The day-after-election hangover

Be heard
London, ON
September 2021
This photo originally shared on Instagram

Not much of a photo this time out.

Then again, I don’t have much of a story to tell today. Canadians went to the polls yesterday just over a month after the minority Liberal government called a snap federal election in the middle of the pandemic.

Never mind the fact the prime minister had earlier said no one wants to vote during a pandemic. He saw an opportunity to perhaps turn his party’s minority into a majority, so he pounced.

Canadians had other ideas, of course, and as the snowglobe of election night data settles out, we’re right back where we started: another Liberal minority, and if history is any guide, another trip to the polls within a couple of years.

I could whine, but I won’t. Many folks have called this a wasteful and cynical exercise, and perhaps they’re right.

But here’s the thing: democracy is, by definition, messy. It is imperfect, dirty, and illogical. But no one ever said distilling the will of millions of people would be anything but.

It’s the best system we’ve got, and looking around the planet at the alternatives, I’ll happily dive into whatever disgusting mess the often-opportunistic, power-hungry politicians who lead - or wish to - lead us have cooked up.

Because it’s beautiful in its own way. And while those who choose to participate in the process are human, and fallible, the thing that sticks with me is exactly that: they choose to participate in the process. They serve. I may not agree with their world view or their politics. But they’re still putting themselves out there.

And being a part of this far-from-perfect process by having my voice heard through the simple stroke of a pencil is a privilege I’ll never take for granted.

It’s the least we can all do, and I’ll happily do it again when the next election is called.

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