This page documents things that people can be doing to defeat Harper instead of kvetching, sharing, and like'ing on Facebook.
The problem, specifically: that people imagine that sharing images and memes to their FB friends about how awful Harper and the Conservatives are, is going to make a difference.
And slightly more generally, that people will click and share instead of voting.
Basic Activities
- Vote tomorrow
- There is a website specifically devoted to this: http://www.votetogether.ca/
- volunteer for another party. It's not too late. You can help get voters to the polls
- donate $$ to another party
- get like minded friends to vote - if necessary drive them on election day Making fun of politicians' hairdos won't make a difference tomorrow.
- encourage & help a couple of friends to vote. I
- if someone takes care of kids, offer to babysit while they vote
- if you have a car, offer to drive friends. If you don't, offer to walk with them or go for coffee after
- get a sign from another party on your lawn
- talk to undecided people
Facebook Sass
"The world is changed by your example, not by your opinion." - Paulo Coelho, novelist
Yes!! Post silly cartoons deriding the other candidate's haircuts, and change your profile photo to your favourite one so that all your friends, virtually all of whom are voting the same way you are already, can hit *like* and you'll feel really good inside.
Then, don't bother to vote because you've done your part for democracy. Then, join the hue and cry when Harper gets re-elected.
Just like 2011.
Democracy via Facebook! Together we can do nothing!
The following will get posted as replies to people's Facebook slacktivism. Once a day.
What's distressing is that leading up to the last election, we saw all of this electronic rhetoric, the outrage, the ad homeniem attacks, the assertions of his past and possible future destruction of our country, comparisons to Palpatine and Hitler, all posted to our own Facebook feeds so that our like-minded Harper-hating ABC friends could "Like" the postings and agree with us.
And we all sat comfortably at our keyboards content in the knowledge that we had participated in the political process via Facebook posts, shares, and likes. With our like minded friends.
And, in 2011, please remind me, how did that work out?
Do you think that we should be doing something different this time?
Making fun of politicians' hairdos won't make a difference tomorrow.
Voting will. Please vote, and encourage & help a couple of friends to vote. If someone has kids, offer to babysit while they vote; if you have a car, offer to drive friends.
Please, everyone, like and share this image with all of your friends who already hate Harper. By clicking and sharing with like-minded people, together we can make no difference.
This graphic: 
more to come
Goal: Get People To Vote ABC
Here, we need a concisely worded paragraph that rebuts standard objections to voting or getting involved.
Objection: My vote doesn't make a difference.
Objection: The democratic system is screwed. I reject it all.