Strip generator

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I found a site through www.lifehacker.com called strip generator (http://stripgenerator.com) that allows anybody to generate quick 3 panels comic strips, feel free to post a link to your own comic strips in the comments!!

Its 2009...

So its 2009. Everybody has an ipod, a smart phone, high speed internet or access to internet via school or a library. We have pretty much flattened the world into a leveled playing field. Globalization has made international collaborations not only possible but favorable. Its 2009 and the world is changing, everybody has a voice, access to information. Do we still need Members of Parliament to vote on our behalf?

Maybe its the quote from the V for Vendetta, where V says that although governments are responsible for atrocities, it is truly the people who are guilty. The people vote for a government and hide behind it when times get tough. Its sort of an easy way out, to relieve oneself of any responsibility. A citizen will vote for his government, disagree on several decisions and merely complains behind closed doors without any further reaction. "The government should be afraid of its people, not the people afraid of their government" (paraphrased from V for Vendetta).

Many US citizens disagreed with the invasion of Iraq. Many in Canada are unsatisfied with sending our troops to Afghanistan or our unwillingness to abide by the Kyoto protocol. Do we really? Do we have the courage to do anything else after complaining? Lets find out. I have the solution: the internet.

How cliche right? Seriously, we elect MPs to represent us in Parliament, but what happens if we disagree with how they vote. Grassroots organizations will say "write to your MP", but how efective is a letter writting campaign once the decision has been made? Can't we have a more direct influence on our government besides our 1 vote every election? I think the internet can be used to get the each citizen's vote on important issues voted in Parliament. In principle, the MP casts his vote based on what the people in his district want. Does an MP actually do this? How does he know what his voters want?

What if there was some sort of online vote for every citizen to participate in several days before Parliament officaly votes on the issue. This way if 58% of a certain district agrees with the deployment of Canadian troops in Pakistan, then that district's MP can confidently vote with the best interest of his people. This sounds more like democracy doesnt it?

For those afraid of voter fraud and hackers, technology alows us to file income tax statements online, many of us trust online banking. Thus, verifying someone's ID online is not a factor anymore in 2009.

What about people whod "don't understand politics"? It is your duty as a responsible citizen to inform yourself. Also, politicians simply need to break down the nature of each issue, debate it if necessary so the population understands what it is voting on. However, if a citizen is still unsure about an issue, he can always vote to "trust the MP" instead of making his own decision on the online poll. People who really dont care could even preset all of their future online votes to be a "vote of confidence in their MP". Be warned... this will take away your right to complain!!!

My biggest fear is lack of interest. However, if the next generation of children is brought up to be active citizens, informed about their country and its policies this should remedy present day apathy. Also once a citizen eventually disagrees with its government then this will encourage more voting next time around. Look at the voter turnout after 8 years of GW Bush! I think a lot of voter apathy in Canada is due to the lack of any real choice. This online voting suggestion makes us all directly involved in Canada's future, in a very tangible way.

Any thoughts?