Elections Canada

I know the current campaign down South is overshadowing our situation on the home front. I myself am guilty of closely following the Obama/Biden/McCain/Palin shennanigans. However, if anyone has forgotten, we Canadians are holding an election on October 14th. Our primary goal is to get the Conservative Party out of power. Unfortunately, looking at the numbers, we're looking at another minority government for Harper and the Conservative party. The reason for such a strange repetition of events given the political swing of change sweeping our neighbors to the South? Old people, and young people.

Old folks vote in record numbers.
Young folks don't get up to vote at all.

Last election, only 44% of voters in the 18–24 age group went out and cast a ballot.
Less than half, I ask you!

This is my reminder to you that voting is not just a right and a privilege, it's a responsibility you owe to your country. And it's easy as all fuck! You get a voting card in the mail. If you don't, bring your ID and a few pieces of mail with your current address to your polling station. Don't know where your polling station is? Look it up. The internet is a fascinating tool. Don't have a ride to your station? Guess what: you don't need one. Your station will be within walking distance.

So get off your asses, youth of Canada, because you are the future, and you should be helping to choose the direction it goes. Do your research, learn the party politics, and put your vote out there. It's not wasted. (though it would have meant more if any of you bothered to show up to vote when there was a national referendum on reforming the electoral system (Proportional Representation)).

I'll even make it a bit easier for you (in alphabetical order):
Bloc Québécois (leader: Gilles Duceppe)
Conservative Party of Canada (leader: Stephen Harper)
Green Party of Canada (leader: Elizabeth May)
Liberal Party of Canada (leader: Stéphane Dion)
New Democratic Party (leader: Jack Layton)

Here's a link to the Canadian Federal Election Debate for this year, in 13 parts (YouTube is a handy tool as well, folks. It's not just for angry video bloggers and funny animal clips).

So vote!
Get some initiative.
Show some interest.
It's your country too.