This headline is irritating.

Calvert sees vote as being ‘pivotal’

Lorne Calvert is the leader of Saskatchewan’s socialist party (which sounds like the beginning of the insomniac’s favorite sleepytime story…). As far as he is concerned, today’s provincial election is pivotal. Which, of course, it is–because if the voters in Saskabush have at least the sense God gave fetal mice, he’ll be out of a job by tomorrow.

But for the rest of us, including Sasky voters, it’s hard to see why this election is so pivotal. Frankly, like all Canadian elections in recent years (with the possible exception of the usual Quebec “we’re leaving” “we’re not leaving” B.S.), you couldn’t tell the policy platforms of the major parties apart. Right-wing party? Left-wing party? Give me a break. They all support the same g**d*** things (socialized medicine, handouts to favoured businesses, professional lying, etc etc), so ultimately it’s fair to say “who gives a poop?”

I think this is behind the chronically low turnout in most Canuck elections–and the same thing in the USA. Voters don’t care because they don’t see much difference between the parties, and also because (for all of our mutual whimpering about corruption and crappy government) things are pretty good throughout North America. As a vicious partisan bastard I personally am intensely interested in who wins these rinky-dink contests, but it’s perfectly fair to not care at all.

Which makes all of the whining about “low voter turnout” a bit beside the point. Why SHOULD we all care so much about politics? In a perfect world, politics wouldn’t matter very much at all–in fact, it’s really only socialists that think Government Should Matter. When your view of politics is the War of All against All (i.e. socialism, where the biggest gang gets to force everybody else to do its bidding), suddenly voter turnout is realy important–because low voter turnout de-legitimizes your socialist arguments. How can you say your winning politician represents The People Against The Powerful, when the People don’t give a rat’s ass?

Speaking of rats, Mr. Calvert should back off. Politics is ultimately a narcissistic obsession, because it boils down to the belief that I Know What’s Best For Everybody. Today’s vote may be pivotal for Calvert–but if a lot of Sasky voters think differently, good for them.