Life Lived - Politics...2.0

Four years ago, when this blog was new, I wrote about an upcoming election.

Guess where we are now!

It's election time again and for the second time, I am here to talk about voting. This time I will say it plainly:

I don't care who you vote for

accessed 9/10/19 - Mclean's.ca

JUST VOTE - OCTOBER 21, 2019

NO EXCUSES

YOUR VOTE COUNTS

I know that there are people out there who will say that this is not the year to say 'I don't care who you vote for' this is the time for real action and real change. The real truth is I agree, but the other truth is, I am a teacher. I don't have the same ability to try and sway people to vote a certain way in case I influence the you minds of tomorrow with my personal politics. So no, I will never tell someone how to vote. I can't even really encourage certain leanings. However, that being said, I will not hold back anymore on discussing my choices on voting, and why I am choosing the way I am.

Here is my story:

Like I said in my last Politics post, I am not a fan. But I have come to the realization that I can't use that as an excuse anymore. I have grown in the years since my last federal election. I understand better now the intricacies of what a party platform is, and getting into what platforms I support. I still don't like them, but I get the point now.

We didn't talk much about politics in my house, partly because I didn't want to. I knew that Grandma was a big NDP supporter, because she was all about unions. I had no idea how my parents voted. When I started voting, I had no idea who or what I was voting for (in terms of policy) for a very long time. I would usually vote Liberal or NDP because I knew enough to know I did not fall in the Conservative category (hooray for Socials 11 and their political studies unit). It wasn't until it was time to vote Harper out, that I sat up and paid attention. I looked at policies, and I looked at strategies. I voted for Liberals that year...sadly have regretted it ever since. But now I knew what to look for. Provincial elections came up. I looked at platforms, I considered my job, and my collegues, I considers my personal values, and I voted my conscience. I am content with the way I voted, and this time it paid off. Now, I have done the same. I have looked at platforms, I have weighed the upsides and the downsides. What I agree with and what I don't. I have looked at it all. Truth is, I am my Grandma's Granddaughter. This girl is Orange through and through.

Now, people will say "but who is this Jagmeet guy, he has no federal experience!" Or "They're all a bunch of Socialists" or from Harper's mouth back in the day "radical economic policies, that would raise taxes, that would kill jobs"

1) Sure Jagmeet Singh is experience federally, but he has the party and the policies behind him to back him and support him. The leader does not make the party (look at Justin...). 

2) ...Uh...yea...that's the point. Socialism is not the devil. Socialism is not 'hardworking people getting their money taken to support freeloaders.' Yes there will be people who work the system. But there are now. A lot of them are already ridiculously wealthy. People don't need a $5 million/month or even per year to be content and enjoy life. Socialism is a distribution. It is Medicare, it is Paid Parental Leave, it's Public Higher Learning and Guaranteed Livable Income (talk to me about that!) Socialism helps the regular guy, and keeps the rich guys a bit more even keeled. How is that a bad thing?

3) We need radical economic policies, we are in a really shitty economic time, we need higher taxes (particularly on the extremely wealthy and large cooperate entities), and yes it might kill jobs such as carbon jobs, but it will open up so many more that can be lateral or upward moves for those who have been displaced.

The bottom line is, I like the NDP, and I am voting for Jagmeet Singh. and before y'all jump at me saying I'm not voting for Jagmeet, I'm voting for the NDP rep in my riding, Jagmeet Singh happens to be the NDP rep in my riding thank you very much!

accessed 9/10/19 - thestar.com

Ok, discussion over. Main take away - Go Vote

Perhaps I should consider a name change: The Pagan Socialist English Teacher...

Cheers

Sláinte

Skol