I’ve known people to vote PC (ONT), C (FED) in the past, and I’ve heard a number of reasons for it. Examples include, “fiscal responsibility,” “economy,” and even, “I met my MP/MPP and he/she is a really just the best candidate."
I’m sorry, but that’s bullshit. What these choices come down to is what it means to live in a society, what it means to participate actively in a social contract.
I strongly believe that as people who share space, resources, land, we have a responsibility to equalize, to make sure people don’t get left behind, to keep each other safe, and to support each other in multiple ways. I believe that we all deserve dignity, safety, respect.
I truly believe that people who vote PC/Conservative—especially in the last Ontario and the last Federal elections—do not share this understanding—the responsibility or accountability of what it means to participate in a social contract.
This is sociopathy. It is literally anti-social behaviour. I do not believe that you can be a nice, kind, good person, while supporting an administration that is brazenly harming people the way the Ford government is doing now*.
To be clear, in a settler colonial state, under border imperialism, there is ONLY harm. There are also active systems (education, media, etc.) in place to shield voting populations from the reality of that harm.
What is happening in Ontario right now, what happened under Harper was different—not because of the amount of harm, but because of the general population’s access to information and knowledge around that harm.
There is no excuse for not knowing what’s happening—this is not about access, ignorance, education, language. This is about people knowing exactly what they are doing, and whose lives and dignity they are voting against when they voted this party in.
This isn’t about overwhelm, or not having time to engage—I hold a lot of empathy for the things that alienate voting-populations from voting at all, or making poor decisions. This is about hate.
This is about people insisting on living in a society, but in an anti-social way. This is about not recognizing the humanity in other people, or tapping into any sense of humanity in yourself.
I understand exactly how many members of my immigrant (model minority) community vote conservative. And for a long time, I understand and held compassion for the complex reasons why.
White supremacy, colonization, it becomes internalized. We grow to believe in the myth of meritocracy. We perpetuate anti-Blackness, colonial and capitalist ideals to better align ourselves with our oppressors.
I get it. And wherever I can, I put the work into holding space and pushing for transformative change in my community.
But this is different. We now have a government that doesn’t believe that children need to learn about Indigenous peoples, about inclusive sex education. That children literally don’t need basic protections. We have the closing of offices, canceling of rent control. For what?
This is NOT about money, or fiscal responsibility, this is a group of serial killers slowly working through the most vulnerable people in our population. If you had any part in bringing this government into office, you need to know that.
I have seen multiple Facebook posts saying, “Unfriend me if you voted PC.” I never agreed with this tactic because I always felt like we can use compassion and care to bring about transformative change.
But this isn’t about access, relational work, or loving conversations. This is about a fundamental difference between people who care about other people, and people who don’t. I am honestly not sure that’s a gap that can be bridged through compassionate dialogue.
Anyone who supported this administration, at any time, for any reason (and yes, I’m talking to the “fiscal” conservatives, the “small c” conservatives, etc.) needs to take a long hard look at themselves. I’m tired of looking at you.
You need to do a shit ton of work on yourself, because you’re not worth a second of work from the rest of us.
This is the meanest, most pessimistic, and unproductive thing I’ve ever said here, but I mean it: I hope you all find each other. I hope that you practice your shitty politics on each other, and eat each other alive. Just leave the rest of us out of it. I’m so fucking done.
*Done with you, not with the hope and fight for justice, love, equity.
