This is the entry I've been delaying for some time.
I will here be discussing something that will bring the topic of...politics. On MY blog? Yes. Usually, my political comments are limited to "Those bastards want to outlaw [insert sexuality related thing here]!", but today I will speak of voters. You know, those people who choose their leaders carelessly? Yeah, those.
Naturally, there are people out there who choose who to vote for based on actual thought. They will listen or read what the person has to say and choose who is most appropriate for them to vote for. Others, however, don't put so much thought into it. And this brings me to an attitude that annoys me to no end.
"I will vote for [insert candidate or party name here] because [he is/they are] the one who will win anyway."
*chokes on food*
*glares*
If that's how you choose who you're going to vote for, then I will gladly tear up your voting bulletin. Well, unless you just happen to have voted for whoever I think should win, naturally. 
Let's take a quick look at the election system of Canada (and of its province of Quebec, naturally). The country is divided into hundreds of areas. In each area, there are candidates trying to win. The candidates can represent a party (the Liberal Party, the Conservative Party, etc.) or be independent.
People vote for these individuals, not directly for the party. Of course, you usually make your choice based on the party represented by the person. Whoever has the most votes wins. Afterwards, the amount of deputies elected for each party is counted for the whole country. The leading party is the one with the highest number of elected deputies. The official opposition is the one with the second highest number, and then come the rest of the parties.
Everyone who has been elected can occupy a seat during political debates, even if the person is the only member of his or her party to have been elected. That person can then take a part in these debates, vote when needed and so on.
Where am I going with this? Let's say that I know that polls are giving favor to the Conservative Party (ew). Let's say a very high percentage of people say they will vote for that party. Now, from the "ew" and various statements I have made across this blog and the rest of the web, you might know that, while I don't have a very strong attachment to any Canadian party, I am certainly not going to vote for the Conservative Party. Their winning is the last thing I want. Yet, let's suppose that I just know they will win. What do I do?
One thing is sure, I will not say the quote I stated earlier and I will certainly not follow it. The Conservative Party stands for principles I despise. So what do I do? Well, quite naturally, I vote for another party (or, more accurately, for someone not belonging to their party). But...but... I know they will win? Well, screw that! I do not stand for their principles, I disagree with lots of their goals and ideas, and they disagree with basic elements of my lifestyle, such as lesbian porn.
As I vote for someone else, I am doing two things at once. First, I am making a tiny little move that could make someone not from their party be elected, perhaps even leading to another party winning, thanks to everyone else who is not going to vote for that party. Yes, it's just one vote, but if everyone thinks that, we're in a bad situation.
Second, I am standing up for myself. I'm not going out of there feeling like a sheep and I'm not contributing to the Fame & Glory of people I disagree with.
As I said before, we cannot all think "well, I just count for one vote". Sure, you count for a single vote, but if we all start thinking that, we are not standing up for ourselves, and doing so is important. When a nation doesn't stand up for itself, it ends up with representatives that don't actually represent it! And what happens then? We are unsatisfied with whoever is leading our country, and that is so not cool.
So, people, think up a bit about your beliefs and opinions, and stand up. That way, you will be cool too.
