How do we overcome voter apathy?

[evman150]

Originally Posted by underGRADFlame

About the same amount that happens now.... not much . Rules on how the system would work would be seriously modified. Truthfully I'd support going to a 2 party system like the US.

I'm thinking maybe you should move to the US, given your obvious affinity for their system of government.

I don't see voter apathy as a problem, being forced to vote is undemocratic.

I, for one, have no problem with how we elect our government in this country.

[Bobblehead]

Well when an election feels like a rubber stamp, I'm sure that affects things.

The final results of this election was never in question. I'm sure that makes people wonder why bother, especially if they are busy. "The PCs are going to win anyways, so I don't need to bother."

The last election that my riding was really close, and I expected the same this time. I felt that my vote may actually mean a seat. But if your riding is usually a slam dunk, I could see some people thinking they would prefer to just stay home.

I know while I was in line yesterday, there was one person checking ID and telling people which polling station to go to. There was a long line waiting to get to this table. Looking through the doors into the gymnasium, the people at each polling stations table were all looking bored since there were very few people getting through. I heard echoed behind me more than once, "My vote is important but I guess my time isn't". And my riding only had a 32% turnout. I wonder how many of those people won't vote next time. How slow would it have been if there was 50%/60% or 70% turnout?

[RougeUnderoos]

Originally Posted by Traditional_Ale

Ralph Klein
Bill Clinton
Winston Churchill
Ronald Regan
Dwight Eisenhower
Queen Elizabeth (if not a monarch)
Tony Blair
Martin Luther King
Nelson Mandela
Margaret Thatcher

...and lets keep in mind that although NOW these are all very powerful figures, they all started at the beginning like anyone in politics. But they made it to the top through having some brains, ideas, charisma, and a touch of the right kind of humility.

So again I say, find me someone worth voting for that even has a little bit of even one of the four qualities I listed above.

Personally, I don't think there is going to be anyone in Alberta for a very long time who might even come close to Ralph's legacy. Love him or hate him, WHAT A LEADER!!! Alberta was truly blessed to have him, and none of the losers I have seen this time round have inspiried me at all.

If you wait to vote until a person like someone on that list (save Ralph) comes along in your specific riding in a provincial election there is a good chance you'll never vote again. At least at the provincial level.

Did you do a lot of research into the candidates in your riding and discover that not one of them had any brains, charisma, ideas and the right kind of humility? I voted, but I didn't do that. I don't think it's possible at this level.

Nor do I think it's possible in that short run-up and with our issues to decide if any of the candidates is comparable to Winston Churchill.

[Dion]

Originally Posted by redforever

I do not buy the argument of "show me someone" I can vote for. Let me put it bluntly. If you as a citizen of this country and of this province can not find anyone you are in tune with, well, what does that say about you? To me it says that you are someone who will never be satisfied and that a viable alternative or option for you will never exist.

I simply have no patience for people who do not get out and vote, no matter what their excuses. Hopefully there will never come a time when our democracry no longer exists because we the citizens, never took the time to go and vote and protect our democracy.

Each and every one of us has a duty to protect our democracy. Get out there and vote.

Well stated Red!

Funny things is that those who didn't vote seem to think they have the right to complain about their government

[Traditional_Ale]

Originally Posted by browna

Interesting list, lets take the easiest one.

Klein.

If you're not in his riding, do then vote for the PC canaidate in your riding, no matter how much of a weak, non leader, fence sitter, the particular candidate is?

No I don't.

I didn't vote for Ralph becuase I'm not in his riding, although I wish I could.

Which is the inherent flaw of Canadian politics. A huge bloated expensive monster for a country of 30,000,000. Gimme a break.

If I could have voted for Ralph, I would have. Instead, I was just happy enough people felt the same way about him that I did.

I dont think my riding will ever see a candidate whom I personally feel enough conviction for to bother voting for. If someone came along who struck me to be made of the same stuff as the people on that list, then maybe my "voter apathy" would be quelled.

[Traditional_Ale]

Originally Posted by RougeUnderoos

If you wait to vote until a person like someone on that list (save Ralph) comes along in your specific riding in a provincial election there is a good chance you'll never vote again. At least at the provincial level.

Did you do a lot of research into the candidates in your riding and discover that not one of them had any brains, charisma, ideas and the right kind of humility? I voted, but I didn't do that. I don't think it's possible at this level.

Nor do I think it's possible in that short run-up and with our issues to decide if any of the candidates is comparable to Winston Churchill.

I wholeheartedly agree that it is not fair to compare "endgame" churchill or regan to a local up-and-comer.

But truth of the matter is that politicians have it or they dont. Some can learn to fake it, but thats about it.

And again I do agree that if I had done more research (I did do SOME) maybe I would have found someone to vote in. The problem I was having is that it all sounds like a school council project, not a friggin provincial election.

[Wookie]

Originally Posted by Dion

Well stated Red!

Funny things is that those who didn't vote seem to think they have the right to complain about their government

But they do! Just like you have the right to think their comments are stupid and have the right to your above opinion.

[Dion]

Originally Posted by Wookie

But they do! Just like you have the right to think their comments are stupid and have the right to your above opinion.

For sure they do. I just think it's hypocritical to complain when you had a chance to vote for a party that best met your concerns.

[Traditional_Ale]

Originally Posted by Dion

For sure they do. I just think it's hypocritical to complain when you had a chance to vote for a party that best met your concerns.

Its not so much an issue of them "meeting my concerns" because anybody can take a census and then write a platform.

Its convincing me they aren't going to f it up.

And don't say something like "you dont know until you try" because our economy and enviornment beg to differ.

[Dion]

Originally Posted by Traditional_Ale

Its not so much an issue of them "meeting my concerns" because anybody can take a census and then write a platform.

Its convincing me they aren't going to f it up.

And don't say something like "you dont know until you try" because our economy and enviornment beg to differ.

You want someone to convince you that they aren't going to screw it up. Yet you're not willing to to take a risk/chance on anyone. At some point you have to trust someone or else you will never know.

[browna]

Originally Posted by Traditional_Ale

No I don't.

I didn't vote for Ralph becuase I'm not in his riding, although I wish I could.

Which is the inherent flaw of Canadian politics. A huge bloated expensive monster for a country of 30,000,000. Gimme a break.

If I could have voted for Ralph, I would have. Instead, I was just happy enough people felt the same way about him that I did.

I dont think my riding will ever see a candidate whom I personally feel enough conviction for to bother voting for. If someone came along who struck me to be made of the same stuff as the people on that list, then maybe my "voter apathy" would be quelled.

At an MLA level, which are usually political rookies or sophmores (either former alderman or school board trustees, at best), I just don't know how you'd ever be able to determine at that stage in their career that they're going to be the next Klein or Churchill.

Klein turned out to be a leader, sure, but if not for a fed up at the east, still Wild west town of 400,000 people voting for a guy that they saw on the news in 1980, Ralph would still be happily retired in the SW with a few less stories to tell.

Right place, right person, right time, which lends itself to your point a bit, but also could mean that person you didn't think amounts to anything worth voting for, couldn't also become something great if given the right opportunity at the right time.

[underGRADFlame]

Originally Posted by evman150

I'm thinking maybe you should move to the US, given your obvious affinity for their system of government.

I don't see voter apathy as a problem, being forced to vote is undemocratic.

I, for one, have no problem with how we elect our government in this country.

I do have a affinity for the US system, but enjoy my life in Canada, I have my doubt my way of life would change much if we dropped the british parliamentary system, and adopted a US system..... I really just want a elected leader. Not chosen by the party, thats my biggest problem, the ideal of a monarchy is outdated even if they are simply a figurehead.

[Phanuthier]

Originally Posted by jar_e

An uneducated vote is worse than a no vote.

You can "force" people to vote all you want but I'm not sure if that's achieving much if they still don't care...

I agree

I didn't vote, because I can't even name one candidate running. I think Ed Stelmach is re-running again? If he is, thats the only guy I know.

[Traditional_Ale]

Originally Posted by Dion

You want someone to convince you that they aren't going to screw it up. Yet you're not willing to to take a risk/chance on anyone. At some point you have to trust someone or else you will never know.

I want them to INSPIRE ME to trust them. Like Ralph did, even though I couldn't vote for him because I didn't live in his riding.

[Traditional_Ale]

Originally Posted by browna

At an MLA level, which are usually political rookies or sophmores (either former alderman or school board trustees, at best), I just don't know how you'd ever be able to determine at that stage in their career that they're going to be the next Klein or Churchill.

Klein turned out to be a leader, sure, but if not for a fed up at the east, still Wild west town of 400,000 people voting for a guy that they saw on the news in 1980, Ralph would still be happily retired in the SW with a few less stories to tell.

Right place, right person, right time, which lends itself to your point a bit, but also could mean that person you didn't think amounts to anything worth voting for, couldn't also become something great if given the right opportunity at the right time.

True, but the thing is that at some point these people have to INSPIRE the people they expect to get votes from. It would seem to me that element of politics is missing and its a shame. Because in Ralph's case, it was the single biggest indicator (in my opinion) of the positive that was to come.

[Traditional_Ale]

Originally Posted by underGRADFlame

I do have a affinity for the US system, but enjoy my life in Canada, I have my doubt my way of life would change much if we dropped the british parliamentary system, and adopted a US system..... I really just want a elected leader. Not chosen by the party, thats my biggest problem, the ideal of a monarchy is outdated even if they are simply a figurehead.

Amen.

I vote for leaders, not for fillers.

EDIT: Sorry about the three posts in a row, didn't mean to sound over-zealous. This is acutally a very good debate.

[jolinar of malkshor]

Originally Posted by Phanuthier

I agree

I didn't vote, because I can't even name one candidate running. I think Ed Stelmach is re-running again? If he is, thats the only guy I know.

The paper has been running articles on all the candidates in the city for the last month. How hard is it to pick up a news paper and read it?

Man democracy is just so time consuming....why bother.

[Phanuthier]

Originally Posted by jolinar of malkshor

The paper has been running articles on all the candidates in the city for the last month. How hard is it to pick up a news paper and read it?

Man democracy is just so time consuming....why bother.

I don't get the newspaper.

[Dion]

Originally Posted by Traditional_Ale

I want them to INSPIRE ME to trust them. Like Ralph did, even though I couldn't vote for him because I didn't live in his riding.

If i'm looking for someone to inspire me to trust, i'm willing to give them a decent chance to show me what they've got. They might have a great resume and all, still i want to see the person in action before i pass judgement. It's like that hot shot junior that gets drafted in the first round. While he may have had a great junior career, said NHL team is going to need to see him perform at the pro level before they make their final judgement.

[Traditional_Ale]

Originally Posted by jolinar of malkshor

The paper has been running articles on all the candidates in the city for the last month. How hard is it to pick up a news paper and read it?

Man democracy is just so time consuming....why bother.

Nor do I.

How about instead of lecturing us about voting, you quit cutting down trees to read bs lies in an antiquated form of media?

Environmental responsibility is just so time consuming...why bother?