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CBC Radio's Commentary Quebec Election: Don't Buy My Vote Friday, March 13 Je m'appelle Valérie Viel et j'écris de la poésie. I'm 24-years old and I write poetry under the pseudonym Elvira Vilée. I have a degree in translation. I live alone with my black cat, Nora. I work at a record store for just above minimum wage. I hardly manage to pay my rent and groceries. Je suis Montréalaise et Québecoise and today's politics do not reflect my ideals. We're into an election with loads of promises for a caring society. But those promises won't bring down my rent. Those promises just give tax cuts to the people who'll vote for the party in power. Election campaigns should be based on real things. That would grab everybody's attention. My friends don't talk party politics because it won't raise their wages. And most of them don't vote. But I do. My vote might not mean much, but in the end, it is democracy. One vote is still something I trust. And my vote has a lot of thinking to do before it's cast. Here's a poem I just wrote about this election. Tu parles pour moi You speak for me You speak for them Tu parles pour eux I think you speak for us I think you act for them If you'd rather talk to them I'd rather vote for myself You sell your righteousness You sell your leftishness I buy no thing I am the freedom you seek You try to hide the scams You say democracy is your call You claim my voice I say my voice is mute Je dis que ma voix est muette I say my choices scream change I think our democracy is ours Not yours I demand better choices You speak of change You speak of newness I think of the same old thing I think of the same back-patting concessions You sell your spins You sell your two-faced sincerity I buy no thing I own your reign I want more than change in my pocket You say you represent someone You say you represent us or me I want you to know power is not democracy I think the choices you offer are only compromises Between what's better and what's worse My vote is for peace My vote is for equality My vote is for the end of hegemony My vote is for kindness An election is a ritual, an elaborate courtship. But I refuse to be courted for my vote. I just want politicians to honour our rights: free health care, free education, cheap roofs over our heads, clean air and water. Those are rights. When are Quebec politicians going to mention them during this election campaign? For Commentary, I'm Valérie Viel in Montreal. © Valérie Viel, 2003 |
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