From an old fart: Dear Young People: PLEASE VOTE

Do you realize your power? Stephen Harper and his Conservatives do. That’s why they squashed on-campus polling stations. This young woman gets it:

“Youth can almost change the political landscape,” said Cooke, who’s excited to vote in her first election. “They have such different views than the people who do vote, it would be completely changed and more representative of the population.”

It would not take much to change the politics in this country, and you can do it.

15,000 swapped votes can change which party becomes government

Rick Mercer gets it. (He’s between a ‘young person’ and an ‘old fart,’ but not yet middle-aged, so not sure who he is. He’s hip but not a hipster.) But he completely understands how important it is for young folks to vote, both for the country and for themselves. His now-famous rant inspired vote mobs across Canada.

This is your election; you get to decide the direction this country takes. I hope you have seen that Stephen Harper’s anti-science, anti-environment, pro-US leaning policies are not what’s best for Canada – and I hope you get out there and tell him so with your vote.

Personally, I think it is time to give the NDP a shot. They’ll move us toward a more European society and economy, and look at how well Germany, Norway, Denmark, and other countries are doing compared to us in many ways.

But the choice is yours. This old fart humbly suggests you give the NDP a look – but regardless of your choice, take a hand in your future. Don’t let your parents pick your government.