Vote Damnit! I Would If I Could.
Thu, Oct 2, 2008
Generally when somebody tags me in one of these blogger meme things I just ignore it but this one is worth commenting on. So watch the video then read the post then have a beer or three if you like.
You all know by now that I’m Canadian. I know you all know because pretty much none of you pass up the opportunity to make a joke about it. I’m cool with that. I’m secure in my Canadianism. With that security and national pride comes a propensity to vote. Voter turnout in Canada in 2006 was 47% of the population or blazing 64.7% of registered voters vs 59% in the US. Honestly, until I researched that I thought the numbers would be way lower. I thought that because, to be blunt, I simply don’t care. I should say I simply DIDN’T care. Now I do. What’s changed?
I don’t live in Canada anymore. I move to the US just in time for an amazingly interesting election and just in time to watch the economy fall apart around me. I also have kids and I worry about their future. When I lived in Canada I didn’t (free healthcare etc etc). In short, I’ve grown up and it occurred to be that part of being an adult is doing my part to make the world a better place. Yeah, I know, that’s a nice platitude and you can probably get it printed on a decorative plate to hang on the wall but there’s simply not a better way to say it.
Make the world a better place. Go vote. I think the world will be better when we use your voices to propel it in a direction. We may not agree on the direction we want to move but we can all agree that where we are right now is not a place worth staying.
I can’t vote but you can so don’t waste it. I’m gonna go hassle my wife right now to make sure she’s registered.
What are you doing still reading this? Go register…
Tagging: Jeremiah Andrick, Rhea Drysdale, Kenny Hyder, Lindsay Perkin, Monica Wright
October 2nd, 2008 at 3:58 pm
Quite right! As another resident but non-citizen, I totally agree. I’m not unhappy that I can’t vote (quite happy in my resident alien status), but I hope that citizens do take advantage of that privilege. And that goes for citizens of all countries, not just this one
October 2nd, 2008 at 4:21 pm
As far as I’m concerned, anyone who doesn’t vote relinquishes his/her right to complain. Either do what you can to help the country move in what you believe to be a positive direction or shut your yapper!
October 3rd, 2008 at 3:40 am
Well said. FWIW, my mother was a non-citizen (from Spain) until about 5 years ago, she used to tell me how to vote to make sure she got her say in the matter.
But seriously, not something to take advantage of. After last night, I’m thinking that Alaska may be Canada’s Hat. Or maybe it’s just an accessory. 
October 3rd, 2008 at 5:59 am
I’m with SEOAly - I work with and live near quite a few complaining non-voters. Drives me nuts. What drives me MORE nuts is the tendency of people who dont agree with me (be it politics or religion) to try to convince me I’m “wrong.” I’m not wrong - I believe differently than they do. That doesnt make me a bad person, retard, idiot, or anything else - just different.
wow where did that come from at 7am on a Friday?
October 3rd, 2008 at 10:45 am
I’m adding this video to several of my personal sites’ front pages and most visited pages.
October 4th, 2008 at 6:05 pm
This is actually the most exciting election in some time and the primaries were even a blast. I’m still on the fence on who to vote for. Going to be a realy great race down to the end. If you haven’t registered to vote do so and read up on the candidates or spend some quality time on youtube to get caught up.
Should be an amendment to let Canadians vote too!
October 6th, 2008 at 11:04 pm
I promise to vote. That doesn’t mean I am decided or all that political. I am happy to be tagged.
October 8th, 2008 at 1:23 am
nice clips..
i’ll put this video on my site..
thanx
October 9th, 2008 at 5:15 pm
Wow! this video is kinda interesting. I won’t say it is funny or what, but this video brings up my emotion to decide my future and the world too. This video is great! Thanks!
October 12th, 2008 at 7:19 am
This video is great. It’s really interesting and it express the importance of voting. I love it very much. I used to regret for not being able to vote for my own country last time due to late registration. But I’ll vote for the next one and never give up my rights to have the country I want to live.
October 16th, 2008 at 2:05 pm
Cool video, It’s been posted on a lot of sites especially those with younger viewers. Good to see that they’re targeting the younger generation to use their voting powers.
October 21st, 2008 at 2:27 pm
Nice post Todd. Personally, I think Canada gets a lot of things right that we get wrong here in the USA, but we have the tough job with 300,000,000+ mouths to feed instead of just 40? million in Canada.
Good luck with the new gig!
October 21st, 2008 at 6:12 pm
I’d vote if I could, but I’m also Canadian. I promise I won’t make a joke about it.
October 22nd, 2008 at 7:25 am
I think that everyone should vote. People have had to do so much so that we can all vote and I think it would be disrespectful to them. On another note, it’s true what they say “when America sneezes, the world catches a cold. I almost think that every single person in the world has a right to vote in the American elections because it affects every single person in the world.
October 23rd, 2008 at 6:15 am
Wow the video is just awesome:)
This is actually the most exciting election in some time and the primaries were even a blast. I’m still on the fence on who to vote for. Going to be a really great race down to the end. If you haven’t registered to vote do so and read up on the candidates or spend some quality time on you tube to get caught up.
October 26th, 2008 at 12:18 am
Another Canadian chiming in.. I wish I could vote in ten days!
November 20th, 2008 at 7:22 am
Thanks for the clip. I actually chose not to vote this election. Why? The reaon is simple: I don’t care for either of the candidates. And I wouldn’t want either of them on the oval office. So, I just stayed out of this one.
December 15th, 2008 at 6:08 am
The elections are gone and we can only hope that it will be better now.
January 20th, 2009 at 3:01 am
Very nice Video. I have bookmark your Site.
January 20th, 2009 at 1:32 pm
I guess when people are satissfied with their lives they become less political and vote less. Canada must be a way better place to live i see.
January 21st, 2009 at 1:05 pm
Going to be a really great race down to the end. If you haven’t registered to vote do so and read up on the candidates or spend some quality time on you tube to get caught up.Either do what you can to help the country move in what you believe to be a positive direction or shut your yapper!
January 26th, 2009 at 4:38 pm
I think the problem is much deeper than just who votes or doesn’t vote. The problem is that it is harder for ordinary citizens to get accurate information on who they are voting for. If ever we had a presidential nomination in which the media actively controlled what we got to know about the eventual winner, it was this one. We won’t have a real democracy until the media is cleaned up. I don’t expect it to happen in my lifetime.