The election took place here yesterday. 71% voter turnout. And it rained all day. We ended up with a minority Liberal government, which means we'll probably have another election within a year. I threw my vote away and cast it for the Green party, as did nearly 4% of Quebecers. (I include myself here, I polled my students and they agree that as a citizen who works and lives in Quebec, I can call myself a Quebecer.) I was riveted to the election results on tv last night, let's add another notch to the belt of old age.
Yesterday was a day off for me. A glorious extra day, thanks to election laws, provided to me via cancellations. Sure I'm down a couple hundred bucks, but what freedom! I went shopping and found myself in the underground tunnels downtown, trying on shoes mostly, and marveled at the anthill that LUNCHTIME creates. Every day, I have classes at lunchtime and so I never see this explosion of humans. It was like being on the streets of New York, the flow of people pulsing and snaking through the network of eateries and shopping areas in the underground city. Catching little snippets of conversation in the passing whir of human life all around me. "My daughter got it for my birthday." "And her call was dropped a 4th time in 5 minutes!" "Marc-André doesn't think so." The guy walking in front of me spots a guy he knows who's holding a bag and they greet and shake hands while continuing walking and he asks,"Hey buddy, what you got in the sack?" Without skipping a beat, the other answers, "A couple a nuts, but they're for my wife." Then guffawing and backslapping. I'll admit I smiled.
Hey, torn, you didn't really 'throw your vote away', because you voted for the party that you most wanted. 4% is impressive for the Green Party and hopefully that percentage will keep growing higher.
ReplyDeleteSeems most of the people I know our age voted Green. Though that's likely because we have shared interests.
ReplyDeleteI'd love to work downtown again. I miss that dynamic. Right now I'm stuck in the east Plateau with only a handful of decent restaurants.
seventy one percent turnout. americans should be ashamed.
ReplyDeletehow cool to even notice the "explosion of humans" at lunchtime. i'm sure many people are irritated by it. your perspective is a refreshing reminder to enjoy the chaos once in a while.
Andre Boisclair is hot.
ReplyDeleteThat's my political take on the whole thing.
Why do people who live in Quebec always refer to themselves as being Quebecer? Why can't we all just be Canadians? I've never understood that. Maybe I am a Nationalist. (I just threw that out there, I don't really think that way)
ReplyDeleteSo what did you buy? Anything lovely?
Next time they hold a provincial election here, I plan to vote for the Green party, too. And yeah, Andre Bosclair is hotter than any of our politicians!
ReplyDeleteI love your description of the lunch time ant hill, and snippets of overheard conversations. I like to do that, too .. watch and listen to people in all their human quirkiness.
Sure, they're for his wife. I've heard that before. Don't you just love all of humanity coming together in a mall at noontime. Spending money, eating food, everyone buzzing about the latest and greatest. Thanks for the comment about the cars you've driven!
ReplyDeleteI haven't seen any hot American politicians lately. We need more hotties in government down here.
ReplyDeleteLOL Is it any wonder the political system is in the crapper?
Well, if Marc-André doesn't think so, neither do I. Marc-André is never wrong.
ReplyDeleteRE: Doug's comment:
ReplyDeleteHow about John Edwards? He's rather handsome and sexy, I think.
I agree that Andre Boisclair is very hot. As a now middle aged gay man, I also find something compelling about Gilles Duceppe (maybe his blue eyes). Oh, and there's that cute gay Nova Scotia politician...Scott Brison.
I've got a couple of nuts in my sack... And they're for the highest bidder!
ReplyDeleteAND in re the gerber thing below: who doesn't like the exquisite taste of pureed white babies?
I would love to have heard the two guys joking around.
ReplyDeleteThat great voter turnout is unlike anywhere else in Canada. Vive la difference!
ReplyDeleteA similar underground explosion happens downtown To., too. And I was always amused at the workers scurrying to and fro Union Station before and afterwork.
Jane
I like the day off but I can't imagine a national election two years in a row. Ugh, kill me now.
ReplyDeleteCity Sidewalks, busy sidewalks, dressed in holiday style. In the air there's a feeling of Easter. People passing, People laughing Knitting smile after smile. And on every street corner you'll hear, Easter Bells, Easter Bells, It's Easter time in the city...
ReplyDeleteSay, I think you guys should call yourselves Montrealers. LOL.
I only like the crowds when I'm not in a hurry. I can get a little weirded out though in the underground mall type places. No windows, no outside, no escape!
ReplyDeleteBut my oh my... the things you notice.
I vote for Ralph Nader every chance I get, and I don't feel I'm throwing my vote away. To me, the only thrown away vote is the one not cast.
ReplyDeleteI love your little slices of life.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Daniel except in close races, then I vote against the person I most dislike with a vote for someone who has a chance to beat him/her. Doesn't always work and it feels dishonest somehow.
I like the fact that you voted Green rather than just not voting. I don't think it's a vote wasted at all.
ReplyDeleteThat being said, the results were ok, I suppose. I'm just not a big fan of minority governments.