17 November 1999

Vancouver Votes: The Apathetic Masses - THE COMMENTARY

By Joseph Planta

VANCOUVER - Vancouverites, Canadians for that matter, are truly apathetic. We aren’t the world’s model of good government, and so we retreat into the den of complacency to complain about the buggers that are in. We then refuse to vote in any sort of election, and thus the buggers we hate get back in again. Name me 3 things that the NPA have done for the good of all Vancouverites? Tough question, because we probably don’t know what the NPA does.

I did an informal (and highly unscientific) poll of people, and asked them who they would vote for. Would they pick the NPA, or would they crowd with COPE/Green, or would they not vote at all. 100% of the people I polled, picked the latter, saying they wouldn’t vote, even if they were eligible. I think it is a sad statement of society, when its citizens can’t exercise their right. Then again, this same society gives them the right not too, as well.

Civic politics is a most confusing mix. Unlike the Provincial or Federal, governments the system of election is different, and probably more effective. Many would beg to differ. It’s a system, that in this town, sweeps in the wrong people. Maybe it is representative, but I doubt a 32% turnout, is representative.

We have to hope more people will go out and vote this Saturday the 20th. It may be small peanuts in our universe, but it’s peanuts nonetheless that we have to elect each term. If you are eligible to vote, do so.

Questions and comments may be sent to: editor@thecommentary.ca

An archive of Joseph Planta's previous columns can be found by clicking HERE .