*Mugabe. I wish we had edit :(((((

Goddamnit I’m trying not to write these tl;dr posts but then my point gets all misconstrued. But I’ll try to be concise again:
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1) Voting is useless without grassroots politcal action to back it up. I know that probably sounds like I mean stupid protests where you can show off your rentadreads and such. No, I mean reading newspapers, discussing the issues and keeping yourself informed on recent history to the best of your ability.
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More than half of Canadians can’t name the Head of State (seriously, look it up), much less tell you anything about Canadian politics, much less about world politics. The few that know anything get their knowledge from the Daily Show or CNN. The vote of most Canadians is the equivalent of throwing a dart at blank drywall. How can we vaguely expect our politicians to rule the country in an ethical manner when we, the voters, don’t have any specific qualms? Alec embodies this attitude: He has plenty to say, but no information, and is quite content to think that Canada is some beautiful moral compass for all earth and ttly srsly not as bad as the States liek tttly.
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2) Now, I think it’s safe to say that the EOI philosophy. All of our dealings with the most of the world (the developing economies) nearly without exception assume this philosophy, and it is indeed based on how we and other developeds run their our own economies: Heavy trade, focus on exports, wrench up GDP, to be brief. I think this more than implies the interdependency of world economy.

3) Keeping up with international news, it is my frequent observation – correct me if I’m wrong – that the connectedness you find in world economy is more than fully reflected in diplomacy: The thirtyone developed hold sway over world affairs, which is only checked by their infinite need for cheap resources and labour. We’re not talking war and peace, here, just day-to-day business. My point: We, in Canada, are not only actively involved in Africa, the United States, the G8 and the UN, but we have an unusual amount of sway for a country of 30 million people. Further, we are to an increasing extent mutually dependent on Africa, Africa’s problems are our problems and we can have a direct impact on them.
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4) Back to point one, it is my feeling that Canada, like most parliamentary democracies, has a good deal of political elasticity, which is compounded by the fact that one MP represents relatively few people here. Since the year I turned 18 I’ve been a registered member of the NDP, Canada’s fourth party, which has never formed a federal government. However, in the case of a minority rule in the House of Commons (ie, the status quo), they have sway roughly proportional to the ridings they win. Despite the fact that I can’t usually be fucked to attend meetings, I have had long conversations with my local candidates/MLAs/MPs for all three main western parties. In the same fucking meeting. I don’t know, but it seems unlikely that the Average American can chit-chat with their Senator. I could elaborate how easy it is to get involved in Federal and Provincial politics in Canada, and genuinely interact with politicians in person, and get a detailed description of what’s happening in Ottawa on paper or directly from a first-hand witness, but blah-blah-blah. The point is that, for the Canadian, it is quite easy to get involved and make a difference, even if your party doesn’t win. Anyway, we certainly expect much of our politicians if we always assume that Canada is always better and the holy bodhisatva of world affairs while not holding our parties responsible for taking the types of actions we assume they take anyway.

“I think you’ve caught a case of “the grass is always greener…”.”

On the other side of what? I live in BC, you dumbass, and I’ve probably taken more Canadian history classes than years you’ve been potty-trained.
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We don’t elect our leader, no, but she don’t do anything. We don’t elect our senate, but they don’t do anything. And dogcatchers? I don’t see what my discussion about *my own experience as a registered member of a Canadian political party* has to do with Lizzy. I also don’t know why you automatically equate civic duty with killing Jews, but I’m going to leave that dark corner of your crazy brain unexplored.
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Let me explain responsibility to you: Say an old abandoned building is set on fire by some local kids, and everyone in town waves their hand at it and says, “It’s not my problem!!” Then then house next door catches fire and everyone still goes, “It’s not my problem.” as the old lady inside struggles to escape the flames. And so on until the whole town has burned down. Why does this not happen all the time? Because humans are social creatures and we are all responsible for our community.
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What I am saying is: The same colonialist drive that created Canada fucked up Africa pretty bad (not to mention the First Nations). It might have been some dead guys who did it, but the problems are there nonetheless, and they have written our own history and culture – our very identity – and they effect our economic community, so we will feel the repercussions so long as they exist, even over in Africa. Wave your hand at it and say “it’s not my problem” but it is weather you like it or not.
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@Rawr – you sweetheart, you. It’s all good esse.

…Ok, I’ve just entered into a retard fight I’m out. btw, Borden made his career as Royal Opposition in favour of sending troops to fight in the Boer war.