I was just reading an article that was pretty ridiculous and hostile towards Jack Layton, seemingly butthurt over the NDP's massive surge in the polls. At one point the author, some prick named Tim Powers said “ Will and when will those who have recently turned to the NDP in pre-vote polls end their joyride with Jack Layton? “ ... I don't think the NDP is gaining ground because people are converting so much as because young people are reaching voting age - and thanks to web 2.0 and social networking sites, they're mobilizing and becoming more politically active - Slowly leaving behind the stereotype of apathetic youth - This is slow, but it's happening.
Not to be morbid or anything, but older generations eventually passing on (along with their prejudices and antiquated ideas) of course will always bring on a lot of change too. And the fact is, Canadian youth are very left wing - A growing number of people I know in my age group would even consider themselves socialists, myself included. Once the baby boomers - a generation that outnumbers us nearly two to one - finally begin to go away, I can see this country undergoing a lot of change. I really hope so, at least.
The internet is also revolutionizing the way we digest or cover events through journalism - as well as all varieties of information - including the dirty laundry we never were aware of before. While one product of this is whacky conspiracy theories are soaring in popularity these days, there is an equally nonsensical, corroding, but real government we're becoming more and more educated about - fractional reserve banking, drug prohibition (a huge driver of profits for murderous drug cartels, politicians and cops), the delegitimizing and then curtailing of legitimate protest during G20, and the many abuses that occurred there - The list goes on...
If it weren't for the fact the left in Canada is fractured into four major parties, while the right has only one, the Conservatives would almost never win elections here. I think the fact we have this lopsided number of parties results in an undermining of democracy. Perhaps political parties themselves undermine democracy. Why can't we just elect individuals? Seriously.
Why do political parties exist? To provide the necessary publicity and exposure to get donations and then get votes? We have the goddamned internet now. If fucking Rebecca Black can become famous, why can't a politician can get enough exposure too?
