I am a member of the silent majority - the 71 per cent of citizens who chose not to exercise their democratic right to vote in last week's municipal election.
Call me disaffected, alienated, frustrated and even apathetic.
But who can blame me for not voting? After all, the issues were insignificant and the candidates were uninspiring.
Who cares about crime, potholes, snow-removal, taxes, downtown revitalization, air quality or the very future direction of our community?
I didn't actually go to any of the candidates' debates, so I can't really say for sure whether the candidates were representative of our community, or whether they raised innovative and thoughtful perspectives on our collective problems.
I'm sure they didn't have much to say that would be relevant to me. And besides, all politicians, aspiring or otherwise, are the same, aren't they - self-serving and self-centered.
I know the candidates basically put their lives on hold during the campaign and, if they were fortunate enough to get elected, they will be working long hours for relatively little pay.
But no one asked them to run for office, did they? Certainly not me.
And another thing, the location of the polling stations was totally inconvenient.
Who goes anywhere near a school or a community centre on a weekend? They should have the polling stations at the coffee shop or the grocery store. It would make my life a whole lot easier.
And anyway, it takes too long to vote. I'm a busy person. I don't have time to spend 10 minutes waiting in line to vote, let alone read the newspaper or watch the news every day for a month to inform myself about the issues and the candidates.
Why can't I use my cell phone to vote? I can use it for pretty much everything else. My cell phone is like an extension of my arm. If I can't use it to do something, it just doesn't get done.
Sometimes, I wonder why we even have a democracy in the first place. Wouldn't it be much easier if the provincial government just appointed someone to run the city while we get on with our busy lives? This system seems to work in China and North Korea, doesn't it? I mean, it's not like anyone sacrificed their lives to protect and preserve our democratic rights and freedoms.
This isn't Egypt or Libya or even Syria. Our democracy is stable. It's always been around and it always will be. It's an integral part of what it means to be a Canadian.
It's just not integral enough for me to participate in it. I made a conscious decision not to vote, and that's my right in a democracy, isn't it? Besides, I participate in all sorts of other ways.
I attend community meetings, rallies and council sessions. I sign petitions, write letters to politicians and actively engage in vigorous debates about politics and community affairs with my fellow citizens, both in person and on-line.
I'm active within the community.
Well, I would be, if I wasn't so busy. But I'm sure someone else will pick up the slack.
Gary N. Wilson is an Associate Professor at UNBC. He teaches Political Science and Public Administration, and is the co-ordinator of the university's local government administration program.
