A sign of intelligence is having
an open mind. People who are set in
their beliefs and who resist even hearing another person’s point of view is
never going to grow intellectually.
Sitting across from someone and “listening” with a stone face does not
fool me, or any other bright person, for a second. In my case I will be making my own assessment
of the person across from me and recognizing that I am dealing with an idiot.
Did I say that out loud? Well, in virtual reality, yes. (TONGUE-IN-CHEEK, PEOPLE, TONGUE-IN-CHEEK)
Recent polls have shown that a
large percentage of voters have a single issue mindset when they go to the
voting booth. This appears to have been one of
the reasons why Donald Trump won the American election; he appealed to individuals’
single issues. For some it was immigration, for others the economy, yet others
“draining the swamp” and so on. Similar
voting practices are occurring here in Canada and it is rather a disturbing
trend of narrow thinking.
When we elect our government it is important to recognize that it will be governing for a 4 to 5 year term therefore a single issue should not be the only criteria on how you choose your candidate. To pick Mr. Jones because he is anti (or pro) LGBTQ is hardly a sound reason for choosing him. What else does Mr. Jones stand for? Does he believe that corporate taxes should be raised or lowered, does he believe that spending on infrastructure, health care and education are solid investments or should we cut, cut, cut? If we cut, cut, cut what ARE we getting for our personal tax dollars? Does he use the word “entitlement” a lot? How does he feel about privatization of utilities that have long been paid and supported by taxpayers? Has he ever used the term “corporate welfare”? Does the voter know what corporate welfare is?
Voting is a serious business to some voters and it is very disturbing to hear how many young people are so disillusioned by government that they don’t feel voting will change anything. Voting is something our ancestors fought long and hard to gain as a right and it is tragic to think that anyone would forego that right when every vote counts. To not speak out by not casting your vote you are still complicit in what occurs. There is really no neutral ground. No action is still an action.
When we elect our government it is important to recognize that it will be governing for a 4 to 5 year term therefore a single issue should not be the only criteria on how you choose your candidate. To pick Mr. Jones because he is anti (or pro) LGBTQ is hardly a sound reason for choosing him. What else does Mr. Jones stand for? Does he believe that corporate taxes should be raised or lowered, does he believe that spending on infrastructure, health care and education are solid investments or should we cut, cut, cut? If we cut, cut, cut what ARE we getting for our personal tax dollars? Does he use the word “entitlement” a lot? How does he feel about privatization of utilities that have long been paid and supported by taxpayers? Has he ever used the term “corporate welfare”? Does the voter know what corporate welfare is?
Voting is a serious business to some voters and it is very disturbing to hear how many young people are so disillusioned by government that they don’t feel voting will change anything. Voting is something our ancestors fought long and hard to gain as a right and it is tragic to think that anyone would forego that right when every vote counts. To not speak out by not casting your vote you are still complicit in what occurs. There is really no neutral ground. No action is still an action.
“You are today where your thoughts have
brought you.
You will be tomorrow where your thoughts take you.” James Allen
You will be tomorrow where your thoughts take you.” James Allen
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