Election in Alberta

Today we go to the polls, those of us who believe in exercising our franchise, and for the first time in decades there is a strong possibility that we will have a government not called Conservative officially, although it will be an ultra conservative government.  It is actually scary.  There aren’t many people who don’t vote conservative in this province but those that have been centre or left of centre have dabbled with the thought of voting conservative just so the Wildrose party won’t get in.  My conscience won’t let me stray from my own party colours although I did ponder the strategy myself.  However, bringing the conservatives back in will only give us more of the same.

      So what is “the same”?  What we have seen over Canada and the United States is a growing movement to extremism.  We are seeing cutbacks in social programs, privatization of critical services and skyrocketing costs as a result.  Somehow this is better.  But better for who?  Have you noticed a reduction in your taxes?  I certainly haven’t.  It’s the age old story, the rich get richer and the poor get poorer.  To be more specific, for those of us who have spent our whole working lives paying into systems via tax dollars and direct payments to provincial health care, Canada pension plans, Unemployment (now called Employment) Insurance we are now faced with a poorer rather than a better system.  Not only that, we are being accused of being “entitled”.

      I don’t think that it is Entitled Thinking to expect that the services I have paid into for 40 years should be there when I finally need them.  And yet this is the predicament we are threatened with.  Is it because there is no money to fund these services?  Of course not, it is because those in power are choosing to put them money towards something else (God only knows what).  Oh that’s right, some war over in Asia because the bogeyman might say  boo. Or buying airplanes without motors, or submarines for heavens knows what venture.  And let’s say it out loud, embezzlement.  And funding corporations with corporate welfare because that benefits the few which is alright when we have capitalism.

      Because who ever said that Canada was a democracy where the most should be able to hear, see, eat, spell, rest, or have a pot to piss in.  I’m just saying, apparently life isn’t supposed to be fair in Canada.  Because we live beside the “best country in the world” and we know how good they have it.  Hmmmmmmmmm.  Who to vote for?