This year there will be a municipal election and next year in 2011 there will be a provincial election in Ontario. One could ask, what has this to do with motherhood. My answer is everything. The people who will be elected will make decisions that will affect your children and grandchildren. The projects approved now will be paid for by the tax dollars of the next generation.

If you want your children to have religious values when they are adults, you must involve them when they are young so they grow up with religion as a normal part of their life. The same is true of politics.
There is a great deal of apathy when it comes to politics. Some people say "politicians are all alike". The people who say this seem to be the ones who are not involved and do not know the principles, platform or track record of any party. One must ask how they can make such judgments.

We take democracy for granted. We assume that on election day, we will be presented with a menu of candidates backed by different parties. Obviously voting is a critical component of democracy, however it is important to vote with knowledge. Many voters vote based on the charisma of a leader at the federal level over 40 years ago and have never revised their opinion or expanded their knowledge. Not all, but many educated citizens do not know the difference between federal, provincial and municipal responsibilities and do not seem to care. Equally true it that many people think that a provincial party and a federal party are the same organization.

We do not live in a perfect world. No party, no leader and no candidate is perfect. You do not expect perfection from your spouse, your parents, your children, your neighbours so why should perfection be expected from politics.

Many people have no idea how a candidate gets their name on a ballot. It is inappropriate to complain if you have contributed neither time nor money. Small groups of people volunteer countless hours for a political party to provide you with the menu on election day.

With all of the above, people feel a right to be rude to a volunteer who is working very hard to provide you with a choice on election day. These same people would not be rude to a volunteer working for a charity. Why is it that in a country that prides itself on freedom and democracy, the electorate has such disdain for politics. Children learn by example. If you want your children to be apathetic and take democracy for granted then by all means you should continue to be uninvolved and non-partisan.
One would think that with such contempt, the electorate would all be happier without democracy. If you disagree with this statement, then perhaps you should join a party or volunteer or donate.

Submitted by Peggy Tupper
VP of the Oakville Riding Association
Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario

Peggy is seeking the PC nomination for Oakville in the 2011 provincial election
peggy.tupper2011@gmail.com 905-469-4546 www.peggytupper.ca