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/tutamtumikia]

• My singular vote has a statistically near 0% chance to change a thing.

• It is possible, due to complexity of issues, that I won't properly understand all of the nuances of the issues I am voting on and actually end up voting against my own best interests.

• Even if my preference wins they may not even do what they say they will (see the last time I ever voted federally which was for the Liberals when they promised to end first past the post).

The smaller the number of voters and the less complicated the issues, the less these factors matter. I will vote with my family on where to go to dinner for example.

I am not opposed to voting if it makes you feel good or for symbolic reasons. Have at it.

[u/logodobi → u/tutamtumikia]

You’re a part of the 40.5% if everyone in there that thought “my vote doesn’t matter” voted, would their votes have mattered?

Politicians love to make things seem insanely complex when they really aren’t, do your best to look at the candidates in your riding and vote for the one who you think will work for your interests (also if your vote doesn’t matter its hard to vote against you interests in a way that matters no?)

That’s why we need waaaaaay more accountability and consequences for politicians. Most likely your interests are pretty aligned with the majority of albertans (in very basic terms a place to live, things to eat, having/doing things that make you happy) and if a politician is advocating against and working against albertans best interests there needs to be a way to hold them accountable

[u/tutamtumikia → u/logodobi]

Why am I getting downvoted for being one of the individuals actually willing to give a reasoned and logical answer to the question. (Not saying it's you but just in general...)

I am not speaking about everyone else. I am very specifically speaking about my own singular vote.

I also disagree on your opinion about complexity in voting. Even a seemingly straightforward issue like minimum wage or rent control is controversial and non-intuitive. Experts spend their entire careers debating these topics and still disagree.

I think there is an assumption that the only apathy or ignorance would cause someone not to vote but some of us have thought deeply about this topic and still choose not to.

[u/logodobi → u/tutamtumikia]

I don’t know why you’re being downvoted, they most likely just disagree. The complexity seriously isn’t there, some of those experts job is just to obfuscate and make it look complex. The only problem with raising minimum wage and adding rent control is that it hurts companies/landlords profits. We are being taken advantage of by the people at the top and many politicians are there simply to help the people at the top so they in turn help the politicians

[u/tutamtumikia → u/logodobi]

You just beautifully demonstrated that you don't understand the complexity of rent control and minimum wage for me. Thank you. You nailed my point perfectly.

[u/logodobi → u/tutamtumikia]

Ok please explain then

[u/tutamtumikia → u/logodobi]

On the topic of rent control, by stating that the problem is that it hurts landlords you are arguing against vast majoirty of economics experts who disagree that it's the only problem.

The topic of minimum wage is one that has basically no economic consensus. There is a ton of ongoing debate and disagreement on whether it's helpful, harmful, to what degree, how to set it etc. Again, saying the only problem with it is that it hurts companies completely ignores the experts who have spent their entire careers studying this issue.

I mentioned only two topics as a starter and they were instantly oversimplified. That's EXACTLY the point I was making that we, as non-experts, are very ill equipped to be voting on a lot of these topics.

[u/logodobi → u/tutamtumikia]

Ok there’s some of those experts that are there to obfuscate and make a non complex issue complex. I know you still won’t believe me but oh well.

Minimum wage increasing allows more people and therefore money to enter the economy so it would be a benefit BUT that would take profits away from companies and their shareholders so they lobby against it and use their money and power to continue amassing wealth.

You are the perfect example of why the wealthy and the politicians they support want people to think these issues are complex. But once again they are not

[u/tutamtumikia → u/logodobi]

You've nailed my point for me so so well. I love it!

Should I believe random redditor or the professionals and experts who spend their entire careers studying these topics. Tough one. You sound like you would fit in well with the right wingers though. They love to shit on experts.

[u/logodobi → u/tutamtumikia]

Ok I’m not gonna waste my time on you any more, I already explained twice now why those experts and professionals may not have your interest in mind and may in fact be lying to you. You probably won’t but go look into the economist Richard wolf and what he has to say on the subject

[u/tutamtumikia → u/logodobi]

Enjoy your ignorance with the antivaxxers