Simple Suggestion #91 revisited... Vote!

Almost exactly four years ago, voting was on the mind of Canadians because of a federal election. Today we've reached that same point. Unfortunately, too many people in our country don't vote because they don't feel it makes any difference -- they think politicians will do what politicians will do.

But I'm looking at the excitement of my daughters, neices and nephews, all of whom were engaged in this run up to today's political process, all of whom will cast their first vote in a national election. One of our girls has brought a petition to our MP and knows exactly who she is voting for. Would that we were all so engaged!

With so many places in the world where citizens have no say in how their country is led, we can't take voting for granted. Our elected Members of Parliament are there to listen to us, especially if we engage them. Please make sure to vote today.

My moodling from 4 years ago still holds:

October 19, 2011

As I write this, I am listening to a radio report about the first free vote in Tunisia in some peoples' lifetimes. The young woman they just interviewed was so excited to be able to vote, she couldn't sleep the night before. With her in spirit, my almost-eighteen-year-old daughter is chomping at the bit to vote. Would that all Canadians were like these two!

What non-voters don't seem to understand is that we have no right to complain about government or civic leaders if we do nothing when it comes to their election. We are blessed to live in a country where we have the right to vote, but if we're too apathetic to engage in the democratic process or talk to our politicians about what's really important, corporate greed may yet win over human need.

At the moment, the jury's still out as to which will come out on top. But our vote can remind our leaders that we all need clean air, fresh water and good soil to support the web of life on our planet. We can tell them that we ALL deserve a roof over our heads, clothes to keep us warm, food to sustain us, and community to support us. We can let them know that extravagance and greed are non-essentials, and encourage the positive works our politicians undertake. But if we're silent, they can't read our minds.

We ALL need to vote, engage, and join the discussion, for our sake and the sake of future generations. It's that simple.

P.S. Looking for more Simple Suggestions? Try here.