Now What?

My goodness but sometimes I wonder what gets into me! What has possessed me to start writing a political blog? Sure I like to pay attention to what is going on with our various levels of government and I have been known to spout off a time or two when I get particularly incensed. But writing a blog about politics is not like writing a blog about a middle aged brain! After all I do have a sense of humour and one ought not to be funny when attempting to guide people’s thinking towards responsible voting. At least that is what I keep telling myself when as I erase certain lines from my writing!

I take my politics seriously though and I feel an obligation to write accurately about the subjects so I have been glued to my desk for days on end researching to ensure that I am being correct in my thoughts. Who knew how hard it could be? In particularly, downloading articles and especially the party sites has been painful. Slow as molasses in January! I did find some interesting sites though so I am also learning something as I “teach”.

Back to the original question. Why am I doing this? I have long realized that using the internet as a way to communicate could be an effective way of getting the message “out there”. The traditional media is controlled by wealthy men who have a vested interest in keeping the status quo. I saw this in the 1993 elections when I was running as the NDP candidate in my riding. After the speeches and debates the reporters swarmed by me, looking me right in the eye as they did so, and took their microphones to the conservative and reform candidates. They completely ignored the other candidates. I well remember one particularly nasty woman who almost sneered at me as she walked by. I was very surprised that a “journalist” (and one can only use that term loosely on people like this) would reveal herself so blatantly. Besides seeing it on a personal level on the national level the NDP were “blacked out”. Almost nothing was written about their campaigns throughout the country. It was a disgrace to journalism and I am afraid nearly 20 years later I have still not forgiven them.

Currently the internet is accessible to anyone who wants to give voice to their opinions and it is my hope that more than one of us will go “viral”. I had hoped to postpone my launch until Canada Day but as the writ fell for election May 2^nd what could I do? I had to take up the cause and run with what I had prepared. I just finished “D:” last night and let me tell you, I am shaking in my boots for tonight. At least tonight I know that E is for Education. Last night I couldn’t decide what D stood for – it was a tough one, trying to keep it apropos of the election.

So here is one poor little journalist, struggling to make the world a better place. And I promise I won’t give anyone dirty looks. LOL