Doing my civic duty

[The Wizard of BC]

As a holder of dual citizenship (U.S. and Canadian) today I voted for the first time as a Canadian.

The polls were jammed and I handed out 6 business cards before making it away from the registration table.

If you haven't voted, get out there. If you live in a country that allows you to vote, do so. I've been to far too many countries where the people have no voice. Funny how it's those countries where they keep having to send troops to relieve starving and quell the conflicts.

[Beery]

If you haven't voted, get out there. If you live in a country that allows you to vote, do so. I've been to far too many countries where the people have no voice...

Surely the vote also allows the freedom to choose to vote or not to vote. In my view there's not much difference between a country that steers you to vote for a couple of what the press calls 'legitimate' candidates and one that forces you to vote for one candidate. The CHOICE to vote, or to withhold one's vote is an important part of democracy too, as it prevents there from being an assumption of legitimacy where there is none.

So vote if you like the candidates, but if you don't like any of them, to vote for one of them is to betray democracy.