Election time politics
- Details
- Published on Sunday, October 4, 2015
By Gerry Jones
President
Wow, how politics seem to change before an election! Not only is this the only time when political ads seem to be as common as ads for automobiles, but there seems to be the feeling of smoke and mirrors. There are ads — and surprisingly more than one — that mention how nice the hairdo is of a political opponent. There are leader debates that concentrate on issues that would normally never get discussed at length, but these topics resonate with voters because of sentiment or a strong emotional tie. Another consideration is the importance to make the right choice in who you want for your member of Parliament and not base your vote strictly on who would be the best prime minister.
The great thing about election time politics is being able to ask candidates running in your riding questions Not only will you generally receive their undivided attention, they will typically have no problem answering according to their party’s platform and their personal stance on your question. The big problem is with the ridings being so large, how can a voter get the undivided attention of the candidates?
The answer is simple. Many communities host candidate nights, debates or some forum where this can be accomplished. I am speaking from experience, attending these events. Since becoming a member of Rapid City and District Chamber of Commerce a few years back, I’ve been privileged to see three such candidate nights unfold in my community. On Oct. 6 starting at 6:45 p.m., Rapid City’s chamber is once again giving voters the ability to get the undivided attention of candidates who are applying for the job of being our MP. For a couple of hours, voters will be given the opportunity to ask questions of the candidates. One of these candidates will not just be our representative in Ottawa, but our voice and advocate on the federal stage.
If you have the opportunity to attend one of these nights in a community within your riding, take advantage of it. This is where you can gain the knowledge to make an educated vote on Oct. 19 instead of a vote based on what leaders are saying about their opponents’ hair styles.
