Not so silent E- 'Muricans getting it right…No, seriously, they are

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Published on Friday, October 16, 2015

By Eoin Devereux

The Neepawa Banner/Neepawa Press

I haven’t a bloody clue who the heck I’m voting for on Oct.19. I’m not alone in this predicament. I asked a friend how he was going to vote in the federal election. His response perfectly stated what many voters in this tightly contested race are likely thinking, “Damned if I know. I’ll figure it out while I’m in there. Maybe flip a coin or something.” Hopefully the rest of Canada will not decide in that manner and go with the much more scientific “eeny, meeny, miny, moe” approach. 

In previous elections, I have found it much easier to find the individual who serves the best interests of my community. But this time, It’s difficult to find the right combination of national leader and local representative to sway my vote in their direction. And because of that, I find myself looking longingly at the election process to the south of us.

When it comes to the federal election process, the Americans really do it better than we do…Wait, did I really just write that? Worse yet, did I really just mean that? Unfortunately yes, I believe my previous statement to be true. Now before everyone rebukes my perspective and tells me that if I don’t like the way it’s done in Canada, to just move to ‘Murica!, allow me to explain.

First off, there are several elements to the political process in the United States that are simply wrong. The practice of gerrymandering for example, which involves the redrawing of districts. This has become a shameful practice that manipulates boundaries and establishes political advantage for a particular party or group. It’s a classic example of a flaw in the system that’s taken advantage of.

There is also the election schedule. In Canada, it feels as though we as a nation are sick of the drudgery of a federal election lasting an entire 79 days…Well la-de-da! Try dealing with the nearly two-year political marathon voters have to go through down there. There’s the process of having the candidates declare their intentions, then the state caucuses, followed by the political parties’ conventions and the selection of a presidential candidate, then the selection of a vice presidential candidate, followed by more debate, discussion, deliberation….Then finally, after everyone has become completely sick and tired of the process, it’s finally time to vote for the leader of the nation and their district representatives. And that’s where the good old U.S.A. gets it right and Canada gets it wrong. Americans directly vote for their president, while we don’t vote for our prime minister. 

The collective argument to that statement that has been used against me is that we do actually vote for the leader of our nation by proxy, through selection of the party’s riding candidate. Now I cannot be the only one who has run into this occurrence in the past where I have found myself conflicted.

Those times where I have believed in the national leader of the political party. I’ve agreed with that person’s principles and core values and thought to myself  “This guy/girl gets it.” But then I have met the party’s candidate on a local level and after speaking with them on the issues thought to myself “This guy/girl is an idiot! There’s no way I’m voting for them.” Now I assure you that I’m not referring to our current crops of local candidates. They’re all fine upstanding people. I’m referring to previous elections, in a different community. No, our current crop of choices, they’re just…They’re….fine.

There is also the other side of the coin, when the riding candidate was a smart, fair minded voice that I would like to see represent the riding with great integrity. Unfortunately, voting for them would also mean a vote for the national party leader, who was in my opinion…and how do I put this nicely?…a complete moron. My apologies, but that is the nicest way I could say that without sugar-coating my true feelings towards this individual. Once again, I’m not talking about our current options, who are all bastions of wisdom and virtue. 

There’s no quick fix, especially with only a few days remaining before the end of our “long election campaign”. But one day, I look forward to actually voting for our prime minister and our MP. But until that day…eeny, meeny, miny, moe.