*Before I continue, I would like to say that the following post is entirely my own opinion. I do not represent any committees, groups, clubs that I am a part of.
Just very recently (as in, a few days ago recently), I came to a very important realization in my life: it's very possible to have your own opinion without being a partisan.
I'm really not sure how, having been involved in/aware of Canadian politics and/or current affairs for such a large part of my life (8 out of my 19 years) that I only just came to this conclusion sometime last month, bordering on this week.
It could be youthful naivete. It could just be plain old stupidity. It could be the fact that essentially everything I know about politics was something I had to personally engage myself in and personally take the initiative to learn. My mom hates so much that I'm learning it that we will have numerous arguments as to whether or not I should put my "Political Science student" label on my resume.
But her innate hatred from politics is understandable: she comes from the very large school of beliefs that intone politicians are fundamentally, irrevocably corrupt, and that being politically involved and having your own opinions are synonymous with being attached to a certain name, a certain party.
She has never said this to me outright: it's been subconsciously transmitted to me in her language, her comportment in our conversations, in the way she wants me to remove the label of PS Student off my resume because she thinks future employers will judge me on my beliefs.
This is a very common viewpoint, I think, in our general population, and it's taken me quite a long time to break out of this mold. There have definitely been actors in my shift in thinking, though I don't know if I will ever be able to fully identify all of the agents of change.
Brent Rathgeber's departure from the CPC caucus was one, as is the current ongoing controversy with the Senate. Another was the continuation of my emotional and mental transformation from childhood to adulthood, and a greater acceptance of self (a post on which will come soon). And another would be my very fleeting encounter with the LPC, and mental aftermath.
Rathgeber's departure, for me, amid the maelstrom of deception and leadership and posturing and scandal in the CPC reminded me of the age-old discussion of whether you elect your Member of Parliament to represent you/speak for you (and those two ideas are another discussion in itself) or whether you elect the party you wish to lead the country (I'm not a historian, and so far, I've had very little actual political history education so I don't know if there is a line somewhere in our constitution or whatnot that explains this). But just the idea that there is even a question electing an MP for the sake of the party strikes me as bizarre, and the way Harper has completely centralized his power in caucus astounds and appalls me. While parties create communities, common goals to strive toward, and ultimately an easier way to work and move forward with bills and such Parliament, allotting yourself to a party is so divisive: it simplifies democracy, but it creates so much more division and antagonism in our society and system because of the way many people blindly stick to party ideals and use them to fuel in an attempt to fight the other side.
This realization cleared a lot of the smoke that had been blinding my vision, and has increased my disdain, which has slowly been growing from seed to flower, for parties, groups. Our system is flawed.
I think, personally, if we could somehow debate all our ideas individually, and settle objectively on a decision, a plan that doesn't come straight from party points but from each individual riding, that would benefit the most people possible, that would be ideal.
I know more than anyone that this is all intensely idealistic. I know that. But let me dream, let me think, and maybe I'll actually be able to use these ideals and ideas to change something before the pessimism begins to surge through my veins (and it will happen).
The Senate has also contributed to my newfound understanding, in a roundabout sort of way. I am truly beginning to formulate my own ideas for our country, and with the Senate "scandal" currently going on right now with Wright, Duffy and friends, I've been hearing lots of talk about Senate abolition and reform, and from both sides. I believe in reform, not abolition, because I think there is still a valuable place for the Red Chamber in our Canadian society. Members of Parliament are currently subjected to so much politicking and partisanship in our parties (as per my above point) that I do not trust them to be the only group of people making our bills and changing my laws-- this makes me intensely uncomfortable.
I believe in reforming the appointment process of the Senate (and taking the way of politicizing the post) in a way similar to the Governor of the Bank of Canada. I hate how Senators have an affiliation (Lib, Conservative, etc.) and the fact that many of them have significant political careers (but that's it) really does bother me. As the house of "sober second thought" I would love to have a variety of Canadian citizens, from all walks of life, who are not affiliated with a specific party and have some other way of being chosen rather than the current prime minister. That way, when the bill is finally sent to the Senate, they can look it at objectively, without outright partisanship.
Again (sigh), this is very idealistic, and with the assumption that these Senators are not facing any sort of outside influence or pressure, even without political affiliation, but it's not always like this.
Another contribution to my newfound understanding would be, of course, my own personal growth. For a very long time, I was very afraid of expressing my own opinion in fear of being chastised or being called wrong. I was convinced that, in order to have people agree with me, I would have to align myself with certain groups of lines of thinking. But these are my own opinions, and there are no right or wrong opinions, and even on the linear political spectrum, even within party standards, there are tremendously wide differences in beliefs and ideals. It took a bit of growing balls too, and growing up, but again, that comes with time and maturity, and becoming an adult (which I will post on sometime soon, because it's worth talking about too).
I think, from my above post, that it's easy to see the decision I've taken in regards to joining the LPC, and the Young Libs of Carleton Mississippi-Mills: I've decided not to join.
I made this decision based on my ideas of partisanship and party-alignment, but also on my own personal discomfort of how fiercely the party promoted Justin as the figurehead of the party, as opposed to new ideas and platforms. I've had the point that "it doesn't matter who's at the front, just who's working behind" made to me too many times to count, and the idea that the LPC wants to create their platform from the grassroots is very enticing, but I am so intensely uncomfortable with the "Justin brand" that I just don't want anything to do with it.
This is a decision that I'm taking now, and one that may possibly change, though 2013Amy really hopes it won't. However, shit happens, that life changes you, and somewhere down the line, something might happen to really make me change my mind.
As for who I'm voting for in 2015? I haven't a clue. We'll see how things progress, and what platform the parties will campaign. The only thing that's for sure is that it'll be damn interesting.
-A.
PS. As much as I wish I had a been a page for 2012-2013, I'm realizing more and more that that would have been a terrible idea. I'm just so consumed with anger at some of these Members of Parliament, and at the bills, that I don't think I would have been able to contain it.
