To the Editor:
The announcement of our upcoming federal election has unleashed an avalanche of complaining from a host of Canadians. The complaints cover a broad range.
1. It will cost too much and it is unnecessary.
2. We have had too many elections of late.
3. The election won't change anything, the politicians should just get on with it.
4. Nobody wants an election. Besides, there is rioting in Africa and earthquakes in Japan.
Surely we are not serious.
We live in a parliamentary democracy. No Prime Minister can continue to hold office if he loses the confidence of a majority of the members of The House of Commons.
That's how it works.
Mr. Harper has clearly lost the confidence of the present House of Commons. In the absence of anyone else who can command a majority, there is no government.
In this situation the former Prime Minister, his cabinet and all members of the House of Commons are out of a job.
It is at this stage that the responsibility of Canadian citizens kicks in. Voting is not just a privilege and a right, it is a clear civic responsibility and duty.
Every citizen has a duty to bring his best judgment to bear on the issues at hand and vote accordingly. A new House of Commons will be elected and a Prime Minister chosen. We will all have to live with the outcome for now, regardless of how we may have voted.
We have a job to do. Let's get on with it.
Winston Churchhill, in defence of democracy, observed electors may seem to be amateurish or ill-informed or inattentive. In fact, "only the person obliged to wear the shoe really knows where it pinches." That is why democracy works. "It's not perfect but it's the best idea we have come up with so far."
Thank goodness we do not have a Gadhafi to deal with. If we did the cost would truly be astronomical both in blood and treasure.
Douglas Cowling, Yorkton, SK.
