It’s 9:50 p.m. I’ve been up since 5:30 a.m. so I’m tired and I want to go to bed. But I’ve just learned something that I simply can’t let slip by without, well, venting!
I swore to myself that my interest in politics was waning and I’d not get riled up this time around. All that went out the window this evening when I read a posting on Country 95.5 FM’s news page and on the 94.1 CJOC website.
Jim Hillyer, the Conservative candidate who wants to represent the people of the Lethbridge riding in Ottawa, has decided he will not be attending any more public forums leading up to the vote on May 2. This after what, by all reports, was a poor performance at the first and only forum he attended.
OK, to be fair, the release his office gave, reported on Country 95.5, said; “After very careful thought and consideration the Campaign team has determined that rather than having Jim spend his time engaged in partisan bickering, the best way for him to reach out to constituents is to spend his time out in the various communities, knocking on doors and speaking with people on a more personal level.”
In other words, the Campaign team wants to muzzle their candidate and keep him out of the limelight because they fear he could totally screw up their plans to maintain a Conservative strong hold on the Lethbridge riding.
What more will it take to wake up the voters in this riding and get them to see there are alternatives to always voting Conservative?
Remember, your Member of Parliament works for YOU! The electorate is, in effect, his boss. He reports to YOU! He is applying for the job of representing YOU! But he doesn’t really want to meet YOU! He doesn’t want to go through the job application process. He just wants you to hand him the position without really earning it.
How can anyone even think about voting for such a candidate? I have some friends who don’t seem to see supporting anyone but a Conservative. I think it has to do with some idea that any other party is going to screw up the economy and only a Harper Government can save us from the big, bad boogey man. Frankly, I don’t believe it. Trusting someone else to guide this country with the best interests of all in mind does not scare me.
You know what does scare me? What scares me is the fact that southern Alberta has a reputation for being a place where, as one friend put it, a piece of broccoli could run for the Conservatives.
It looks like we’re about to put that reputation to the test on May 2 and I’m afraid it’s going to prove true.
People, please think! There are options. Michael Cormican, the local Liberal candidate and Mark Sandilands, the NDP representative have some good 'people first' ideas. While it wouldn't be my choice, there's also Geoffrey Capp, of the Christian Heritage Party if you're that committed to conservative values.
All of these parties have candidates who are taking part in forums. They are meeting the voters and answering questions in a very public venue. They are actually out there working hard to earn your support.
And they deserve it. Consider voting for someone other than the Conservatives and help keep the Lethbridge vote from becoming another Veggie Tale.
