Page 3. November 2008

EDITORIAL

UPEI CADRE

A, the U.S. braces

itself for a vital election, voters have been com-

ing out of the woodworks, proudly displaying their political affinity, even to

the dismay of others. One young voter had his truck sabotaged with dog-doo

by a neighbour who didn't quite agree with his political allegiance. Twin sisters in their 80s have decided, with the help of a neighbour, to vote in their first election, and Saturday Night Live has been delivering us dead-on impersonations of the politi- cal elite. But this commen- tary is not about people who vote. It's about those who don't.

CNN broadcasted a story of a Tennessee newspaper which in 2004 proudly printed the names of indi- viduals who were registered to vote but did not. Non- voters of the November election will meet the same fate. The goal is admirable. By seeing their names in the newspaper for all to see, voter turnout will increase. | And, not surprisingly, it worked in the past. But I cannot fathom why a news- paper, or any sort of media, would resort to humiliation

The Other Side of the Story

By Lucas McInnis

to jump-start the voting process.

Democracy is a two-way street. We all have the right to vote. And likewise, the right not to. True, it is our democratic duty. The sys- tem cannot be successful if people do not participate. But there are many factors which the paper does not bring into consideration.

Some people who may have registered could be unable to do so on account of illness or lack of trans- portation. There is often transportation available, but not everyone is necessarily aware of it, or able to take advantage.

While successful, I do not see how ridiculing the voting public is a beneficial aspect of the democratic system. Education, not embarrassment, should be

the foundation of an elec- tion. The paper would better spend its time printing other options available to the voting public who are handicapped or sick. And a better headline would be the importance of voting, not just registering. I can agree with the intentions, but not what they did in order to get people to participate in the voting process, which seems to be more like bullying.

This is a democracy. The “don't vote, don't complain” mentality is not what de- mocracy is about. Freedom of expression is an integral part of democracy. Not voting, whether intention- ally or by reasons beyond your abilities, does not earn humiliation. Not in my idea of a democracy.

This newspaper should, in the future, think about

whether bullying the voters is actually helping the cause they’re so interested in. If

you ask me, I’m pretty sure the Founding Fathers and Fathers of Confedera- tion didn’t have this in mind when they started these countries.

The foundation of demo-

Correction

In the October issue of The Cadre, a teaser for Jarrod Yeo’s column was featured on the front page while the article was not found within the newspaper. The piece is currently available on the Cadre website, which can be found through the UPEI Student Union website.

-cracy is freedom. Freedom

of speech without punish- ment. Freedom of religion without persecution. And this is all based around

. democracy, even if you use

that freedom not to partici- pate.

Lucas McInnis is the editor-in- chief of The Cadre

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Editor-in-chief Lucas McInnis News editor Cheryl Murray Production editor Sebastian Baglole Business manager Martha MacIntyre

Reporters Whitney Bysterveldt Shane Mountain Jarrod Yeo

Contributors Paige Matthie Cody MacInnis

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