Why Not Vote?

Pro-democratic, anti-vote posts on the recent Canadian election:

Archive "Canada Elect"
Leiter Reports "Thoughts from Canadian Readers on the Election Results?"
Long Sunday "Why I'm Not Voting Today"
Out of the Driver's Seat "Why I Hate Elections", "Canadian Election Results"
Posthegemony "Election"
Theoria "January 23, 2006"

If you're the sort of person who likes to vote:

Tilting At Windmills "A Brief and Brutal Voting Guide", "Our Election Endorsement"

And the stakes in the election:

Conservative Party "Stand Up for Canada" [pdf]
Green Party "Platform 2006" [pdf]
Liberal Party "Red Book" [pdf]
New Democratic Party "Getting Results for People " [pdf]

Finally, our new Prime Minister:

Blogging of the President "The Conservative Platform"
Christian Coalition International (Canada) "Rediscovering the Right Agenda"
rense.com "God Bless Canada?"

Please reply with any other links.

Comments

[CR]

as i asked on CP's post, I'd like to hear why the NDP doesn't cut it for you?

[Matt]

The readers of Brian Leiter, world's leading expert on Derrida, weigh in.

[Craig]

First, the abstract response: the NDP might be the "best choice" (on some scale) of the four major parties. "Best" meaning the most "progressive" or "liberal", I suppose. The problem with any selection is that the selection occurs within the system itself. If, as I think, the system itself is inherently un- or anti-democratic, then the best the NDP could possible represent would be the least un- or anti-democratic.

Second, a more concrete response: this is also possibly the more controversial position. I maintain (quite simply: look around you!) that Canada is a racist, sexist, oligarchic, capitalist, anti-democratic (&c) country. The response that it is "the least" of these things by comparison with other countries is a non-starter. The least still is all of these things. Not being a fan of any of these things, I cannot support or endorse anything or anyone that re-inscribes these inequalities. The NDP is but the human face of neo-liberal capitalism.

Thus, I suppose, the difference between Canadian and American politics is that those who find voting convincing can choose a 'human face' should they so desire. The problem is that the human face is attached to the hand wielding the cudgel of inequality: a nice face just lets that cudgel get closer so it can hit you harder.

[Matt]

"Surely it is cynicism today, above all else, that is destroying our country."

So sayeth Robert MacNamara, in a rare moment of emotional blackmail.

How unintentionally true, regardless.

[Blip]

Counago and Spaves (also known in some circles as You're not the boss of me!)

[Matt]

Pandagon, mockingly.

[Michael Stickings]

I write quite a bit on the election at my blog, The Reaction:

http://www.the-reaction.blogspot.com/

For example:

http://the-reaction.blogspot.com/2006/01/conservatives-win-minority-government.html

http://the-reaction.blogspot.com/2006/01/in-praise-of-canadian-hedonism.html

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So sayeth Robert MacNamara, in a rare moment of emotional blackmail.

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