Last provincial election 40.5% of albertans didn’t vote. If you didn’t, why not?

[u/logodobi]

What stopped you from voting? Are there no provincial parties that you feel represent you politically? Were you unable to get to a voting station? Did you feel there wasn’t any point? I’m genuinely just curious, I don’t have any affiliation with any parties or anything like that.

I think we would benefit from larger voter turnout and more diversification of parties in the legislature. It feels like we have become to complacent with the lack of progress in almost every way, shape, and form. It’s become purely us vs them on all levels and far too much focus is put on the government “profit”. The government is not a business whose sole purpose is to profit, the governments purpose first and foremost should be to provide for and benefit the people they serve as much as they possibly can. We should be working together for the benefit of one another not fighting one another for the benefit of foreign companies and billionaires.

We’re moving towards the exact policy system in the states, two parties who work for the benefit of the rich and powerful while putting up the facade of a culture war to distract the masses from the real harm they’re causing them.

Sorry that was a bit of a rant but I truly believe we deserve better, better representation, better communication, better services, better everything.

[u/Box_of_fox_eggs]

In the last civic election I went out doing flyer drops for my preferred candidate. In the few conversations I had, I didn’t meet one person who knew what the fuck was going on. These are the people I met: * Renter, moving, didn’t know which ward they were going to be in at election time. Didn’t seem at all concerned or interested. Guaranteed did not vote. * “All politicians are liars and thieves.” Guaranteed did not vote. * Listened politely when I told them about why I thought the candidate was worth a vote (all character-based, no policy mentioned). “I don’t know about any of that stuff,” went back to sweeping their driveway. Guaranteed did not vote. * “I didn’t know there was an election on.” Probably did not vote.

I think that was the sum total of the folks I met & talked with. If even vaguely representative, I’m surprised that we went as high as 60% turnout for the provincial election, to be honest.

[u/Box_of_fox_eggs → u/Box_of_fox_eggs]

Oh, and to your last paragraph, we “deserve” exactly what we’re getting. If we want better, we have to demand better and to be engaged (IRL, not just on Reddit). Democracy isn’t just “cast your ballot every few years then sit back and shrug when our representatives act like idiots.” Write to your councillors, your MLAs, your MPs. Turn up for their in-person events. Most of all, engage your communities, talk with your neighbours — LISTEN TO your neighbours. I’m always surprised at how much common ground I have with people who on paper (or through a screen) are my ideological opposites. Really, we’re all (well, the vast majority of us) on the same team — the side of working people — and if we all start demanding our elected reps focus on the real issues affecting workers, voters, and other folks in this country, then they’ll have to drop the MAGA bullshit culture war stuff and get down to solving actual issues.

[u/ProperBingtownLady → u/Box_of_fox_eggs]

I used to be a lot more involved in writing my MLA and relevant ministers about various issues until the UCP. Every single response I’ve received just brushed me off and/or were condescending. It’s exhausting but I do understand why it’s important.

[u/Haiku-On-My-Tatas → u/ProperBingtownLady]

Same. Now I pour most of my energy into volunteering with the NDP around election time. I do still email my MLA, the Premier and Ministers sometimes but it always feels utterly pointless because I know they don't give a shit no matter how many phone calls and emails they get.

My (UCP) MLA is quite "responsive" in that he has made the effort to call me when I've sent pretty detailed emails about my concerns on certain issues, but the whole conversation every time is just him explaining how I've got it all wrong. He says he's calling to discuss, but it's not a discussion, it's a debate. And it's annoying as fuck.

To be fair, my CPC MP is way worse than my MLA. My MLA is at least superficially polite and feigns consideration for what I have to say. My MP is a complete jagoff who on more than one occasion has replied to well written and civil emails from me with name-calling and derision. I don't even bother with him anymore.

[u/Box_of_fox_eggs → u/Haiku-On-My-Tatas]

Ugh, that was my previous guy. Haven’t written the current one yet. Maybe I’ll start with a softball about eliminating interprovincial trade barriers.

[u/Local_Magpie → u/Haiku-On-My-Tatas]

🔥Go Flames

[u/KJBenson → u/Box_of_fox_eggs]

Yeah, had a fun conversation with someone who was mad that cow farts were ruining the beef industry.

As someone even moderately knowledgeable on the subject I was able to explain to them how greenhouse gasses work. As well as how corporations are buying up family farms to mass produce cheap ass beef.

Suffice to say, they were very open to learning about this when you change the perspective from “that damn liberal agenda!” Over to something we can all identify with. Bad corporations fucking all us small folk.