Wednesday, March 21, 2012

I DECLARE... I DECLINE!!

So... i'm sure there are a lot of other Albertans out there who are concerned about our government's attempt to marry the Alberta Human Rights Act to our Education Act (to better understand this click HERE).  So, Neil & i were discussing our options for the election that is going to get called any day now...
i told him that in researching my options, i had read an article that outlined voting for, 'none of the above'.  Apparently in Alberta, Ontario & Manitoba - dissatisfied voters have the option of, 'declining to vote'.  This made Neil curious, so he asked how you do that... i told him you go through the whole rigamarole of getting your ballot & then you tell them that you would like to officially decline your ballot.
He said, "Um... how do you do that... Loudly?"
& we burst out laughing imagining standing in our little public square of a polling station loudly declining our ballots.  (He was probably just picturing me doing that all by myself... i more generously pictured us doing it together.)
Anyway - later that night, we were watching tv & there was an ad for The Office - & just the tiniest clip of Michael Scott standing in the middle of the room where he states loudly, "I delcare BANKRUPTSYYYYYYY!!!"
Well, we looked at each other & absolutely lost it.  We couldn't breathe we were laughing so hard. 
"That's you... that's YOOOOOOOUUUUU...!!"
So, in all honestly... i don't know what to do about voting.  It's hard.  But i'm going to study, learn and weigh my options.  i'm going to listen to my conscience that tells me that it's time to be a one issue voter, (i vote prolife). 
But for now... i declare nothing...

8 comments:

Melissa said...

I think I'm starting to understand where Mollen gets her spunk from... :)

This is such a gut-wrenching time...

Anonymous said...

I hope u don't ever complain about the government if you're not going to vote!

paige said...

First of all, i never ever said i wasn't going to vote. i didn't even say i was going to decline my ballot, i just mentioned that it's an option that i'm considering.
Declining your ballot is a different thing than not showing up to vote. It's a statement that we are dissatisfied with the options that have been presented to us. It could potentially be a powerful way to protest the fact that there are so few in government willing to take on certain critical issues. i take my part in the democratic process seriously.
This is just a fun post on one option that is given to us in this province.

paige said...

Mel - this *is* a gut wrenching time. Taking a moment to peek in on the leg livestream online right now...

mamalena said...

Sorry to have to dissagree with anonymous...but I think one still has a right (and possibly even a responsibility) to complain about the government whether one votes or not. One has no opportunity to opt out of it's governance, without doing something radical like squatting in the forest or under a bridge. Unless one has a passport, one is not free to leave the country. One cannot either buy or sell without government accounting (except for panhandlers and those participating in the underground economy...hence the rise in their numbers). Sometimes,public opinion is one's only tool....and so complaining and civil disobedience will ensue even when voting becomes impossible. And that, I believe is a good thing. A spoiled ballot sure beats a bloody coup d'état. Just saying....

Lesley said...

I am going to sit firmly on the fence yet again. I agree with Anonymous in one way. Nobody takes abstaining or vote declination seriously. Just as votes for the green party, rhino party and yogic flying party (sigh) are never taken seriously either. They are considered wasted votes.

However, MamaLena makes me think that if enough people did this someone may sit up and take notice.

I think watching my Mum become a Canadian citizen for the sole purpose of being able to vote changed me as a person. She wanted a voice. She drilled into me the importance of being part of the democratic system through voting. To quote Dr. Seuss...
"We’ve GOT to make noises
in greater amounts!
So, open your mouth, lad!
For every voice counts!”
Which...come to think of it, makes a very convincing argument for both sides of this discussion;-)

Paige blogged about the 'baby steps' of the pro-life movement a while back. About how (and I am totally paraphrasing here) something is better than nothing and as we take more steps towards sanity, people are more willing to accept the further steps to come.

Perhaps there is someone to vote for. Someone who can take Canada forward in those baby steps????

Just a thought from far away...I don't get to vote anymore and I kind of miss it.
Lx

Lesley said...

...and by the way...love that clip from the office:-) Made my day!

paige said...

Lesley - my understanding is that in Alberta, formally declined ballots are counted differently and separately from spoiled ballots... But yes... My hope is that I can vote confidently in someone who will be able to represent my views in legislature. I guess we'll see what and who's available soon!!

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