It's my election, I'll vote how I want to!

I've never made my political preferences a secret. Most people who know me, know that deep down I'm a tree-hugging-hippie. Always have been. So it really shouldn't be any surprise that I vote green. Meaning that I support the green party of Canada. (And by support, I mean I vote for them, I have a green sign on my lawn and, heck, I even have a green party t-shirt!) As you might imagine, wearing said t-shirt when there is an upcoming election generates a lot of, erm, interesting conversation. During these interesting conversations, after people have told me who they are voting for and why, I am often asked why I am "throwing my vote away." I must admit, it pisses me off. So much so that I am moved to blog on my blog about why I vote the way I do (and why I shouldn't have to defend it.)

So, here I go.......

First, as I citizen of this wonderful country, it is my right to vote for whomever I wish. If I want to vote for Egor of the Bean Party, I have have that right, and I will dam well vote for beans if I want to. Nobody can stop me.

Second, If there is a political party that truly represents my beliefs and values, I will vote for them no matter how unpopular they are. The point of having a democracy is that everyone gets one vote, and they use that one vote to express what they want, for their country, for there future. If everyone practices strategic voting, then we will have a much clearer idea of what people don't want in their government as apposed to want they do want. So I will always vote for who I actually want in charge. I will not vote for someone I don't agree with, or someone I don't believe in to keep someone else out of power. It's just not my style.

Third, If people are afraid of "throwing away" their vote and this causes them not to vote for their party of choice, but against the party they don't want, how will there ever be any new choices? How can new ideas and values ever get represented? How will there ever be any kind of political movement or shifting? This is NOT a two party system, our choices are not either or, we have opportunity to actually vote for what we want, it just takes the hutzpa to do it.

Fourth, political parties recieve government funding basied on the number of votes they recieve, so if I don't vote green, not only am I giving actual money to support a party I don't support, I'm taking it away from a party that I do support. What else can I say? Money talks. The parties that receive over 2% of the national vote get $1.75 per vote cast from taxpayers.

Fifth, Elizabeth May is one hell of a great party learder. She's smart, capable, and she has real integrety. Also, I like her as a person. You might think I'm trowing my vote away, but I know that she at least appreciates my vote for her party.

There it is in a nut shell. I could go on but I won't.

I would never tell you who to vote for. It's a secrect ballot, and who you vote for is not really any of my business. But, I WILL tell you to make an informed decesion.
Please, check out all the party platforms. Watch the national leaders debate (English language October 2nd 2008). Get to know the people who you are considering giving your country to. And most of all, have the balls to vote for who you actually support, and who you actually believe in.

Please feel free to leave a comment!
I'm interested in what you think about this topic.......

Somthing you should read....

Recently Orson Scott Card wrote "Empire" A Tor Book - Published by Tom Doherty Associates, LLC 2006.
It's not a great read.
it's not bad, but not as good as his Ender's saga.
At the end of this book there is an essay.
The essay at the back of this book is really good.
It takes a look at the American political system and the dangers hidden there within.
I highly recommend that you read this essay before you vote in any more elections.

A book review "Little Brother"

Little Brother by Cory Doctorow
A Tor Teen Book

WARNING: This book may cause you to question authority!

How much power should the Department of Homeland Security have? What rights should they be able to violate? How much personal freedom is "security" worth? This is the story of one teenager who is pushed too far by the DHS after a terrorist attack in San Francisco. A teenager who perhaps fights back a little too hard. It's a coming of age story about rebellion, patriotism, technology, perceived security, and love. Somehow related to, yet completely different from Orwell's Nineteen Eighty Four , this book is set in the almost now, as in this could happen in a couple of years, so like, be ready!

Ten O'clock Flats- I had no idea.

I recently went to a very fancy wedding, and I knew that very high stiletto heals were necessary. I knew this because at the wedding shower almost every single woman was wearing them. I thought "That's okay, I'll be seated for the service and dinner. When people start dancing all those high heeled women will go bare foot anyways." In truth before we left my husband, upon seeing my shoes, told me to bring "comfortable" shoes in my bag, "just in case". Of course I scoffed. (Have you seen the size of fashionable purses theses days?) Imagine my surprise when I heard someone say "I'm heading to my car; it's after ten." I thought they were leaving! Over the next hours I head many women utter the phrase "Ten o'clock flats" with obvious relief, and watched them all wander off to become shorter. I have never before seen anyone wearing a ball gown and flip flops. In the end I had to ditch my shoes, (because of the pain and because I wanted to dance.) and I wasn't by any means the only one. I was, however, the youngest one. Chalk this one up to experience, next time there will be flip flops in the car. To quote Grandpa Simpson "I used to be with it, then they changed what it was. Now with I'm with isn't it."

*sigh*

A book Review- In Defense of Food

In Defense of Food by Michael Pollan
Peguin Books

WARNING: This book will make you think.

If The Omnivore's Dilemma left you wondering what you should eat, you will find the answers in this book. Pollan's advice; Eat food, Not Too Much, Mostly Plants, seems simple enough but is not as easy as it sounds. Faced with the overwhelming choice of food products in the super market, this book out lines the ways to shop and eat which are best for you and the food chains you are a part of. This book will give the knowledge you need to make informed food purchase decisions, and show you how you can "vote with your fork"
Enjoy! ( I did.)

A book review- The Omnivore's Delemma

The Omnivore's Dilemma by Michael Pollan
Penguin Books

WARNING: This book will make you think.

A natural history of four meals.
In this award winning book Mr. Pollan traces four meals through their food chains. It's an in depth study of where food comes from and what happens to it along the way. This book will not attempt to convince you to become a vegetarian; it revolves around the seemingly simple question "What's for dinner?".
Everyone who eats should read this book.

Becuase nobody like a new/blank/empty blog

To fill up my blog some I've imported notes from various other sources. I've back dated them to the date I originally posted/wrote them, and titled them "Old Blogging part whatever".
Just to avoid confusion.
That is all.
For now.