If i deem none of the candidates worthy I should be forced to hold my nose and pick one anyways?

Forcing people to vote makes democracy stupid, manipulative, ignorant, and nothing more than a beauty contest. If people choose not to vote it is because they don't have a choice that the voter could endorse, or they don't understand the issues. In either case I think that is a very good reason not to vote and thus pollute the informed voter on the issues. We don't even have a spoiled ballot option on the ballot, so how could we expect to force everyone to vote? I'm sure there would be a Charter of Rights challenge to that kind of forced 'democracy'.

To increase voter turnout I don't think it would be good to force people to endorse something they don't agree with just so that the political establishment can make the claim to legitimacy that much more convincingly.

To increase voter turnout I think it would be much more important to take money out of politics, so that choice on the ballot can compete with the big money of the corporation and union parties. Furthermore to increase voter turnout we need a political structure that is relevant to people and gives real power to constituencies in self determination of the decision making within government.

People are not stupid and most realize that it is insiders in the political parties that make all the decisions... and our vote is only used to give them legitimacy and not accountability.

The largest segment of the eligible voters was the segment that by not voting is saying they are not represented in the current political system. This is a danger to the governments legitimacy in a crisis and as such finding ways to enable a political system that allows for greater participation by more voices is the only way to influence greater voter turn out in a way that is consistent with the merits of a true democracy.

Stalin had near 100% voter turnout in his elections and like the liberals he won his elections as well... it didn't mean his elections provided more legitimacy than the one we just had here in BC.

To answer your question Ben... Neither, both 'lazy' and 'don't care' I don't think describe the bulk of the absentee voter.

Relevance and hopeless to the voters values would likely be the highest factor of them all.

I have relatives in Australia and they told me that it isn't a big deal to be forced to vote. If they don't like any of the candidates they simply spoil the ballot.

However I don't believe that we, in a so-called democracy, should be forced to vote by the government.

To those who didn't vote... Who cares,you are ignorant and probably would have made a kneejerk, uneducated guess anyway. People who do not take the time to check out the party platforms and vote their choice should be taken off of the next voters list. In order to get back on they should have to explain why they did not exercise their right. To those abstainers....You have NO RIGHT to complain about the government,PERIOD.

If you make it law what would be the punishment. I agree that everyone should vote. Maybe to those who did not vote just send them a ticket for $50. Should cover some of the costs of an election. Might be a thought that each candidate be made to mail out a list of things that they "promise" to do and if seeking relection which "promises" they had made in the previous election and why they didn't keep them .

Ya right. Another law. NOT!

the lowest voter turn out in canada!
im embarrased for our province

People don't vote because the overall 'Policy' of the two major parties, and all the serious minor ones, is exactly the same. In previous times, under more extreme 'economic' conditions elsewhere, the difference is the same as the difference between Fascism and Communism. The 'State' ("Keep BC Strong") is made the more important than all the 'Individuals', as individuals, who go to make it up.

Only the party's 'Method' of approach to implementing that same 'Policy' is different.

WE, the People, do NOT get any say whatsoever in deciding whether or not we'd sooner have a different 'Policy'. And, in fact, even the possibility there might BE something different is consciously suppressed if ever it arises, and questions begin to be asked by a broadening base of people.

The present vote is much like asking a condemned prisoner whether he'd rather be shot, hanged, or electrocuted. The end result, for him, is going to be exactly the same, no matter what 'method' of execution is chosen. He dies.

That overall, same 'Policy' I refer to is a continuation of the idea that ALL of us, as Consumers, should ONLY get our 'money' from Producers.

Rather than what should be the case in any sane, modern economic and political system, where ALL Producers have to get their 'money' ONLY from Consumers.

It is why the two main contenders put such emphasis repeatedly on "jobs". Yet never mention the more important relationship between "Costs" and "Incomes". It doesn't matter to them that in real terms we're continually working for less and less ( in terms of what our 'money' will buy for us). Only that we're all 'working'. Whether our 'work' is still needed or not.

And why the latter, "incomes", in their totality, increasingly fail to be able to fully liquidate the former, "costs" coming forward into prices. In short, why, over ANY SAME period of time, ALL the 'wages' CAN NEVER BUY ALL the 'production' at what it 'financially' costs to make it.

"Economics" always precedes "politics", and if you can't establish 'economic democracy'first ~ if you can't make people unafraid their "incomes" might end if they vote the wrong way ~ many of them will be increasingly reluctant to vote for anyone to represent them at all.

Everyone who is eligible to vote should do so, of their own free will, not because of another stupid law. Voting is one of the few ways we dull normals have to voice an opinion, or make a point. The truth is, btween elections we generally have to sit back and take whatever dumbass moves the governments make, there is generally no recourse but the extreme ( protests, riots ) The only chance we have to make a change is at election time, and while it is true that the choices are few and often poor, we should never ever give up one of our basic rights, choice of government.
Apathy rules, in Canada.
metalman.

Online voting. Go.

Well i can tell you from exprince in not voting in the past. The main reason was is that the political parties didnt represent my values. First of all im democratic about some things, liberal and on others, Conservative on a few things.. Perhaps the 48% of non voters feel the same way.

Well you can add another to the list of non voters I'M Done! Obviously not rich enough to bribe my friends, another 4 years of Cambell? You can have have him!

I did not vote this election but it was not because I was lazy or did not care, the reason I did not vote was because I do care and I did not like what either party is proposing. My non vote was a vote for “none of the above”.

I am a conservative in values and there will never be a day where I would vote NDP as their beliefs go against everything that I believe in.

My only other alternative would have been to vote Liberal. I have held my nose and voted for the Liberals many times now under the belief a non vote is a vote for the NDP, but this time I could not do it. With the pending Recognition Act that they are ramming through on short notice and without public input it was enough to pull my vote. I am not going to be telling my kids 10 years from now that I supported that piece of legislation. I find it surprising that it was not more of an election issue.

So with no choices I could live with, it was a vote for none of the above.

We have a sacred trust to vote. I know I am talking to the educated on this venue but I need to say it. Men have died in two Wars so that we could retain our democracy. They have died in water filled trenches, they have died in the air, they have died on water. We don't have the right to indulge ourselves by not voting. In watching the Oliphant Enquiry there is some hope that politician's may have to be accountable to the Canadian public. We have to keep democracy alive so that we can have these enquiries.

At least here we have the right not to vote. I have spent much time in Australia and it is not a place I would want to call home.

In this day what is there to vote for, really. The parties are only interested in the party. We are told one thing and then government goes and does something else. There is no recourse and if there is no recourse, why vote. What is the vote giving you after all the smoke and mirrors, nothing. People did not die for the present system.

Do you really want to force someone to make an uninformed decision? I think not.

I never vote federally because the difference between the Libs & Cons is inconsequential. It would be a waste of my time.

People get tired of going to vote every year. We had one fedearl election last year, then we have a BC provincial election this year and we are expecting another federal election coming soon.

We have extended the outdated UK political system with federalism and the election system is overloaded and not proporly working. In the UK, the rational for a Scotish or Wales assemblies was because
of the Scottish/Welsh nationalism and the difference in judicial system and history. The rest of UK - 50 million or more - have the same parliament and the same rules, tribunals and insurance, why not in Canada? In Canada, the moment you go from one 4 Mil. province to another, you need to change driving licence, insurance and even get new certificates to practice e.g. if you are a lawyer.

The system has the shortcomings of the UK system - e.g unstable minority governments because we don't vote for a president/premier with fixed term and unlike US and more modern systems, there is no clear separation between executive and legislative system which further contibutes to absence of accountability and no proper check and balance. We have ended up having the weaknesses of both UK and US systems.

One alternative is to adopt the UK model and close some of these money wasting assemblies - except in Quebec - and vote for regional premiers/governors with fixed term instead. Or those in Washington would love us more if we adopt the US electoral model, considering 70+ of our exports is to US. I am sure the BC CEOs will love this option better and dream of this as a milestone in joining US as another state.

All you people who have all your excuses for not voting; get your head out of the sand! Who cares about whether or not you like any of the candidates, or if they represent your values, or if you are tired of "all the elections", what a bunch of crap. If you care to think about it, you could go to vote and simply write 'NONE OF THE ABOVE' thereby spoiling your ballot, AND sending a message. Think: you who choose not to vote are voting against democracy with your apathy. Do you take our freedom for granted? Do you take the right to vote for granted? Lamb's post says it all, read it, and get back to me.
metalman.

Ben you talk about the youth not getting out to vote. I wonder who their mentors are?!!!

In addition, if it was made law that you had to vote, with the apathy towards government already it would go from apathy to anarchy!

Canadian youth historically have never voted in large numbers.

Canadians have for a number of years been preening and pretending to be highly intelligent. They love to watch Canadian Broadcasters ask Americans questions about Canada, so that they can laugh at how stupid the Americans are. Fact is the Canadians are pretty stupid themselves.


At any given moment if you had a group of 20 Canadians, they would be hard pressed to tell you who the Prime Minister is. Who is the official Leader of the Opposition. What the 4 Major political parties in Canada stand for. What is the function of the Governer General.

They would have problems naming the 10 Provinces, certainly naming the Capitals of these Provinces, and would not be able to name anymore than 4/5 Premiers and the political parties they represent.

When it comes to issues like EI, Afghanistan, Immigration, etc; They probably couldnt tell you anything, other than the hype they see on TV.

Im afraid that the 45/50% of Canadians who didnt vote, really do not give a S..T for those who did. We have a large number of highly paid individuals living high off the hog in this Country, and the truth of the matter is they really dont care much for the rest.

Ask a person who is working for the minimum wage in Canada who cant get any other employment, how he feels about high paid, teachers, government workers, union workers, politicians, etc; who all make in excess of $60,000.00 per year, live in fancy houses, have pension plans, RSP's etc; and you will find that they are not impressed.

You want him to vote to maintain the life style of the rich and famous. I doubt if you can convince him.

People who are teachers, work for the government, are in a union or are politicians are typically EDUCATED and worked their butts off to get the jobs they have. People working for minimum wage generally do not have post secondary education and are NOT qualified for the higher paying jobs. I KNOW teachers (we have two in our family) are not "rich and famous" nor are the union workers in our family. Yes we have RRSP's and pensions but we often live pay cheque to pay cheque and have just finished paying off student loans after paying them for over 10 yrs so don't preach about blue collar workers being "rich and famous" we just worked hard to be able to earn "decent" money, but certainly not a "rich man's income". Give me a break and think about your above statement Palopu!

Ok, i voted BUT: I am sooo sick of the sanctimony after every election i am thinking of giving up voting (to avoid the small chance i might become preachy, belabouring and insulting like some people out there). The fact that many people do not vote means NOTHING. It isnt a slag on those people, our system or the country.
It may well be a measure of whether our politicians have engaged the populous, or a reflection in the confidence people have in our political system. It may also be the best safety valve against poor voting practice, or maybe a pitfall leading to elections being decided by the same whining hacks, year after year. MAybe we all have it so well here, and we realise that for the most part, the party in power will have little or no effect on our safety and prosperity.
For those of you who put on the little sticker after you voted and strutted around, good for you. Now get off of the rest of the populations back. While participating in a democratic process might be seen as a duty by some people, it isnt mandatory, and those people who didnt vote didnt actually harm you or your candidate. I think we have all heard enough preaching by now. By the way, before the 'our soldiers died for our right to vote ' people lay into me, i would have to say that our enemy in the last great war was elected. I hope we fought for more than the right to vote in provincial elections. Maybe we they fought for the right to do as we please just so long as it doesnt hurt anyone. Of course, that would be at odds with the idea of forcing us to vote for someone we didnt believe in.

Enough already.
Noone appreciates being judged, criticized or being lectured to.
Being forced to engage in a process does not work either.
University educated folks like myself did not have it easy. I did not have rich parents to pay for my education. I waited on tables, slung beer in pubs, taught piano lessons and tutored students to make my way through university. And I am not a government worker, a teacher or belong to a union.
Let's not make assumptions here about people we don't know. And let's not be resentful towards people who have worked hard in their education and careers. Take responsibility and not cast negativity because of jealousy and bitterness. If you're not happy with your current circumstances...DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT! Playing the victim does nothing for self fulfilment...or credibility.

Caran & Rainbow,
Please stop making intelligent, rational posts. You're killing the 250 vibe. ;-)>

If you are young and have the chance to vote, it is much COOLER to vote for your star or idol on a tv show by phone or by the Internet instead of going to the school again and voting for someone
who is as old as your parents.

If we had a presidential election, things may have been a bit better; or much better if voting was possible by the phone/Internet or email.