Truemors
Yesterday evening, I and my disabled mother who is 70 yrs. old and in a wheelchair went to our local polling station to Vote, as we've done every other time since 1975. Although the Globe and Mail had predicted a few days earlier that there would probably be a low voter turnout, especially among young voters -- what came as a shock to me watching the news last night was that we had the lowest turnout in Canadian History at only 58% of eligible voters voting in yesterday's election.
To me this is Democracy at a very low point ... and I for one do not comprehend how this could happen! Yes it is true that many Canadians were disappointed that they were told once again that there would be another election - that they were not eager about. But so what! An election was called and especially with out Economy being what it is and many Canadians watching good jobs leaving the country and prices going on on everything, I felt it was the right time to participate in the fullest sense! My mother and I watched the elderly, in their 70's and 80's hobble into the voting room using canes, or held up by a caring arm of a family member and they all smiled when they left -- feeling good just by their action of participating in a democratic right! I too felt pround to participate as did many of our neighbours. My party didn't do so badly and Layton picked up a couple of seats, and I'm sure that if more young people had taken the time to do their homework and went out to vote, it would've made a real difference in the outcome of the election -- of this there is no doubt at all.
It makes me sad that some people just take this right and throw it to the wind, not fully appreciating how important it is to play a role in our democracy, in our government, and in what happens to Canada's political and social future!
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