Commentary

Jeremy Gustafson: Reclaiming democracy doesn’t cost a dime

by Jeremy Gustafson on September 29th, 2014 at 2:12 PM
    1 of 1 2 of 1

      Our political system is broken, shattered under the weight of massive campaign donations from big business. How can it be fixed? How can we, the common people, compete against the millions of dollars spent on winning our opinion? We are financially out-gunned but with a little research and a little effort we can overcome and leave those millions spent in vain.

      We just need to think outside the box.

      Let’s start by examining the conduct we demand from potential candidates. Our current roster of career politicians have lost credibility—slick talking snake oil salesmen that are at worst straight up liars and at best, as the old saying goes, wouldn’t say spit if their mouth was full of it. Is this their fault? Perhaps our expectations are unrealistic, limiting our options. If potential candidates are disqualified because they smoked a joint at a party in college or posted a risqué YouTube video years ago, it doesn’t leave us much to choose from. Only people who have spent their whole life being bland, never speaking their mind. Can you trust someone like that? I can’t.

      We should also consider how much weight we give to lofty pre-election promises. Christy Clark and the B.C. Liberals promised to put “Families First” and closed down the schools. Gregor Robinson and Vision Vancouver promised to end homelessness and be engaged with communities; instead homelessness hit a record high and the city is facing over a dozen lawsuits from community groups that feel they’ve been ignored. Hinging your hopes on a pre-election promise is like fantasizing about all the things you are going to buy when you win the lottery; it feels good but don’t quit your day job.

      And finally we must beware of the major political parties, the ones with the biggest campaign donations and a whip system that forces their members to vote along party lines, regardless of their personal or constituents’ beliefs. The end result always seems the same: the desires of citizens, families, and small business owners take a back seat to the desires of the party’s biggest contributors.

      In a nutshell, if we want the system to treat us differently then we need to vote differently. For many of us, voting differently means actually showing up to vote. If you have friends or family that don’t vote because they’re sick of the standard choices let them know there are new exciting options available. Independent candidates, newly formed parties, people so disillusioned with our system that they are running for office themselves. They are easy to identify; just eliminate any candidates or parties with expensive television ads and full page newspaper spreads and all you’ll be left with is people that want to change the system as badly as you do.

      People love to root for underdogs and it costs nothing to vote. This November 15 vote for the underdogs and start reclaiming our democracy, without spending a dime. My name is Jeremy Gustafson and I am a councillor candidate with the Cedar Party. Thank you for reading my piece and I would truly appreciate your support.

      Comments

      11 Comments

      Emily

      Sep 29, 2014 at 4:48pm

      Thanks for wasting our tax payer dollars on a useless, childish lawsuit against the mayor.

      Strange Logo

      Sep 29, 2014 at 7:41pm

      That logo, it is a bit like the British Union of Fascists. Coincidence?

      Cedar party tricks

      Sep 29, 2014 at 9:06pm

      Apparently they love driving their muscle cars through Kitsilano chasing cyclists off the roads!

      OMG

      Sep 30, 2014 at 7:53am

      "Our current roster of career politicians have lost credibility—slick talking snake oil salesmen that are at worst straight up liars and at best, as the old saying goes, wouldn’t say spit if their mouth was full of it."

      Right. This is the sort of logical, calm and thought-provoking politician that Vancouver needs. Lol. He'll definitely appeal to 20 year olds (who never vote), East Van stoners (who never vote) and Commercial Drv Black-Bloc activists (who also never vote).

      I agree with Strange Logo, that is one scary logo. Anyone who would come up with that needs their neck bolts tightened.

      Wolfgang Droeger

      Sep 30, 2014 at 8:36am

      Ja. I like the style of these guys. They should all wear uniforms mit knee high boots and march on shitty hall.

      Does Your Party

      Sep 30, 2014 at 10:23am

      ... have a paramilitary wing, to protect Dear Leader?

      Jeremy Gustafson

      Sep 30, 2014 at 1:28pm

      @Emily If it's any consolation the amount spent on our lawsuit will fade into insignificance when the bills for the 16 other lawsuits come rolling in. Why so many lawsuits?

      @Strange Logo I assure you that is a coincidence. I have never heard of the union you refer to. And I'm afraid to Google it in case it gets my computer flagged by CSIS.

      @OMG You have specifically identified the demographic I'm trying to engage; check my website http://apathyhasavoice.com/.

      Thanks to everyone for taking the time to comment. Please encourage anyone you know that doesn't vote to give it a try!

      RUK

      Sep 30, 2014 at 1:48pm

      What a year these guys are having!

      - Cedar Party formed, Glen Chernin pledges to remove Point Grey bike lane and review all bike lanes because "many are wrong and must go away"
      - Nicholas Chernin hands out Cedar cards from his Z28 at Point Grey protest
      - Glen Chernin and others sue Gregor Robertson and caucus over HootSuite
      - Suit dismissed by BC Supreme Court, which comments that the petition was an "abuse of the court's process on the basis that it is without foundation and can serve no useful purpose"
      - Glen Chernin and others sue Gregor Robertson and caucus over Oakridge development
      - Glen Chernin withdraws mayoral candidacy, runs for council
      - Cedar supports independent Bob Kasting for mayor
      - Wesley Mussio submits commentary to The Straight
      - Wesley Mussio withdraws from Cedar

      I'm not sure how this adds up to a convincing display of credibility. But it does make me think that everyone is a total slacker compared to these guys! Busy busy busy!

      Boris Moris

      Sep 30, 2014 at 2:41pm

      You forget to mention the unqualified endorsement that NPA gadfly, and multiple party creator/endorser, Bill McCreery, gave to Cedar and the Greens. That alone should be the kiss of death for a struggling party in this city. It begs the question: Why wouldn't they tell McCreery to piss up a rope? An unkind and heartless answer would be that Cedar and the Greens are desperate and lacking in principles so I won't go there.

      Odds bodkin

      Oct 1, 2014 at 7:58pm

      It would be easy to dismiss some of these Cedar-ists as right-wing nutcrackers. But they're not. They're pinch hitting and running interference for the right-wing grumps who are afraid of any change, but not climate-change which they deny.