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Qrono Weekly Times, Wednesday, September 17,2003 - 7 As I see it by Peter Jaworski Vote your conscience Did you happen to read the National Post a while back? Somewhere amongst those pages was an advertisement advertisement aimed directly at Ernie Eves, Premier of this Province, and leader of the Ontario Progressive Conservative Party. Atop a weathervane sits a rooster with Ernie's face. Instead of the standard cardinal points spelling out North, South, West, and East were the words "Monopoly" on one side, "Choice" its counterpart, counterpart, "Common Sense" the third, and "Non Sense" finishing finishing up the four. The tagline? "Don't Blow It." That, it turns out, was a softer version of a much more controversial tagline: "Just Blow Me." It turns out, explained Paul McKeever, leader of the Freedom Party, that the Post asked them to soften the line a little. The advertisement, as McKeever puts it, is supposed supposed to do one of two things: For one, it's supposed supposed to demonstrate that Ernie Eves flip flops on policies, policies, and, for two, that the Freedom Party is a viable alternative, ready for the responsibility of governing this Province. Whether or not the latter is true depends, in large measure, on the voters. Like you, for instance, and me. And whether or not we think voting for so-called third parties is such a good idea. Why wouldn't it be? One argument explains that it's a waste of your ballot to vote in favour of a political party that doesn't have a good chance of winning. The "wasted vote syndrome." Apparently, unless the per- ONTARIO PROVINCIAL ELECTION YOU CAM VOTE BEFORE OCTOBER 2 etEctx 0 *^ If you are qualified to vote and your name is on the Voters List, you may vote before election day at any advance poll in your electoral district. Ballots cast at advance polls will be counted at the close of the regular polls on election day. If you have not received your Notice of Registration card and you would like to vote at an advance poll, you can apply for a Certificate to Vote at your Returning Office or at the advance poll location itself when you go there to vote. ADVANCE POLL VOTING WILL BE HELD © In your Returning Office At Area Advance Polls from Saturday, SEPTEMBER 20 Wednesday, SEPTEMBER 24 through Friday, SEPTEMBER 26 Thursday,- SEPTEMBER 25 (Sunday excluded) Friday, SEPTEMBER 26 between 10 a.m. and 8 p.m between 10 a.m. and 8 p.m. In DURHAM Returning Office 1411 Hwy 2 E, Courte 905.436.5300 or 1.866.242.3024 ' Rastdale Collegiate Inst, 265 Harmony Ril X, Osltawa 1 Port Perry High School, 160 Rosa St, Port Perry • 1 Newcastle Community Hall, 20 King Ave. Newcastle 1 Howmanville High School, 49 Liberty St X, Bowmanville FOR MORE INFORMATION CALL US AT 1.888.0NT.V0TE (1.888.668.8683) TTY: 1.888.292.2312 (for deaf/hard of hearing) E-MAIL US AT VISIT OUR WEB SITE AT info@electionsontario.on.ca www.electionsonlario.on.ca Published on behalf of electoral district Returning Officers by John L. Hollins, Chief Election Officer If you require a sign language interpreter, Ontario Interpreter Services (OIS) makes them available to voters across Ontario on a first-come, first-served basis. Call OIS at the Canadian Hearing Society office nearest you to determine their availability, or contact Elections Ontario for additional information. If you have friends or relatives who have difficulty reading, please make them aware of the information in this notice. 6 0 imii-purllum Xlil lH > of I III' I rulslnliii' Vwmlilv son you vote for has a good chance of winning, you'd be wasting your time voting for her. That seems to be the biggest problem for parties like the Green Party or even the New Democrats. The assumption is that Green Party votes eat into Liberal and New Democrat votes, while New Democrat votes could have supported the Liberals. But the "wasted vote syndrome" syndrome" explanation, is a basic waste of breath; if you take it to its logical conclusions, conclusions, as philosopher Brian Berry makes clear, you waste your vote when you don't vote for the eventual winner. Voting for anyone but the winner means, essentially, essentially, that you left your home for no good reason-- the end result would have been the same had you voted or not. That, too, is the line of reasoning economist David Friedman uses in his The Economics of Everyday Life to point out that under no circumstances does your particular vote matter anyways. anyways. You're more likely to get into a car accident on your way to the voting booth than to affect the eventual outcome in any significant way. So why bother? Being represented in a democratic system, however, however, isn't about winning or affecting the outcome signif- icantly-it's about being part of the process. You should participate because in that way you play some role in an important decision. It isn't as if planting a tree, for instance, changes the world in general, but it should be significant in your own life and in the kind of person you want to be. The benefits are symbolic. That's why you should vote. And, as I see it, you CHANGE October 2nd ERNIE EVES MUST GO "Protect end improve our health and educational systems " Roy Forrester should vote your conscience, even if that means voting for a candidate the polls say is unlikely to win. Why leave your house to vote for the least-worst? You should vote for whomever you think would be the best candidate, representing the political philosophy closest to your point of view. That means me voting for Cathy McKeever in the Durham Riding. I hope you reach the same conclusion; the polls be damned, reach the same conclusion; the polls be damned. Thank you to the sponsors and organizers of the Orono Concert Series. Also, to The Orono Weekly Times, and those who attended, for their support. Sincerely, Ed Morton Re-Elect O'Toole DURHAM Tttu&t 'Keep, Ottfanto Sfoma. I Ask for Your Support Telephone: 905-697-9090 • 905-985-VOTE (8683) 1-866-338-JOHN (5646) Fax: 905-697-0387 e-mail: johnotoole@rogers.com • www.johnotoole.ca Campaign Office: 77 King Street East, Bowmanville Authorized by the CFO for the John O'Toole Campaign Kid's Activities including: Pumpkin decorating, jumping castle, henna tattoos & obstacle course Tasting and Judging begins at 2:00 pm Used Book Sale at Town Hall ONTARIOFOWiR GENERATION Clmngton sHmy