Consider, Federal

Do we really live in a Democracy? part one

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Do we really live in a Democracy?

The one thing you can say about our current election is it is indisputable proof that if we want to live in a Democracy and have good governance addressing the important issues and challenges facing Canada and Canadians, we must have Federal Electoral Reform.

OK – the one thing you can say beside the facts it is an unnecessary waste of taxpayers dollars (what else would expect from politicians than to fail to consider the effect of their actions on the people they are suppose to represent?) and in violation of the fixed election date law passed by the government that called the election (what else would you expect from politicians than to consider themselves above the laws of Canada?)

Citizens are being served garbage on a silver platter by all the federal parties. With apologies to anyone who makes silver platters, this is as apt a description of what politicians are trying to pass off as debate and discourse on which any semi-intelligent, semi-rational person could make an effective decision on who should be sent to Parliament to form a government.

At a time citizens need to decide who could (not would but could possibly) provide good government and effectively begin to clean up the mess our current and recent crops of politicians have strewn across all parts of Canada and abroad federal parties and politicians seem bent on demonstrating their complete lack of ability.

The very foundation of Democracy is informed consent of the governed. If citizens cannot make an informed choice and thus cannot give informed consent, the government is not democratically elected and the country (Canada) is not truly a democracy, even if politicians choose to label it a democracy in order to make ruling the population easier.

Slick – yes. Loud – yes. Full of empty promises, of politicians avoiding important issues and questions, of misleading statements, smoke and mirrors, half-truths, lack of debate and examination of reasoning/explanations, of sound bites – yes.

Substance to be able to make an informed judgment and thus grant informed consent – NO.

We look at China and decry the lack of democracy in China. But is there really any difference between Canada and China; between Canadians having to decide among 5 bad/unacceptable choices and Chinese having only one bad/unacceptable choice? Not in any meaningful way.

The choice Canadians need to focus on, should be struggling with, is not who will form the next government but how do we take back our country and turn it into a democracy in fact and function – not just in name.

“The ignorance of one voter in a democracy impairs the security of all.”

John F. Kennedy

Municipal

handyDART

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Monday morning found me nervous as my picture was taken for the newspaper and the announcement I would be seeking a seat on Abbotsford City Council. Running for a seat on council is not something I had ever thought to find myself doing and having made the decision to run I was feeling a little trepidation.


Right up until I heard Brian Herrmann relating what was going on with the handyDART system of disabled and handicapped bus service in Abbotsford.

As Mr. Herrmann notes: “Day Programs provide, in many cases, the only socialization, entertainment, and awareness of the community, that seniors and people with disabilities receive. Unable to attend these programs, means that they are sitting at home, with few options.”

I had heard about problems when applying for handyDART services for individuals who have special needs, that nobody new could get transportation. People were told that this would resolve itself when the entire system in the lower mainland was reorganized and that this would result in increased handyDART services in Abbotsford that would give access to Vancouver from Abbotsford.

However the Abbotsford-Mission Joint Transit Committee chose not to pursue this change. Unfortunately the Committee also chose not to make the changes necessary to meet the increased need/demand for handyDART transportation.

The result is people are being made prisoners in their homes because they cannot get the specialized transportation they need to get out into the community.

Possibly this explains why Abbotsford council felt that making even one playground accessible to the disabled was unnecessary. After all if you are not going to provide a way for the disabled to get out of their homes and into the community, it is unnecessary for you to provide somewhere such as an accessible playground for them to enjoy.

I have seen how much the ability to use handyDART and getting out into the community benefits those who need the service.

An accessible playground for the disabled and handyDART services sufficient to meet the needs of our community should be a priority.

Rather than councils priority in spending money putting Council’s Million Dollar$ Puddle in front of the Clearbrook Library.

Federal, Municipal, Provincial

Tuesdays Abby Times Editorial.

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I agree with Tuesday’s editorial commentary on elections.

We need “to demand more honesty” from politicians and government. We also need to demand responsible behaviour and our right to know what is going on without the need to file numerous Freedom of Information requests.

Downloading costs to lower levels of government or avoiding dealing with the problems is not the actions of a responsible government.

Politicians need to be reminded that the dollars they spend on big raises or building public monuments to themselves and their egos are not monopoly money but dollars earned by taxpayers through hard work.

We need to remind our local MPs and MLAs that they are not there to serve the best interests of the political parties they belong to, but to serve the best interests of the people who elected them to look after their (the citizen’s) best interests.

No federal Conservative in BC should be re-elected, because of their failure to stand up for their constituents and tell Stephen Harper “NO!” on calling an election that is distracting and so interfering with “November’s municipal campaign, loaded with close-to-home issues that really matter this time.”

Citizens need to join in the (particularly local municipal) debates on issues; priorities; fiscal responsibility; thinking problems, proposed actions and the effects of the actions through; integrity and the fact politicians are there as our representatives and to act in citizens best interests – not their own or a political party’s interests/agenda.

Perhaps it is also time for citizens to remember that we are not limited to voting for the poor and limited choices offered by political parties or politicians.

We have the right to encourage people we think would make good city councillors, mayors, MLAs or MPs to put their names forward for office, to work to elect them and to vote for them. It is not nearly as easy as just going with whatever is offered. But it will/would ensure we get people who represent us, send a loud message to all public officials and “…reclaim the power at the polls.”

“enough is enough.”