Because these countries are too big for democracy to work properly. I live on the western side of Canada, right, and we are governed by the East. They have a bigger population over there, and they tend to have the loudest voices. If you've ever been to Canada, its quite easy to see that the eastern side and western side can look like two different countries. The people here are different, we have different views and ideas, but because we are the minority (for lack of a better word) there's not much we can do. I've heard the phrase "if you don't vote, you don't have the right to complain" but I think that's bullshit. My vote doesn't matter, what I think won't change anything in any meaningful way. Until we break apart from this large scale democracy hoard, there will be those who remain unheard. So I don't vote. I don't care.. But I also don't complain because it's a waste of time.
I'm also disappointed in the political choices of the East - and that's because it's mostly old fucks and ignorant people who vote for those who are voted in. Seriously - it's all dick-bananas politically right now. I still DO vote because it's a proof of caring - and one day it will matter.
This is personal experience - but mostly, people who vote care. And it's proof of caring in the sense that - not voting for the person you'd like to see in office is, in a way, voting against them. And since everyone whines that the current leaders suck, the only way to get someone who sucks less in office is to vote for them.
Would you say then, that not voting = not caring? My gripe with what you said before is that i could not care and vote, and i could care and not vote. There doesn't seem to be any causation. There might be a correlation but I don't know of any evidence for or against, and I think setting up a study like this would be difficult.
Which province? Alberta, where you suddenly and currently have an NDP government? Oh, you mean federally? That could change. Meanwhile Canadians, jinxedlinxed and arktky welcome to hubski. Canada does not have proportional representation. If it did, would you feel as though your vote counted?
It could change because again Alberta(& the west in general) isn't as divided from the east as it used to be. I personally do vote in every election from municipal to federal, I believe voting is more than just casting a vote for your team but also representing your demographic. If only parents voted it doesn't matter if the politicians were conservative or socialist, they're going to try and work for that demographic. I think we need electoral reform, the problem is every debate I see on the matter we can't seem to agree on what kind. I think we need STV.
I think Alberta has different priorities (I.e. oil) than B.C. and it shows in the polls.
The older generation, yes. They do tend to favour that of the East, basically because its been ingrained after so many years of being shut down.... But my generation saw all that and were (as I see it) forced into apathy or extremism..