When people from diverse areas of a citizenry espouse the same concerns, it could indicate the views are widely held.
When voicing those concerns becomes louder due to the number of citizens publicly stating them and the growing urgency to express their views, it is common for media and threatened politicians to dub them the “loud minority.”
However, I think more often they are, to use an iceberg analogy, the vocal tip of the silent majority.
Politicians at the municipal, regional, provincial and federal level would be wise to listen to their citizens when they talk with them.
A government that wants to represent its citizens requires the constant vigilance and support of its constituents.
A healthy democracy requires persistent involvement from its citizens rather than just the casting of a ballot at election time, although successful democracies require all citizens to cast an informed vote.
Taking our citizenship role seriously is the price we pay, in exchange for our government’s protection of our rights and freedoms.
The right to: a free press, to speak out about concerns, join peaceful groups, engage in productive work and enjoyable leisure — these are just a few of our many rights and freedoms.
So let us applaud those who speak out whether or not they espouse our views. Let us applaud young people who are finding out what individual politicians and parties as collectives stand for behind the platitudes meant to sway voters.
Let us applaud all citizens taking their job seriously, the job of keeping our politicians accountable.
If we don’t do this, big business is happy to step into the void.
Big business holds politicians accountable not to the rights and freedoms of citizens but to their bottom line.
This they require in exchange for owning the politicians through making major contributions, paying their debts, etc.
Lois Eaton
Qualicum Beach