Electorate Has Its Say

When the populace speaks as one, their voice is so powerful that they have the ability to turn the tide. Unfortunately not enough people realize this.

One just has to look at two recent elections and their subsequent results to realize the power when a collective speaks. Two people were humiliated, and one provincial party fell in disgrace in two recent elections. A small Ontario village was able to rid themselves of a blight that saw them making headlines around the world. Headlines that put them in a bad light. Towns people were pitted against one another by a group of people elected to represent the whole township – not just one segment of it. Two villages that have stood as neighbours for a very long time, felt the sting of resentment.

Shawn Graham recently saw his provincial Liberal party fall victim to what one can only assume was his intent to sell off New Brunswick power to the province of Québec. The deal fell through, and so too, did Graham’s ambitions of another term as the Premier of New Brunswick. Pity.

Further afield in a small rural eastern Ontario village, the mayor of Russell was brought to his knees in a humiliating defeat. He received a mere 426 votes in his second shot at representing Russell Township as its mayor. I guess he will go down in history as “one-term-Hill”.

Ken Hill not only forced bilingual signage down the throats of those who dwell in the township, he waived their rights to a democratic vote, two years ago. I know, I was there.

Those who wanted to voice their opinions were allotted a ridiculous time-frame to have their say. In all the public was allocated a time-frame of some 30 minutes, give or take.

It’s one thing to do introduce legislation and take an honest vote on it and it is quite another to force it upon the electorate.

I agree whole-heartedly with bilingualism – what’s good for the goose is also good for the gander. What I don’t like is the forcefulness and yes, downright bullying perpetrated by a few power-seeking and self-motivated individuals that give politics a bad name.

Canadian troops are in a combat role, fighting for foreign democracy – they are giving their lives for people in Afghanistan to enjoy what we take for granted. So far, one hundred and fifty-two sons and daughters have returned home in a flag-draped casket. Innumerable men and women have come home with body parts missing. And the mayor of this small township thought he could override the rights of those he represented.

What most politicians seem to forget is that they are there to represent the people, to carry out the wishes of the majority. Politicians are not elected to be self-serving nor are they elected to ingratiate themselves to a portion of the electorate. Nor should they be there for their own grandiose plans down the road.

The Conservatives need to pay heed.