Well… it could have been worse. I suppose.

One thing seems sure though, we wanted “change”. Looking over the results (great job CBC!) it’s interesting to see that although overall wins seem relatively stable, the number of changed seats isn’t.

And although voter participation was up on all counts, I’m still surprised at how low it was… 64.9% overall and 38% of people between 18 and 24.

Do we take democracy for granted or do we not believe that we are heard in our current “democratic” systems? Would we “believe” more if percentages of votes made a difference?

Looking at yesterday’s results, the Bloc has 51 seats (i.e. over 16% of the MP’s) and only 10% of the vote. The NDP has 17% of the vote and ony 29 seats. “Other” has 5% of the vote and 1 — count ‘em, 1 — seat (and that an outrageous joke). Seems to me like there’s room for improvement in our democratic systems here.

Our current ways — i.e. “systems” — are very, very slow to evolve. We moderate new and different ideas by a huge weight of “past”. This is true in our legal system, in our education system, in our government. It feels less true in our health systems but their evolution doesn’t really seem “managed” as much as it does “reactionary”. So… for our government… the non-included “extreme” views (like green business practices, like a country whose political voices don’t have the animal farm notion of “all voices are equal but some voices are more equal than others”…) still have no room.

Given that “real” change always seems to come from not only listening to but giving place to “extremes” (meaning far from the current norm), I continue to long for an inclusive way of governing. My ideal “system” would be more collectively repectful, intelligent and responsive. It would be “wise” — meaning would give means to younger and inexperienced and “out there” voices while framing these with “wisdom” and intelligent practices. I don’t think that democracy as a “vote by committee” notion gives anything but mediocracy. I don’t think that democracy as a “run by only established mainly-men” is very reflective of collective views. And I don’t think that this animal farm notion of politics does anything much about our future other than mortgage it.

But… yesterday’s results could have been worse. I suppose. It seems to me that we view passing the hot potato onto another of our current playmates as “change”. Seems like just playing “hot potato” to me. At least the potato was passed. But… it’s still the same game.

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