Keyboard warriors need a Time Out
Holy Cow – keyboard warriors, it’s time for a Time Out. Take a breath, take a step back and chill.
Yes, you’re angry. We’re all angry.
The provincial NDP government has run up the provincial debt astronomically. They’ve ruined our economy; destroyed our healthcare system to the point where finding enough doctors and nurses to fill shifts and keep ER’s open is becoming more and more difficult; driven companies like Canfor away from our communities; worsened the drug crisis; embraced the catch-and-release method of justice – all while dividing us and encouraging us to fight amongst ourselves.
But the two men running for MLA in Peace River North aren’t to blame. They are not the enemy. Fighting amongst ourselves from the safety of our keyboards, hurling insults through cyberspace, destroying campaign signs, calling people names for preferring one candidate over another and for believing in their message, is not helping to bring about change.
Change is needed in BC. We all know it. Tearing down those who care enough about Peace River North and its people to put their names forward to represent the region in Victoria isn’t going to bring about that change.
It’s been said the people in this region would give you the shirt off their back if you needed it. We’ve seen examples of that this year, when Fort Nelson was evacuated. So many people in the North and South Peace came forward to help. With donations, with places to house their pets and livestock, with places to stay . . . the list goes on.
Both the MLA candidates were among those who stepped up to lend a hand in whatever ways they could.
This election is unique.
Never have we had a situation where the official opposition party folded up its tent right before an election, leaving its candidates without a banner to run under. It’s been 91 years since we’ve had a Conservative government in BC, and the party hasn’t had much of a presence in the legislature since the 1960s.
The resurgence of the BC Conservatives is as amazing as the performance of the NDP is deplorable. It’s understandable that the contest would be volatile in ridings where there’s an incumbent-NDP MLA and a Conservative candidate, plus an independent to split the vote.
That’s a situation that doesn’t exist in Peace River North. There’s no vote-splitting here.
The NDP candidate is a candidate in name only. He doesn’t live here. He doesn’t have a vested interest in this area, doesn’t know the people, he might never have been north of Prince George. Who knows? He hasn’t told us. It’ll be surprising if he gets more than six percent of the votes.
You know who does have a vested interest in Peace River North? Who loves the region and is willing to sacrifice time with family, to spend weeks on end in Victoria advocating for the needs of the residents of Peace River North?
Jordan Kealy and Dan Davies.
They’re not doing it for glory, for power, or the big paycheck. They’ve both said multiple times they’re doing it because they want to be a voice for YOU, the residents of this corner of British Columbia.
Heaping insults upon the candidates, their supporters and vandalizing election signs is not the done thing. It takes a lot to run for political office. You might not like them or agree with them, but these guys deserve our respect for putting themselves out there, to speak for us. Not tirades and accusations, nor distain or suspicion.
How many of you would be able to go out there and do what Dan and Jordan are doing?
We need a strong voice in the legislature, whether it’s by a member of a political party or an independent who can advocate for the region without the constraints of partisan party politics.
We want change. These guys are offering it, in their own ways.
We need to stop bickering amongst ourselves, get out from behind the keyboards, stop vandalizing signs and VOTE. Trash-talking candidates on the internet isn’t going to change anyone’s mind about how they’re going to vote, unless it’s to put them off the candidate with the most caustic supporters.
If you don’t vote, you can’t complain about the outcome.
You know what I’d love to see for this election? A return to the voter turnouts of old. Specifically, 1991, where 70 percent of registered voters in Peace River North voted. It’s been declining ever since, in 1995 it was 60 percent and in the 2020 election, it was 46 percent.
Keyboard Warriors, stay in time-out until Sunday, please. Use the time in between to go out and vote for your preferred candidate, rather than tearing down those who are voting for the other guy.
On October 20, we can either celebrate the win, or complain to our hearts’ content if the guy we voted for doesn’t win.