The last election in Ontario produced some teacher's union recommendations that bordered on scare mongering. One party was clearly favoured in the union's review of candidates in our region. But it went further. The alternative vote was deemed dangerous for teachers and tantamount to a serious work load increase and poor working conditions. It was not clear where the data was for these claims.
I take exception to teachers instructing other teachers to vote for a certain candidate "or else"....What if a teacher wants to vote for a candidate for other reasons besides working conditions for teachers, like care for the environment, job opportunities for the majority of citizens, responsible government, tax relief, etc? Some may want to vote for a certain party that all things considered, including teachers' concerns, represents best justice for all. Voting over a single issue seems short-sighted to me, and furthermore, I find these directives insulting to my good judgment as a thoughtful citizen. Let's put it this way: should the union be right in its conclusions, let the teachers use their own intelligence and good judgment and they will come to the same conclusion! No need to suppose we don't know how to vote in an informed and responsible way.
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This strikes me as an attempt to undermine the democratic process. Not to say that our election process is not full of issues in and of itself, but at least we each still have the right and responsibility to cast our own independent vote as an adult citizen of Canada. I agree with you that narrowing the election criteria to a single issue is short-sighted, even irresponsible, and certainly insulting. It actually makes me think of attack ads used by campaigning parties to attempt to discredit their opponents. Sadly, the reality is that many Canadians simply vote the way their parents did, or the way their union tells them to, or because one candidate makes claims against another that the independent voter is too busy / lazy to verify or critically unpack.
ReplyDeleteIt is absolutely true that teachers cannot and ought not to be expected to always put their professional concerns before their personal, familial or moral concerns. Besides which, and this goes back to the issues with the system itself, we don't vote for leaders; we vote for representatives, who themselves choose their leader, who then becomes our leader. If I as a Canadian want Stephen Harper to be prime minister, I cannot vote for Stephen Harper unless I live in his riding; I have to vote for my Conservative candidate. But what if my Conservative candidate is incompetent and not acting in the best interests of his constituents? I may wish to vote for the Liberal or NDP candidate instead, as someone who will better represent my needs and those of my constituency in Parliament. It is extremely rare that a candidate will stand for absolutely everything that a given chunk of Canadians wants, and that no other candidate has anything to offer. Our system is muddy and our voters are confused and apathetic. For that reason, it's no wonder unions and people of influence try to steer the vote in "the best interests" of the people they represent (or purport to represent). However, as an adult Canadian citizen (I would say Ontarian, but I'm still technically Albertan so I didn't vote in the provincial election), it is my right, regardless of my intelligence or my occupation or my union affiliation, to make my own decision about where to cast my vote. If I am a teacher and my values line up with those of the union, I will likely come to the same conclusion as the union and cast my vote as they would like me to. But to present a lopsided and possibly inaccurate view to attempt to frighten teachers into voting a certain way is an insulting abuse of power.
This reminded me of a similar experience I had at a school recently. One teacher came in to the staff room mockingly outraged and stated, “Did you hear? Hudak wants us to teach phonics… I mean did any of you ever stop teaching phonics? Because I sure didn’t!” It appeared from everyone’s body language and reaction that this was this most ridiculous thing ever uttered and that teachers would vote en masse for that “other party.”
ReplyDeleteAnd while these events may attempt to undermine the democratic process, I find it difficult to blame the union. The union has a primary purpose: protect its member’s interests at all costs. And yes, I agree, voting for a single issue is short-sighted but it happens constantly. The media is, sadly, easily manipulated into pushing a single issue and attempts to galvanize the public into favoring their position over the opposite. The “Gravy Train” was the single issue that stuck with voters and netted Rob Ford the mayoral election. Education became this election's single issue.
I think, again sadly, that people who use their own intelligence and good judgment can and will vote for whomever they think is the best, and those who don’t or are apathetic will vote for whomever promises to protect their behinds.
I have always felt that sheep should not lead sheep. But as it goes we are a apart of a flawed system. When the "fanatics" make demands and accusations the uninformed fall into line.
ReplyDeleteOscar's point of our lovable mayor shows these dangers. The onion had a great article of giving control to the professionals and those that are in the know the power to make the choices for us. If we didn't rely on politicians to make decisions on topics that they can't even begin to comprehend we may have a better system. But how can we expect individuals who elect our current system to change their ways. I say that ignorance breeds ignorance.
Now don't get me started on unions. Here is a system that was created to protect individuals but now a day they only protect their own self interest and to them the average member is only a number to be used as leverage to exert control over the establishment.
Matt