April 10, 2002

Having a Say

Listening to the occasional talk show, I am disappointed when I hear people say that they are going to vote in the referendum because they finally want to have a say.

No one has a say when they are asked meaningless questions such as "shouldn't the sun come up?" Answering ambiguous questions does not constitute "having a say".

People who really want to have a say have other options. Fewer than one in twenty eligible voters belong to a political party of their choice. Belonging to and being active in a political party is one way to have a say. Members of political parties participate in the nomination process to select candidates. They draft policy resolutions. They regularly talk to other activists. They provide one of the accountability mechanisms for those who get elected - answering to their own constituency associations.

Communicating with elected representatives is another effective way to have a say. Letters, phone calls and meetings are year round activities; they don't just occur at election time. Sincere, well reasoned, expressions of opinion can change public policy. While it is best to talk directly to an MLA, even when a constituent meets with an MLA's staff, some of the concerns are reported back to the MLA. It is probably accurate to say that more people will attend the average hockey game than will communicate with an MLA over the course of a year. That's why your effort to communicate is all the more important.

Having a say also means calling talk shows, speaking at public meetings and writing letters to the editor. Public policy is more likely to change if one can win support throughout the community.

Ticking yes or no in response to a confusing question and having to accept government's interpretation of the results is disrespectful of democracy, and as far as one can get from having a say. Maybe enough people will become angry over that disrespect that they will become more active and really have a say.