The politics of apathy

I am a bit saddened by my generation's apathy towards politics.

I often hear my Canadian friends say they don't vote because they feel they don't know enough about the people they're voting for. They might also argue that all politicians are the same. Or they'll say they don't have an opinion about what's happening in the Middle East because they don't know enough about it.

My sadness is mixed with understanding because, on one hand, I understand how they feel and they're making a valid point -- why form an opinion, or choose a side, when you don't know very much about the issues? On the other hand, given that voting is one of the only ways you can affect how your country is run, does it not make more sense to make an effort to learn about the issues?

My generation's apathy has worried me more and more in recent months. Apathy has manifested itself on the world stage as murder and environmental degradation. Apathy is the reason people have let George W. Bush create even more unstability in a fragile region of the world. Apathy is the reason Africa is so poor. Apathy is the reason we destroy the planet's ecosystems. Apathy is the reason that a recent poll indicated that 72 per cent of British Columbians support Israel's attack on Lebanon.*

Surely, my friends who don't vote can appreciate that the decisions that politicians make can affect their lives. Taxes can go up or down, schools can get better or worse. Anyone can lose their job or have their rights taken away because of a government decision.

Starting from the bottom, and working your way up, you can begin to understand how government affects your life.

The Liberals taking power in the BC legislature has meant people have had to pay more to go to university. Schools, hospitals and pensions have been on the chopping block. But it's not just BC Liberals that can change our lives. When the NDP were in power, it meant a stagnation of the economy. For example, companies were not encouraged to open new mines, which meant that the mining industry didn't create jobs or increase its tax pay-outs to the public purse.

Our federal government (under the Liberals and now the Conservatives) has also recently supported detaining alleged terrorists without charge. This means that they can keep people behind bars without actually telling them why they're there. Can you imagine how that would feel? -- being in jail without a fair trial or even the possibility of a fair trial. Our government also hasn't been terribly critical of Guantanamo Bay, where Canadians are being held without charge. It is medieval stuff.

On an international scale, our government has backed Israel as it continues to attack the Lebanese people with US-built bombs. According to a recent poll*, only in Quebec do a majority of people condemn Canada's position. I believe this is because most people in the rest of Canada have not been paying attention to recent events. They're automatically siding with Israel because Israel is the US's and therefore Canada's traditional ally.

I know I said before that Israel bombing Lebanon because of the actions of Hezbollah was a bit like Canada bombing the US because the Klu Klux Klan killed some Canadians, but that was not totally fair.

Israel has continually been a victim of terrorist attacks, and it does have a right to defend itself. It is in the unfortunate position of being surrounded by a bunch of people who don't believe it has the right to exist.

However, bombing the much-needed infrastructure of an entire country, and killing women, children and UN observers, as well as targeting Red Cross ambulances is hardly a "defensive" activity. It is war. It is ugly war.

I would probably have already gone to one of the protests against the Israeli strikes if it were not for the fact that there's a fine line between protests that condemn Israel and protests calling for Israel's removal from the face of the earth.

So what is a sane person to do?

Well, for starters, you vote for someone with a spine. Stephen Harper, as his slug-like appearance suggests, doesn't seem to have much of a spine. So much so that since he's been PM, he hasn't been brave enough to stand in front of journalists and answer questions. A Prime Minister who either doesn't have the guts to defend his positions, or simply a man who doesn't feel Canadians deserve answers. You decide. He also seems to be unable to form his own opinions without first listening to an army of neo-cons (the Bush administration).

I remember during the election before last, in an interview with Peter Mansbridge, Harper was about to say what political ideology he belonged to, then caught himself, and then refused to say more. The man is scared of revealing his true colours because he knows they're not the true colours of a majority of Canadians.

Not all politicians are the same. Jean Chretien, a career politician, had his moments of decency. Lloyd Axworthy, I reckon, would have made a great prime minister -- someone who clearly studied a wide range of issues and made informed opinions. Michael Ignatieff, a world-famous academic, might prove to be a good prime minister one day. He has said some very sensible things in the Globe and Mail of Aug. 1. Jack Layton too, I believe, would stand up for decency and common sense.

Why are we stuck with Harper? Because young, intelligent people don't care and don't vote.

* That poll, a Mori poll, was reported in the Globe and Mail last week. However, today, a new poll indicates that only 32 per cent of Canadians support Harper's stance and that most want Canada to stay neutral.