Why are fewer Canadians voting?

[Ford Prefect]

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[Devils'Advocate]

This could be a self-in-thread-fata as I posted this on an internet forum, but not sure which one.

I have this couple that are good friends of mine. The husband wasn't going to bother going to the polls because our riding is completely overwhelmingly Conservative and he was wavering between the Liberals and NDP. The wife reminded her husband that in Iraq he grew up under a dictator and didn't have the right to vote... now that he has it he should exercise his right and complete his responsibility. So he went and voted.

Afterwards, the wife asked who he voted for.
He said "the Conservative".
Shocked that her own husband nullified her own vote she exclaimed "WHY WOULD YOU DO THAT?!?!".
"Because it was the only way that I could get my vote to count for anything. I got dragged down here and had two options - throw my vote away on someone with no chance, or back a winner."

I dunno. It's got some kind of logic in there somewhere. I just don't know where.

[FlamesAddiction]

Originally Posted by REDVAN

I don't want everyone trying to educate themselves on voting and all that.

I am a university educated person. ALL of my (similarly educated) friends voted, and it looks like a significant portion of smarter-seeming people on CP voted. Maybe it's the smart people who are voting?

I don't see a problem with smart people making decisions for dumb people. I don't want dumb people voting. Maybe that's elitist, because I know plenty of smart people who aren't higher educated, but they are still smart, that is the key. It'd be interesting to see voting demographics.

I wouldn't think that it's only smart people... in fact, I know 2 people who voted for the Conservatives who probably should have stayed home. On person voted for them because he thought it was cool when Stockwell Day was on the news riding a jet-ski in Kelowna, and the other was confused and said that she doesn't like Liberals because "George Bush is a liberal"... seriously.... and both of them are university educated.

[Devils'Advocate]

Originally Posted by Ford Prefect

^^^^ I think McKenna is plenty mature enough at the moment ... Premier of NB, Ambassador to the US ... those should be enough qualifications. I suspect his reluctance to throw his hat in has more to do with the current state of the Liberal brand, and probably most of all, the huge pit of debt they're wallowing in.

Or he actually is enjoying his semi-retirement. I don't know why these 60 year olds with more money than dirt keep on working 18 hour days.... I swear, when I'm 60 I'm not gonna be working on the hill when I could be on a beach somewhere....