A simple powerful idea can win so effectively. Sadly, so can idiotic nonsense.

As I've blogged earlier, it is no secret how the larger Canadian - especially Ontarian - political tide is gradually and steadily turning towards a yee-haw type right-wing ideology.

Election Campaign 101: Hit their heads repeatedly with a "right" sounding slogan like STOP THE GRAVY TRAIN and mobs of grinning-nodding idiots will swear their allegiance to you.

Nowhere has this been more painfully visible and evident than the recent election of Rob Ford as the Mayor of Toronto.

It was my first voting experience after becoming a Canadian citizen.

And no, I didn't vote for him, for those who just scan blog posts for choiciest bits to comment on without reading it all.

I might as well have just stayed home.

The grand school gymnasium which was transformed into a voting centre was a strange spectacle as I entered: More officials than voters. In fact there were only voters whose numbers I could count on my left hand fingers.

Being a cynic that I am, I had debated for quite a while whether a voting exercise would actually result in something positive, given the mob electorate psyche of a sleepy democratic western society like Toronto.

If the society in essence is hell bent on dumbing down, en masse, what possible difference one puny vote can make?

But then again, as the lottery paradox goes, you have to buy a ticket to have a chance at winning.

Besides, in my current newly Canadian naive opinion, voting should be considered a duty.

So, I performed my civic duty of being a Canadian by casting my vote.

Now it's up to the elected. Ha!

Labels: Politics, Toronto