Do you think a blog is the right place to post about people’s dissenting opinions and the futility of it? I have considered this particular topic many times in the past. I want to talk about how so many people bitch about the various levels of government and their actions or lack thereof.
You know those friends who seem to constantly complain about whatever the people in power advocate? They take to Facebook or Twitter or Tik Tok, whatever platform they have to complain to their tens of followers (I know, I have a pseudo celebrity with my tens of followers (are there really that many of you that read this?)). I will admit that I am sometimes responsible for my share of complaints, usually in person, to my wife. I don’t usually post this opinion whether it’s “popular opinion” or not.
Although when I have an opinion of sorts about types of my government representatives, I usually complain to my wife first, and then if I feel it’s important enough, I send a nicely worded correspondence to said representative.
I have been vocal about my opposition to Calgary hosting the Olympics again. I felt that it was a huge waste of money that our city, province, and federal government couldn’t afford to waste. I felt there were many better uses for this money, although I know that this money was earmarked specifically for things such as the Olympics.
When my street isn’t plowed or swept in a timely manner I complain to my city councilor. When the feds decide to go to plain packaging for cigars, I complained to my MP. If I felt there was an issue with our health care system, I’d complain to my MLA.
These are the things that I find need to be complained about, but I don’t post it on social media. Why? Because it won’t make a difference, unless you’re important enough for your chosen representatives to be reading your wall posts.
I say if you have an issue, let the people who have a say know your opinion. Write a nice letter to your city councilor, or your provincial MLA, or your federal MP. Maybe you’re an American, the same rules apply to you. City councilor, State Senator, Governor, Federal Senator, the President even.
These are all our elected officials, elected by the people for the people. These people represent our best interests in their levels of government. These are the people who should be listening to you, but they won’t know your thoughts unless you go through the right channels.
In Canuckistan, it’s free to send a letter to your MP. Make Canuckistan Post work for you, make your elected official work for you. You/we are paying their wages, after all. Goodness knows, we can’t withhold our taxes to make our point, the government doesn’t make that an option. If you don’t know who to address it to, google it.
I’m not saying “don’t complain”, I’m saying, complain using the appropriate venues that are open to us and make your voice heard by the ONE that counts, your elected official (even if you didn’t vote for the butt munch).