So an election has been called in Canada. A lot of deja vu for me with this. Twenty years ago, the Canadian and American elections were happening at the same time as well. The free trade agreement was the big issue, and I was leaving the ranks of the Liberal Party to vote for the Progressive Conservatives. Now, I'm a member of the Conservative Party who cannot vote for them in this election due to their support of Bill C-61.

It's actually a pretty crappy feeling. I for the most part have been very pleased with the Conservative Party's government in the last 3 years. I even think Stephen Harper, whom I do not agree with on social issues, has done a great job of instilling a culture of compromise within the Conservative Party ranks. No easy task, I can assure you. He is an effective leader. However, the party's introduction of this legislation is entirely counter to why I joined the party.

I've had some interesting comments made to and about me regarding my decision. Mostly people, some whom I like greatly, are feeling betrayed by me. I regret they feel that way, but I am not a party hack (I am in no way implying that they are). I will not vote for any party simply because I'm a member. I firmly believe that for democracy to work you must Vote Your Interest. Too often I get the feeling that people in North America vote based on fear of the "other guy", which is why negative attack ads work, or from poorly thought out jingoistic ideology. These tendencies motivate citizens to actually vote against their best interests. It's crazy.

An over simplification for clarity:
A forty year-old worker making $50k a year in Texas without healthcare in the USA should be voting for the party offering affordable healthcare plain and simple. Getting healthcare is in his or her self-interest.

A thirty year old entrepreneur should be voting for less taxes and more investment incentives.

An avant-garde artist should be voting for more art grants and endowments.

An out of work uneducated laborer should be voting for more social support and training programs.

Only by voting our interests can democracy truly represent the people. (A big reason the first past the post system needs to be addressed.) Not everyone will get their needs addressed or represented on any given election, but only once we clearly vote for our self-interest will political parties start to address the varied concerns of people by adopting the policies needed to gain their support in the next election. This is different from lobbying special interests post-election, which in my opinion is entirely counter to democratic principles.

If everyone keeps voting for meaningless slogans or out of fear, political parties have no reason or need to address our concerns. If we do not vote our self interest, parties will keep pumping out the same old jingoistic slogans and attack ads and I'm not sure that's the point of democracy.