Following up on yesterday’s post about the chronology of the growth of Greens across Canada, there is a point at the end that deserves a little more attention. It’s the notion I raise about voters feeling like they need to settle for “good enough.”
It goes hand-in-glove with the reality that up until 2011 the Greens were on the outside looking in. In the past, with no candidate winning their seat it was a pretty easy sell that voting for a Green was “wasting your vote.” As a result, other political parties swoop in to try and scoop up all the would-be Green voters. They deliver “good enough” planks in their platform with little intention to deliver. In the psyche of the voter who would like to vote Green, they had to determine who’s the next best on the list of the “good enough” parties.
This formula is changing. The advances of the Greens federally and in four provinces has shifted the dynamics of campaigning and the formula for the voter. With increasing frequency it’s being shown that voting Green can have positive results. In other words: Greens can win. That means strong candidates with credible campaigns are a far better choice than merely “good enough.”
Voting for or against?
There is a well-established culture of voting against the party you like the least or fear the most, whatever the case may be. Additionally, there is also a culture in our country of passing down who the family votes for as an inheritance. This is what makes the rise of the Greens in Prince Edward Island so fascinating. From 1873-1993 only Liberals or Conservatives were elected in that province. In the 1996 election, a single New Democrat won, matched only by Green Party Leader Peter Bevan-Baker’s election in 2015. The Greens’ move to Official Opposition with 8 seats in 2019 is unprecedented.
The world is changing. Global warming is increasingly visible. No longer can we afford to kick this issue to the next government to deal with. “Good enough” platform planks designed to placate voters who are concerned about environmental issues are no longer good enough. In reality, environmental issues are no longer just environmental issues; they are also social and economic issues as well.
Political parties that trot out tired narratives that it’s better to vote for “good enough” because “terrible” is the only other option must realize their unwillingness to deliver on their promises when given the opportunity has undermined their credibility. Unfortunately, these political games have got us exactly where we are: politically dazed, confused, and dragging our heals.
So voters in many ridings in British Columbia and across Canada, no longer need to feel that voting Green is wasting their vote (it never was) nor do they have to feel pressure to vote for “good enough” which has always been such a let down anyway!
Image by Derek Robinson from Pixabay
Well I hope more greens win a seat in the federal election as long they don’t play timid & safe like you 3 greens in bc parliament. Come on you guys I listen to you .I talk to you. But still nothing substantial comes from Andrew Sonia or Adam. Take a leap of faith your voters have tons more commitment.