election_1

At the Activist Communiqué, I won’t be encouraging anyone to vote for Party C, L, N, B, or G. The only thing I am endorsing is action!

I intrinsically trust that everyone reading this is smart enough to think for themselves and make the right decision for them — regardless of your political tendencies. My fellow rebellions, I’m content enough knowing that you’re political.

In fact, I’m pretty open-minded about all things, including supporting those individuals who choose to eat their ballot or not vote at all for their own political reasons.

— People who choose to eat their ballot like members of the Edible Ballot Society who state in their manifesto, “Voting in this election is not only useless, it actually undermines democracy by giving legitimacy to prevailing power structures which are inherently undemocratic. Don’t be guilt-tripped into voting for the least offensive party. Vote your desires and destroy your ballot.”

— People who choose not to vote with purpose like the Mohawks of Kahnawake who have a non-vote policy in federal elections; believing it harms their independent nationhood status as unconquered First Nations since it could weaken its sovereignty claim. I mean, why vote for a government you don’t recognize as having any power over your community?

That said, all I can endeavor to do through my writing is to point out not politicians and political parties, but relevant and news-worthy issues for this election — that have not been raised during this federal election.

You know, those important community and political issues that are not deemed “sexy” enough to make it into a crammed mainstream media news cycle during an election.

Which is one of the main reasons I distain elections; because in the rabble.ca spirit of “news for the rest of us,” I hate how waif, political, sound-byte compressed concern comes to define the issues. News gets dominated by four political, talking heads while pushing the voice of the citizen off the radar and the marginalized gets even more marginalized.

I hate repetitive stump speeches, idiot attack ads and the male, pale and stale of Canadian elections.

Today, I can encourage you to vote in this election, but it’s also alright if you’re still an undecided voter. I won’t tell you who to vote for. I’m not here to “should” you into voting or “should” you for voting for any one political party.

But I am here to “should” you into thinking.

If you do want to vote — as is your democratic right — please check here to find the 12 need-to-know facts about voting.

But know that one day of voting cannot hold a candle to working hard every day in your community, so don’t be fooled to believe that Parliamentary politics will solve all of Canada’s problems.

It’s not the politicians who are champions or heroes, but the community members/activists who work hard every day to keep drop in programs open, defend the land, help resist illegal evictions and fight racism and colonization.

To all of you, for all the late nights, for all the rallies in the rain, for all the fight and hope you offer the rest of us, I want to say Thanks/Miigwetch/Giitu! Don’t you dare think your good work goes unnoticed during this election. Stay strong. We need you. We’re all connected.   

We cannot afford to walk away smug from the polling station thinking our democratic duty begins and ends by checking off a box. 

I encourage you to vote and I encourage you to research and get involved in the important issues that affect your community.

Because I believe that elections should be about issues, not politicians.

Here’s a list of issues — and certainly not them all — that I flagged for this election after speaking to people, not politicians.

— Activist Communiqué: Why poverty should be an election issue

— Activist Communiqué: Why the tar sands should be an election issue

— Activist Communiqué: Why Jason Kenney should be an election issue

— Activist Communiqué: Why war resisters should be an election issue

— Activist Communiqué: Why clean drinking water should be an election issue

— Activist Communiqué: Know your party’s stance on nuclear energy

—  Activist Communiqué: Another reason why the G8/G20 should be an election issue

—Activist Communiqué: 3,000 missing women should be an election issue

— Activist Communiqué: The G20 as an election issue?

Please also check out rabble.ca’s Elections page for more great coverage.

And thanks for reading!

Sparkle and shine,

Krystalline

Krystalline Kraus

krystalline kraus is an intrepid explorer and reporter from Toronto, Canada. A veteran activist and journalist for rabble.ca, she needs no aviator goggles, gas mask or red cape but proceeds fearlessly...