Life Is Not Purgatory
Monday, November 15, 2004
WP Wagner Forum
At 9:00am five candadates sat down in high school desks with a bottle of water and a paper placard indicating name and part affiliation. The students for the most part seemed interested in what was being said from the firery Green to the calm Tory.
At the end of the forum, I was congratulated even by Gene's supporters for my performance and a stayed about an hour later talking to several interested people about my beleifs.
Here are my opening and closing statements:
Opening Statement -
Our MLA’s are required to represent their constituents. This includes those that voted for them, those who voted against them, and even those who did not vote. Very few candidates can claim to have earned the votes of the majority of their constituents, as nearly 45% of eligible voters did not do so last provincial election. While some can claim a majority of votes cast, many cannot even do that with the current first-past-the-post system.
Democracy is the rule of the majority, with due respect given to the opinions and rights of the minority. Often we seem to forget that - for the sake of political expediency.
The politics of left versus right invariably leads to polarize disputes based upon partisan ideology and rhetoric, where very little actual debate is conducted. Good government is that which can find the compromise and middle ground that is acceptable to many rather than governing within the rigid confines of political ideology and dogma.
Those who do not vote do so for a multitude of reasons:
- Some see one political party as much the same as any other, and they learn from examples of other provinces that sweep out so-called ‘bad governments’ only to replace them with another that does much the same.
- Some do not care who runs the government, so long as they are left alone to run their own lives.
Active participation in the democratic process is a fundamental requirement to cause change; during the campaign, on election day, and beyond. It is the obligation of the electorate to demand accountability from their representatives, and the obligation of your elected representatives to heed the demands of their constituents.
Closing Statement
A significant flaw in our current representative democracy is our dependence upon ‘political parties’ for direction. What were once loose affiliations of like minded individuals has generally given way to rigid hierarchy. Our MLA’s are required to follow the edicts of their party leadership should they wish to maintain their committee assignments, and in some cases their cabinet positions. This may run counter to their actual job: to represent all their constituents in the Alberta Legislature.
Even this forum originally did not invite me here because of my Independent status, and the format they presented me asked to relate to you in my closing statement why you should vote for my political party, and how my party meets the needs of the youth.
In Edmonton Mill Creek, November 22nd is not an election for Ralph Klein, Kevin Taft or Brian Mason… It is an election about Gene, Aman, Nathan, Eric or myself; and whom you believe should represent you in the Alberta Legislature.
I believe that democratic reforms are necessary to provide more accountable, responsible government. I believe that rational discussion between MLA’s would accomplish much more than adhering to political ideology, while hurling rhetoric across the floor of the Legislature. I believe that one MLA can make a difference, and there one voice the should be just as loud and just as effective as any other, regardless of party affiliation or lack thereof.
We are awash in oil royalties, arguably the wealthiest province in one of the worlds most developed nations. There is no reason why 83 individual MLA’s cannot find a middle ground between cutting taxes and increasing expenditures on programs that are important to the majority of Albertans; like health care, infrastructure, and education.
Accountable, representative government is available – but only if the electorate demands it. That is why on November 22nd, I am asking the residents of Edmonton Mill Creek to hire me as their MLA.
At 9:00am five candadates sat down in high school desks with a bottle of water and a paper placard indicating name and part affiliation. The students for the most part seemed interested in what was being said from the firery Green to the calm Tory.
At the end of the forum, I was congratulated even by Gene's supporters for my performance and a stayed about an hour later talking to several interested people about my beleifs.
Here are my opening and closing statements:
Opening Statement -
Our MLA’s are required to represent their constituents. This includes those that voted for them, those who voted against them, and even those who did not vote. Very few candidates can claim to have earned the votes of the majority of their constituents, as nearly 45% of eligible voters did not do so last provincial election. While some can claim a majority of votes cast, many cannot even do that with the current first-past-the-post system.
Democracy is the rule of the majority, with due respect given to the opinions and rights of the minority. Often we seem to forget that - for the sake of political expediency.
The politics of left versus right invariably leads to polarize disputes based upon partisan ideology and rhetoric, where very little actual debate is conducted. Good government is that which can find the compromise and middle ground that is acceptable to many rather than governing within the rigid confines of political ideology and dogma.
Those who do not vote do so for a multitude of reasons:
- Some see one political party as much the same as any other, and they learn from examples of other provinces that sweep out so-called ‘bad governments’ only to replace them with another that does much the same.
- Some do not care who runs the government, so long as they are left alone to run their own lives.
Active participation in the democratic process is a fundamental requirement to cause change; during the campaign, on election day, and beyond. It is the obligation of the electorate to demand accountability from their representatives, and the obligation of your elected representatives to heed the demands of their constituents.
Closing Statement
A significant flaw in our current representative democracy is our dependence upon ‘political parties’ for direction. What were once loose affiliations of like minded individuals has generally given way to rigid hierarchy. Our MLA’s are required to follow the edicts of their party leadership should they wish to maintain their committee assignments, and in some cases their cabinet positions. This may run counter to their actual job: to represent all their constituents in the Alberta Legislature.
Even this forum originally did not invite me here because of my Independent status, and the format they presented me asked to relate to you in my closing statement why you should vote for my political party, and how my party meets the needs of the youth.
In Edmonton Mill Creek, November 22nd is not an election for Ralph Klein, Kevin Taft or Brian Mason… It is an election about Gene, Aman, Nathan, Eric or myself; and whom you believe should represent you in the Alberta Legislature.
I believe that democratic reforms are necessary to provide more accountable, responsible government. I believe that rational discussion between MLA’s would accomplish much more than adhering to political ideology, while hurling rhetoric across the floor of the Legislature. I believe that one MLA can make a difference, and there one voice the should be just as loud and just as effective as any other, regardless of party affiliation or lack thereof.
We are awash in oil royalties, arguably the wealthiest province in one of the worlds most developed nations. There is no reason why 83 individual MLA’s cannot find a middle ground between cutting taxes and increasing expenditures on programs that are important to the majority of Albertans; like health care, infrastructure, and education.
Accountable, representative government is available – but only if the electorate demands it. That is why on November 22nd, I am asking the residents of Edmonton Mill Creek to hire me as their MLA.
