Lets Talk about .... Politics ... yup politics.

Ok kids... this is my attempt to rage against the increasing trend towards voter apathy.
First, I understand that it is difficult to get "excited" about Canadian politics, but as painful as it can be ... it is still an important part of maintaing democracy. I think that much of this is lost on the future generation. Now, I am not claiming in any way that I am a particularly politically minded or knowlegable person. This is the problem. Who of us can actually say that we are? When was the last time you actually came in contact with a running candidate. Most of us know who the PM is, and this is a good start, but how about the leaders of the other parties? With less than a quarter of the eligable voters showing up for the last federal election, I fear that Canada has fallen into a slump that will lead our country down a path that will be irreversible should the current trend continue. For hundreds and hundreds of years people have been fighting for the opportunity to vote. World wars have been waged for the right to cast a vote. The excuses for not voting are becoming worse and worse. Some University students interviewed today on Global said they dont vote because they cant spare the 10 minutes it takes to walk into a polling station and put an X in a box. You can take time off work to do it! It isnt a big deal. It is only because we can that we dont want to .. which is really backwards if you ask me. I am fairly certain that if you said on campus "No, I am sorry ... you cant vote," that we would get the largest voter turnout in history. I fear that it will take a dictator to prove to the youth of this counrty that they have the responsibility to vote. It is a cliche ... but if you want to change the way things work, first you have to change the way you think.
Secondly, I am a little concerned about a recent decision made by the supreme court. The decision bans any private citizen or group from spending any money on campaign issues during an election period. How and who does this benefit? How are important issues that need to be brought to light supposed to be addressed? Aside from using those lovely green spaces that are provided for us by government to create crop circles spelling out the issues, our voices are more or less silenced. It is even more difficult to get people involved with the threat of a five year prison sentence looming over their heads.
I understand that posting all of this on an obscure blog on the internet isnt really going to change anything, but I was just wondering what everyone else thinks. And hey ... it is a start right? And free ... so technically totally within my rights lol
Ciao,
~V