Apathy is History

Last Friday, University of Toronto students came together to encourage young people to get out there and vote. Beginning at Queen's Park and walking towards the advance polling station at Bathurst and Bloor, the vote mob was smaller than I would have hoped, but inspiring nonetheless. Our last election had the lowest turnout in voting history, and with only 37% of voters 18-25 participating, it's extremely encouraging to see university students doing what they can to combat apathy and celebrate democracy.

It's very, very important that you vote on May 2, if you haven't already. Alex and I went on Monday to the advance polling station and did our part for democracy (we always get chills when we vote, don't you? It's so exciting!), as we won't be here on election day (and if a certain person remains in charge of this country, we might have a really hard time coming back).

(photos: Rebekah Hakkenberg)

Friday Fiction: Election Reads by Alex Snider

Well, this was a depressing list to compile considering how many cautionary novels and satires have actually described events that we're going through right now. But still, if you aren't furious enough about the state of democracy in Canada then read these! Then vote, for fuck's sakes!

Read more »

Mr. Government

Photo From the CBC

Tuesday evening's English debate did little to sway me: I'm still undecided on who I'm voting for, still outraged that Elizabeth May was excluded, still convinced that Harper is some kind of terminator robot sent from the future to see just how much Canadians will let one politician get away with (this one was especially not helped by the bizarre way that he avoided looking at any of his opponents and just stared directly into my soul the camera).  

I thought Layton really nailed it, handling the really low-blow from Ignatieff (the whole school-yard taunt about him forever being in opposition) gracefully; that Ignatieff is really going for record mileage with his whole Russian émigré schtick; that Harper doesn't really understand what the statement "that is simply not true" means; and to be honest I'm really frustrated that the Bloc gets a say Federally when they only represent one province. 

But, really I just felt kind of lukewarm; kind of par for the course, you know? Then I saw the above word-cloud on the CBC website of the most spoken words during the debate by the leaders and I got really, really depressed. Then I got enraged by how accurately the diagram represents Canadian politics: a bunch of old rich white dudes yelling out meaningless talking points and buzz words over one another. 

Looking at this diagram and the debate in general I can't believe how many issues, how many people are ignored.  

How long before we see a debate where one of the candidates is a person of colour? A woman? What will it take to get attention to issues outside of the realm of fear? That the gun-registry is still an on-going issue is mind-boggling. Aside from the fact that the money to put it in place has already been spent and that the upkeep is a fraction of the cost than the detractors say, despite the fact that police officers and RCMP across the country have said that it is used frequently and ignoring that long-guns are fucking weapons that should be fucking registered, the motion to dismantle has been voted down. But, no, by all means lets flog the dead horse! Yet, Aboriginal people, the first people of the country, were mentioned exactly once and only by Layton. 

Off the top of my head a few words that are missing: 

Aboriginal Rights

Women's Rights

Education

Childcare

Farmers

Fisheries

Foreign Aid

Environment

Veterans

Homeless 

Seniors

Sustainability

Pay Equity 

Canadians deserve better than this. 

$9460 on haircuts and his hair still looks like poop (and he will eat your soul)

Update added 4/13/11 4:55 PM: And let's not forget this precious gem. Nickleback endorsed Harper. Effing Nickleback. If that's not a reason to vote for change, I honestly don't know what is.*

via artthreat

You have to watch this video, and visit ShitHarperDid.com for more. Seriously. Go. Do it now, come back to us later. We don't mind.

The Kelowna accord was a $5 billion breakthrough agreement to improve the quality of health and education for Canada's First Nation's Peoples. Harper canceled it in 2006, immediately after taking office. (via ShitHarperDid.com)

Since you came back, we thought we'd also tell you to read this compelling comic strip by just some guy. It is amazing. Come back when you're done.

Hey again, want more? Why is Stephen Harper trying to pretend to be a totally normal guy? We think Bonhomme looks more normal here than dear leader. More here.

You can also visit The Harper Government for more "hilarious" (depressing) memes here

*Other than all of the other crazy, fucked up stuff that the Harper Government has done. Like:

In the 2011 budget, the Harper government failed to allocate any new funding for drinking water on First Nations reserves. 100 First Nations communities currently have water advisories, including 49 communities which are high risk. Harper also refuses to sign the UN Declaration designating clean water as a human right. (via ShitHarperDid.com and rabble)

And:

At the 2009 G20 Harper actually said this - 'We also have no history of colonialism. So we have all of the things that many people admire about the great powers but none of the things that threaten or bother them.' (ShitHarperDid and rabble)

And:

In 2007, Harper cut $1.2 Billion in spending for the establishment of quality national childcare. However, he never kept his promise to cut the $1.4 billion in tax breaks he gives to oil companies (the wealthiest corporations in history). (ShitHarperDid and CUPE)

You get the idea...