“Perceptions,” by Gerry Warner

Op-Ed Commentary

So, what did last week’s municipal election prove? Quite a few things, but not many of them good.

Undoubtedly, the biggest single thing proved by October’s election, is that Cranbrook’s voter turnout of 28.1% makes the Key City one of the most politically apathetic cities in the province. Only seven candidates running for six council seats tends to confirm this and just two candidates running for mayor isn’t much better. But congratulations just the same to Mayor Elect Wayne Price for winning a solid victory.

At least in Fernie, where 54.5% of the electorate voted, the flames of democracy are still flickering while Kimberley’s voting percentage of 29.6% is little better than Cranbrook and not exactly something to be proud of either. (All numbers from Civic Info BC and unofficial as of yet.)

Province-wide, only 37% of eligible voters voted despite record-breaking warm temperatures and dry weather the entire campaign. In every way, the drought-like conditions were ideal for voting from the coast to the interior, but barely a third of British Columbians bothered.

What kind of a “democracy” does that make us? Lazy, indifferent and unengaged don’t you think?

Democracy, of course, guarantees your constitutional right to vote by secret ballot for the candidate and political party of your choice without being discouraged, intimidated or even shot at by someone that fears you don’t support their favourite candidate or party. I know this sounds a mite hyperbolic, but down through history many people have been deprived of their right to vote and more than a few have shed blood or even died for it.

As I write this, our American neighbours are nervously preparing to vote in their mid-term elections for senators, congress and governors. Nervous? You bet they are with social media awash with extremist rhetoric including the false claim that Trump really won the last presidential election – the “Big Lie” – as it’s justifiably called.

Meanwhile, election officials and Trump supporters are doubling down on voting regulations to the point of making it almost impossible to vote at all or even be sure their votes will be counted correctly. Over 370 Republican candidates have “cast doubt” on the 2020 election results according to a recent article in the New York Times.

In the midst of all this former Donald Trump key adviser Steve Bannon will be sentenced Oct. 21 on two counts of contempt of congress for not responding to subpoenas in connection with his defence of the phony “Big Lie” claim.

The history of democracy and the right to vote goes all the way back to ancient Athens when a portion of Greek citizens were given voting rights based on the Greek word “demos” or “common people.” It was only a small portion of the people – mainly landowners – but from these humble beginnings the great institution of democratic government evolved.

Yet even today, no more than 33 of the world’s 200 countries can be said to be fully democratic according to the Pew Research Institute. And the list is growing shorter all the time with authoritarian leaders like Vladimir Putin waging war on Ukraine and Chinese dictator Xi Jinping using ethnic cleansing to indoctrinate its Uyghur minority.

When only 28% bother to vote it opens the door for the right politicians to do the wrong things in the public sphere. Be that as it may there is some reason to hope that Cranbrook, with a new mayor and two new members on council, may revisit some of the wrongs of the past like marginalizing the homeless and catering to special interest groups that want to downsize Baker Park in favour of more urban development when such land is already available without reducing green space. And how about more transparency on all the issues?

Cranbrook has a heart. But if apathy continues to dominate City Hall and the public won’t engage at the ballot box that heart will continue to diminish.

– Gerry Warner is a retired journalist and a former city councillor.

---

Article Share

---