. The forum at SAIT was for the Calgary Chamber of Commerce and looked like it was primarily attended by their members (also heard it was paid admission). The MRU event was only 20 pre-selected students asking questions with no audience. The U of C mayoral forum, however, was quite well attended.
Also got my vote in for Nenshi today (Carra (Ward 9) as well). Fairly busy down at city hall, hopefully we see a record turn out for this election.
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"Man, so long as he remains free, has no more constant and agonizing anxiety than to find, as quickly as possible, someone to worship."
I completely disagree, if you decide not to engage yourself, if you decide not to execute your right to participate, then you have no ability to shape the government that representing you.
No candidate is ever going to 100% meet your needs, or match your value system. But abstaining from voting because they don't, means that you have no right after the fact to be upset with what that government has done.
And being engaged is more then voting, its engaging the candidates and questioning them on where they stand on the issues that are important to you.
Its up to you to become engaged, its not up to society to engage you.
I still disagree in terms of engaging youth. You just can't have one without the other. Politicians need to listen to the concerns of the electorate as well instead of just shouting into a void.
For the most part, politicians (such as Barb and McIver) speak to older segments of the population. Then they're surprised when youth don't vote - nobody is speaking to (or with) them.
Forgive me if this has already been posted, but tomorrow night is "Nenshi Night" at the Flames game. If you're a Nenshi supporter, please wear your "Team Nenshi" shirt (or anything purple).
Forgive me if this has already been posted, but tomorrow night is "Nenshi Night" at the Flames game. If you're a Nenshi supporter, please wear your "Team Nenshi" shirt (or anything purple).
Bunk - thank you very much for those Nenshi videos. Brilliant platform.
Better Ideas 5, 7 and 9 are all bang on and really hit home with my vision of a better Calgary. The main issues for me are sustainable communities, improving transit and improving the downtown core which he correctly addressed for me.
if a lot of people did it Nenshi would get a really good payoff for $0.
