“Perceptions” by Gerry Warner

Op-Ed Commentary

What if they threw an election and no one came?

At least some voters in B.C., Alberta and the once-great United States of America are threatening to do this as they express their disgruntlement, saying they won’t vote in the upcoming string of elections because they’re “sick” of politicians and “sick” of so many elections.

And I have to admit I have some sympathy with them because politics lately has become nothing more than a gong show and a sham.

But what I say to them is have you ever tried to vote in Iraq, Afghanistan or Sudan? So, let’s get something straight right from the start. This is a column, not a news story and it’s meant to be taken seriously, but not as gospel. Then again maybe it should?

What else can you say in a world dominated by the likes of Donald Trump whining in his high-chair about being overlooked for the Nobel Prize again? Or Danielle Smith, the Albertan Wild Rose Premier who wants to tear Canada apart just because she can? Or B.C. Premier David Eby, Victoria’s greatest political opportunist who will do anything to be B.C.’s Premier again, even if it means cutting down every last Old Growth tree in the province and converting them to match sticks and toilet paper just because he can?

There are thousands of idiots in politics but most of them are beneath contempt and we won’t bother with them.

That leaves us with Trump, the most dangerous man in the word today and growing more dangerous every day. Trump is clearly crazy. He grows crazier every day. But few of his Republican members acknowledge it for fear of losing the rich political and financial perks that go with their high paid salaries. More than anything else, they dread hearing “you’re fired” from the Maga Man and go on grinding their teeth.

But all is not well in the Democrat camp either. On the one hand things look good with many Democrats talking about winning both the Senate and the House of Representatives as the Republican vote continues to slide. But if the Dems want to win the presidential race in 2028 they’ll have to run a strong candidate who can compete with Republican wealth such as the $277 million Elon Musk donated to the GOP through his many companies in the last  presidential campaign.

So, like it or not, democracy is still for sale whether we like it or not and probably always will be. But there’s still that not so little thing called charisma. Motivated properly, charisma can move mountains and combined with a strong candidate, hard work, sweat and plain old integrity miracles can still happen at the polling booths.

That’s why I think the average Mary or Joe are still ready to give democracy another chance. It’s the right thing to do.

– Gerry Warner is a retired journalist who decided to write one more for all those who vote.

Article Share