Majority of the Minority

We live in a democratic country. It is a country wherein the government is of the people, for the people and by the people. Many of us came to this country to escape autocracy from our native lands. Living in a new land is not easy. We have to adjust to a new environment –different weather, different languages, a very diverse neighborhood, strange schools for our children, jobs that are often below our education and experiences, loss of family and friends.
We take all these abrupt changes in our lives for the peace of mind and enjoyment of the freedom of speech, religion and freedom from fear and want.
We are in a country wherein we see where our taxes go and complain when we feel that they are wasted. We dwell in a part of the world wherein lawbreakers get charged and punished, no matter who they are in the echelons of society. We enjoy the freedom of the press that brings us the news, all day, good or bad.
Settling in this new environment is not easy, but there are definitely many rewarding points that outweigh the difficulties.
One of the means by which democracy is assured to be in practice is the election of the officials that represent us in government.
One is upcoming; a municipal election. It is the lowest level of government that is often not given by some residents the importance that it deserves. It is the local government, the level that looks after the unique needs of a particular part of the country.
It is the government that can really make a difference for a town or city that it governs. Its officials can really take a good look at the aspects that make that particular place run smoothly and develop to its maximum. It is the unit of government that looks after such things as garbage collection, which is indeed a very important factor in the health of a community or the transportation system, a main issue in mobility of the residents, in the workings of the economy, facilitation of education and almost all aspects of life. Once transportation is in trouble, the place is in a standstill.
Many great leaders in the provincial and national levels started serving in the municipal governments.
In order for a democracy to work effectively, participation of all that are concerned is necessary.
Reports on election returns four years ago are rather bleak. In Toronto, considered the most vital city in Canada, there was only a 39% return in the previous election. The officials that governed the city in the last four years did not really represent the majority of the voices of the people. And yet, it is claimed that there are too many councilors or representatives and some candidates are planning to lessen them, if they get elected.
It is high time that qualified voters not only in Toronto, but also in other municipalities take note of this state of affairs. Democracy is not really working in our midst. Everyday we hear or read about complaints regarding all kinds of local problems but do we stop to think who are attending to those problems? Did we have a voice in putting them there? If not, do we have a strong voice to express our discontent?
It is the right time to wake up and become aware of the local issues that affect our everyday lives.
Let us not make our preoccupation in earning a living eclipse our attention to keeping democracy alive. Let the majority rule in this upcoming election.
But it is not enough to vote. It is important to know why we are voting. We ought to know the important issues that we shall give the representatives to our government the power to decide on. Where do we expect our community to be? Who are these people whom we are voting for to be our voice in our municipal government? Are they upright citizens of our community? Have they demonstrated some forms of leadership? Are they team workers?
Let us carefully listen to what they are saying and how they are saying what they will do if they get elected Let us watch them debate on the issues at hand. Let us try to gauge their sincerity, honesty, consistency and realism. Are their proposals workable? Are they in tune with the needs or the community? Are their proposals workable in our respective cities or towns?
Beware of the brilliant speakers who can sell the London Bridge to you. Beware of the candidates who spend most of their speaking time in perpetuating the accomplishments of the perpendicular pronoun or the ones that are always busy putting down the other candidates.
One serious pitfall that a voter might fall into is getting convinced by a candidate who can articulate the problems of the community that he is the person who has the right solutions for said difficulties, without presenting a realistic platform on how to go about realizing his goal. There are also those whose proposals contradict one another. They promise to improve the subway system as well as eliminate certain taxes. Accomplishing both goals sounds unrealistic unless the sources of funds for improvement are stated.
Let us not also forget that each councilor and even the mayor have only one vote on a given issue or proposal for development. We need open-minded representatives to our municipal governments who would be willing to sacrifice their personal agenda now and then, for the common good of the whole community.
Preparing to cast a wise vote is our individual community service to keep democracy alive. Putting the right people to represent us in governing our community is the only way we can hope to improve the way of life in our respective cities or town. We might make a mistake and still elect the wrong people but we can not blame ourselves for not trying.
We live in a country that we can truly be proud of, with a diverse population that live generally, harmoniously together. All of us born in or outside of this country call Canada our home. Let us all share in the responsibility of keeping it the democratic country that we say it is by exercising our freedoms. Let the majority rule not the majority of the minority.