Shame on us

Dear editor,
Sorry for the passion expressed here, but I recently have been troubled by politics (as if that is considered a surprise) and feel compelled to write this letter.
In the past several months, I have read article after article, editorial after editorial, and watched CBC news clip after news clip of people on all levels of government and within the community resisting elections.
In Fort Frances, it appears there are hundreds of people upset about a pending council byelection. In Ottawa, you have the Liberal party abstaining from any vote of confidence in order to avoid and election.
There have been other examples of recently-avoided elections.
The reasons for not wanting an election are equally curious for me . . . “It would cost too much,” “Canadians don’t want another election,” “people are sick of the polls,” “the weather is too cold,” or locally, “past election results should be used to elect a previously unelected person” (rather than another vote).
Frankly, all these excuses are disheartening. Have we changed from a vibrant democracy with common altruistic and passionate ideals to a society of stoic workers only interested in payday? Where is the passion and belief?
I am ashamed of all the banter of anti-election rhetoric that has captivated the news locally and nationally. I am a citizen of a parliamentary democracy. I will pay whatever taxes that are necessary in order to continue to support my right, ability, and moral obligation to vote.
Further, I will never submit to any other form of governance that does not permit me the right and moral obligation to vote.
Literally millions of people in dozens of countries have died (and continue to die) for the mundane right to vote and live free while, here in Canada, we seem to be trying to forgo that right as simply “inconvenient.”
Shame on us . . . no . . . double shame on us!
Our very own grandparents (many of whom are still living to read and watch the news) have made horrendous sacrifices in their youth to keep the flame of democracy alive. Shame on us for even questioning the fruits of that sacrifice.
I believe we must support the democratic electoral system as a key plank of our community and Canadian identity, not view an election solely as a financial transaction.
Signed,
Daniel Young
Emo, Ont.