I encourage everyone to actually invest some time in following what some of their local politicians and most supported, favourite parties actually do and say. Yes, it’s often boring and tedious, it’s not nice to do and you don’t have to do it always, but I would suggest maybe every time there is a new candidate elected in your riding at least, or you’re considering one, do some research to investigate these politicians and how they… politic. It’s important to realize that this is not a completely inscrutable process, and you can tell an awful lot about whether these people are in fact trustworthy and have your best interests at heart.

I’m not going to spoil it for you when I tell you most of them don’t, but I think it really helps to actually see it for yourself. Sometimes they are clever about it, but so few people even bother paying attention to what they say anymore that sometimes they are outright ghoulish. By witnessing it, you might be motivated to tell people about what they’re doing from a position of actual authority on the subject. You being more convincing may help change someone else’s mind, and in the end, you may be able to spread enough awareness that some measure of accountability may be implemented. Be the butterfly that flaps its wings to cause a hurricane in a future election. It’s a small chance, perhaps, but it’s a chance worth striving for.