someone said to me today

"it's stupid that the students in Montreal are protesting the tuition hikes because so much of their tuition is already subsidized by the government."

which made me mad.

because yeah sure a lot of schools here in Canada get hefty subsidies from the government and that's how most of us can afford to go to school without going totally bankrupt but that isn't not the point and it's starting to get to me that people see these protests as a bunch of whiny upset kids instead of concerned citizens making themselves heard.

see I think the problem is that in a lot of democratic societies people go around thinking that the only way to make there voices heard is to vote, and most of us don't even bother to do that.

and then people go and shit all over students who don't want to take something they don't agree with lying down? c'mon.

I try not to get too political here on the Blog, but if the rest of Canada got its shit together in the way that Quebeckers have we wouldn't have a majority government who constantly do sneaky shit like try to add one-liners to repeal important laws in 400+ page bills, wants to allow already dead animals to be processed for human consumption, pleaded guilty to illegal campaign spending and, oh, did you forget the robocalls?

everyone makes jokes about Canadians being super polite and nice and to some extent that's true but it concerns me that the vast majority have become wishy-washy on being involved in the democratic society of which they are a part.

or even worse, they don't care.

and then we have the gall to dismiss people who are exercising their rights under the Canadian Charter as "entitled" for not wanting to have the shell out because the older generation accepted government pensions and family allowances without wanting to pay the taxes that supported those programs.

now my generation has to work two years longer.

now my generation may not have the Canadian Pension that our parents looked forward to.

now post-secondary students are being asked the shoulder the burden of increased tuition because nobody wants to help pay to educate the people who will be shaping our country's future.

among other things.

I didn't ask for this. my generation didn't ask for this.

and it's unfair and irresponsible and selfish for the older generation to assume that we should shoulder the burden because this country is rapidly becoming a place where individualism, capitalism, greed and selfishness are touted as virtues.

what ever happened to giving a shit about other people?

what ever happened to shouldering the responsibility as a nation, together?

what ever happened to making sacrifices so our children could be more prosperous, better educated, healthier and happier than we were?

I don't know what is happening to the country that I know and love, but it scares me and I don't like that so many people out there are dismissive of their ability to take part and change the course of our nation's history.

instead of shunning the protesters in Montreal we should be applauding their efforts and taking notes. this is the only way to get anything done in a democracy, people. by making yourself heard to your government.

TL/DR: fucking rights, Montreal. the rest of Canada could learn a thing or two from you.
Tags: Canadian-politics Montreal Opinions Politics Stephen-harper Tuition Uncategorized