The first election I qualified to vote was the Federal election in 2000. The Chretien Liberals were destined to win with a majority. I didn't vote in that election. My riding was held (and still is) by Jim Karygiannis. I liked the Liberals, but I am indifferent to the incumberent candidate. So I just stayed in Kingston that day and drank coffee in the Sleepless Goat watching the rain.
Since then, I abstained from every single election. Federal, provincial, municipal, plebicites, referenda. Nada. No vote from this disaffectionate, young Politics major. I even wrote an essay on why I am not voting for my college newspaper. Looking back at it now, it was depressive, pretentious, and gothy. I even used a brandy bottle to described why I was not voting. WTF.
This election coming up and the accompanying referendum on Proportional Representation might be important. It may produce minority government. The British-style Westminister System is about to be abandoned for something that was described by a citizen comittee to be "more fair."
There are something, for which, the ramifications are never entirely clear to all those who are participants in the thing. Elections are one of them. The theology of democratic-liberalism has as one of its main tenet beliefs that wisdom is carried by the greatest plurality of even the most ignorant of masses. Even if many unwashed, individuals are dumb, all of them put together are smarter than the smartest person in the world.
I like that. I personally agree with it.
This time around, I am actually tempted to break my ballot box virginity. But who I choose and the things done inside the little cardboard box I am not revealing. A gentleman never kiss and tell.
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