Democracy without Representation?

Correct me if I'm wrong, but I'm pretty sure our brethren to the south revolted because of taxation without representation. The American colony desperately wanted to have some sort influence on what happened with their hard earned tax dollars. Understandable, considering they were living in a colony which, under British rule, had no democratic structures. People's only recourse when it came to talking to the 'government' was to beg and plead with appointed representatives of the King who sat thousands of miles away.

Where is the Canadian's ire? I'm certainly not suggesting we take up arms here, but Canadians should consider the current political situation and take a moment to think. Let me help get the ball rolling. Canadians have long lived in a benevolent dictatorship. It sounds extreme, but essentially all power in the government (especially in a majority) lies with the Prime Minister - the PM chooses Cabinet members and who gets the accompanying salary, has the direct ear of the Governor General (who, as a matter of convention, does whatever the PM says anyway), selects committee members, appoints senators, etc. etc.. The Canadian people are allowed to say 'yes' or 'no' to the PM's work at intervals of at least 5 years -generally 2-4 years though. Actually influencing the direction of the government during its tenure, however, is damn near impossible, and the best most of us can do is beg and plead with a representative from the government which, for many of us, sits several thousand miles away. Sound familiar? On top of that you can't really expect a lot from said 'representative' because his/her effectiveness, and job for that matter, is entirely dependent on the will of the PM. And God forbid your 'representative' isn't from the ruling party!!! Thanks to our right honourable PM not even our 'representatives' are allowed to have a say at the moment. Proroguing Parliament has left us ALL without federal representation. And why? Steve can't be bothered by the rest of us while he and his minions devise a plan to save our economy... Bullshit. How much of our 'democratic' reputation are we going to put on the line simply because "it's not like he's killing people or something"?

Democracy isn't supposed to be easy. It's supposed to be a LOT of work. It's supposed to take the best of us to work on solving the collective problems of all Canadians - not just those carrying a certain party membership card. That's why we elect 308 people to help solve these problems... NOT 38!!! I know it must be bothersome to have to work with people with different points of view and from different backgrounds and who you can't bribe/intimidate but THAT'S WHAT A GOVERNMENT IS SUPPOSED TO DO!!!!! You guys do it, so we don't have to. You solve the big problems so the rest of us can go about our daily business making enough money to pay for the projects you design to make all out lives a little easier to navigate.

Especially as the upcoming Winter Olympics draw the world's gaze toward Canada, Canadians should be aware of how the world will see us. In my travels around the world, I've always tried to be a responsible ambassador for Canada and represent those things that have given Canadians the tremendous international reputation that many of us have truly enjoyed. It is time for Canadians in Canada to do the same. Think about what makes us the envy of the world, and what institutions, privileges and responsibilities have brought us that acclaim and if it's something we should value. Then do something about it. Ask questions, get informed, as an informed public is the hardest to dupe. Get on Facebook, MySpace, or whatever social networking site you choose, and let your exasperation be heard. It's time for Canadians to demand that their Government represent the same qualities that make Canadians so beloved throughout the world.