Looking at the intuitions in Canada can help uncover aspects of the system that are failing voters. First Past the Post is the current electoral system used in Canada. Supporters of this system argue that it is simple and easy to understand and that most of the time a clear winner can be decided but for some reason it does not procure a high voter turn out. Proportional representation electoral systems usually have the highest voter turn out. A single vote may not influence an outcome the same way it does in a First Past the Post system but there is an incentive for parties to mobilize supporters outside of their voter base. Engaging individuals outside of a partisan base can present voters with policy alternatives and spread knowledge in a
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In Henry Milner’s book “The Internet Generation” he argues that the development of technology after the Cold War has led to a generation of individuals who has access to vast amounts of knowledge via the internet but seem to be unable to figure out what to do with this information and how to mobilize it to make changes. Milner argues that the internet in its own way makes youths even less informed that generations before them (SOURCE) He uses the examples of climate change and environmental preservation to prove this point. He says that there is an interest in these issues and there is dialogue and rhetoric surrounding them but citizens, especially youths, have not sufficiently mobilized in political action that have influenced formal policies or programs. The main manifestation of these concerns are placed upon the individual to act but depoliticizes the issues. Citizens, particularly youths, become passive actors and change rarely becomes a mobilized reality. When formal institutions of change are ignored by a population who does not understand the power their engagement holds, they disempower themselves and democracy weakens. (Internet Generation Milner 4) For Henry Milner, the ease of access of the internet and mistrust of traditional media is distracting an affects media literacy. …show more content…
In a study done in 2004, it found that almost every other democracy in the world, including the United States has a larger youth voter turn out that Canada. Some might suggest that the disillusionment of young adults in Canada politics has to do with the Americanization of politics and political media. American elections, especially the 2016 election, have had a wide spread global appeal due to the media circus surrounding both candidates. The rhetoric of the campaign places higher stakes on the election and is an appealing process for youths, particularly Canadian youths. Canadian politics is not highly ideological. Brokerage politics and the first past the post electoral system means that it is not in the interest of candidates to perform in the way candidates do in the State, a lot of the policy and discussion is gear towards the centre-progressive vote. There is hardly room outlandish courses of actions like Donald Trumps suggestion of building a border wall. It is simply not feasible in the Canadian context. Most media outlets cover these stories and Canadians consume them as well.
In Henry Milner’s book “The Internet Generation” he argues that the development of technology after the Cold War has led to a generation of individuals who has access to vast amounts of knowledge via the internet but seem to be unable to figure out what to do with this information and how to mobilize it to make changes. Milner argues that the internet in its own way makes youths even less informed that generations before them (SOURCE) He uses the examples of climate change and environmental preservation to prove this point. He says that there is an interest in these issues and there is dialogue and rhetoric surrounding them but citizens, especially youths, have not sufficiently mobilized in political action that have influenced formal policies or programs. The main manifestation of these concerns are placed upon the individual to act but depoliticizes the issues. Citizens, particularly youths, become passive actors and change rarely becomes a mobilized reality. When formal institutions of change are ignored by a population who does not understand the power their engagement holds, they disempower themselves and democracy weakens. (Internet Generation Milner 4) For Henry Milner, the ease of access of the internet and mistrust of traditional media is distracting an affects media literacy. …show more content…
In a study done in 2004, it found that almost every other democracy in the world, including the United States has a larger youth voter turn out that Canada. Some might suggest that the disillusionment of young adults in Canada politics has to do with the Americanization of politics and political media. American elections, especially the 2016 election, have had a wide spread global appeal due to the media circus surrounding both candidates. The rhetoric of the campaign places higher stakes on the election and is an appealing process for youths, particularly Canadian youths. Canadian politics is not highly ideological. Brokerage politics and the first past the post electoral system means that it is not in the interest of candidates to perform in the way candidates do in the State, a lot of the policy and discussion is gear towards the centre-progressive vote. There is hardly room outlandish courses of actions like Donald Trumps suggestion of building a border wall. It is simply not feasible in the Canadian context. Most media outlets cover these stories and Canadians consume them as well.