Listening to the news reporters, the political pundits and political commentators talking about Canadians being upset to be heading for yet another election it struck me that the ‘experts’ were out of touch with the average Canadian.

A view supported later in the same broadcast when the ordinary citizens interviewed were not lamenting about facing another election, but about how they were offered no candidate, no choices, they wanted to vote FOR

If Canadians were offered something or someone to vote FOR, as to opposed to the current choose the least evil situation, Canadians would stampede to the polls with Joy..

Since it began to look that a spring election was a sure bet, the number of people who have expressed support for either the Conservatives, Liberals or NDP are in the minority of those I have heard address the question of who should win.

Should win, not will win.

The majority find themselves with no one to vote FOR.

Part of what the ‘experts’ see as anger at having another elections is the frustration this majority of Canadians are experiencing at finding themselves disenfranchised.

To disenfranchise someone or the citizens of a country does not require denying them a vote; a person is disenfranchised when there is a vote but they are not offered a way to express their opinions through a choice they WANT to vote for.

Asking Canadians trapped in Libya whether they want to die by friendly fire from Canadian jet fighters or to die by friendly fire from the rebels who the Canadian (and other foreign) government is supporting or to die from fire from Gaddafi’s forces disenfranchises those Canadians when they are not offered the choice they wish to choose – not to die at all.

What emerges from listening (not polling or questioning or employing other ways of limiting Canadians ability to express their thoughts) is that the majority of Canadians are unhappy with the way Canada is heading; want to vote and have a say about the future of the country, what Canada is about and what it means to be Canadian; but have no one to vote for who will represent them, their thoughts and views.

This majority are expressing their frustration, their feeling of being abused by politicians and the electoral system – not at having an election – but at having an election where their vote does not count, has no effect on policy, because none of the parties or their candidates are addressing their important issues and priorities.

For the majority of Canadians the choice of either Harper, Ignatieff or Jack Layton might as well be the choice of either Gaddafi, Hu Jintao or Ahmadinejad.

Which has led to more and more Canadians expressing the desire for “None of the Above” to be a choice available to them on the ballot.

Of course none of the current federal (or provincial) parties or politicians are going to give Canadians a choice they can vote FOR when their party’s politics, strategy and campaign are built on fear and getting votes from voters who are voting against the other parties – rather than FOR the party that gets their vote.

Whether offered the choice of Gaddafi, Hu Jintao, Ahmadinejad and ‘None of the Above’ OR Layton, Harper, Ignatieff and ‘None of the Above’, ‘None of the Above’ is the choice that reflects the reality that for the majority of Canadians none of the current choices, candidates or political parties represent the best interests, needs and thoughts of these Canadians.

When ‘pundits’, ‘experts’, politicians and the media speak of the need for electoral reform to promote fairness they are speaking of each riding having the same number of constituents, based on the fact that under the current riding distribution rural ridings contain less constituents that municipal ridings.

The ‘pundits’, ‘experts’, politicians and media fail to see that the true unfairness, is that the majority of Canadians are disenfranchised.

Electoral fairness is the ability to say No to bad choices instead of being forced to choose ‘the lesser evil’. Being forced to choose the lesser evil is still being forced to choose evil – forced to choose against your best interests. The majority of Canadians currently are forced to make the choice that does them the least harm, rather than being able to make a choice that benefits them.

The majority of Canadians are faced with the need for Electoral Reform – or Revolution – in order for them to be able to cast their vote for a choice that benefits them and enhances their future.

The disenfranchised majority of Canadians have every right to demand adding ‘None of the Above’ to the ballot. Serving notice to the politicians that those disenfranchised by being denied representation by what has become ‘business as usual’ in the politics and governance of Canada and Canadians..

In pursuit of Election Reform to return a meaningful vote to the silenced majority Canadians should be holding up ‘None of the Above’ signs at all political rallies and functions; when asked the most important issue by pollsters or media Canadians should reply that adding ‘None of the Above’ to the ballot is the number one issue; Canadians should take advantage of any situation that presents an opportunity to raise having ‘None of the Above’ on the ballot as a choice to vote FOR as an issue.

As noted, the vested interest of the politicians together with the vested interests of all those who benefit from the current system (and thus support the current system and politicians) make it highly unlikely that ‘None of the Above’ will be appearing on a ballot – since it would pose a major threat to current politicians and thus those who benefit from them. Which is why Canadians need to consider Revolution.

When I use the word revolution I am speaking of a revolution in keeping with the essence of what it is to be Canadian.

Did you know that the nominations deadline for the election is March 15, 2011? Remember anyone who meets the criteria set out in the election act (and they have not been able to change the criteria to exclude the majority of Canadians – at least not yet) can file and run before that date.

Canadians in ridings across the country need to find an individual (or two) to stand for election. Once people in the riding have talked these individuals into running – they must then get out, knock on doors, encourage friends, family and coworkers to join, with all working, supporting, voting for and electing this candidate to represent their issues and best interests – rather than those of the wealthy, executives, banks and other corporations.

Sounds like an impossible mission does it not?

It isn’t because you would not be starting from zero. There are people in ridings and communities across Canada who are involved in discussions of the issues that affect their communities, province and Canada.

Look at them and see who has, first and foremost ethics and integrity as well as common sense, belief that leadership can bring about positive change, believe in financially responsible behaviours, believe in transparency and answering why they made the choice they did and are willing to say No – we cannot afford that and Yes – we must discuss this and set priorities.

We may not elect enough of these individuals to form a government but even a few will have a profound effect as they bring commons sense to Ottawa and parliament. Should we succeed in electing sufficient independent representative to parliament to form the government we would achieved a particularly Canadian revolution

We have the right to be able to vote FOR ideas, policy, issues and priorities, to be represented by someone working for our best interests rather than the interests of themselves, the wealthy, corporations and over paid executives.

Get out and exercise your right to free speech, to be heard and to vote for a choice that is in your best interests.

While politics as usual may be ever decreasing our choices for how we are governed and the policies and behaviours of our – OUR – government, we still live in enough of a democracy that we can – should we so choose – throw ‘the bums’ out and replace them with fellow Canadians who would represents the best interests of all Canadians – not just those wealthy enoug to buy access and influence.

Canadians complain that their votes do not make any different, don’t count.

Be engaged, get out, participate, be the change you want to see – strike fear into the hearts of politicians around the globe – join the Canadian Governance Revolt, become dedicated to nonconformity and creative maladjustment..

“The saving of our world from pending doom will come, not through the complacent adjustment of the conforming majority, but through the creative maladjustment of a nonconforming minority.” Martin Luther King