Negative campaigning. It happens in every election. There are advertisements saying how poorly people did while they were in power, how they pushed things through too quickly or dragged them out too long. There are signs calling out politicians for promises left unfulfilled and agendas seemingly rushed through without consultation. There are even bumper stickers urging people to vote politicians out all in the name of free speech. Some people are upset at this kind of campaigning, saying it’s too harsh and has no place in our community — but guess what? I’m OK with it, and here’s why:
Sometimes councils don’t listen. Sometimes you can elect a council and mayor with all the right promises and plans, but find that council is not actually responsive to what the community needs or wants once they get into power. They may move forward with their plan regardless of public outcry as concerns fall on deaf ears. It’s a miraculous thing to see those same politicians perk up and listen when their seat on council is at risk of being filled by another. If there is ever a time politicians will listen, it’s during the weeks leading up to an election.
Sometimes people don’t know what’s really going on. How many of you reading this column have ever been to a council meeting? My guess is not many. The majority of you likely rely on council briefs and stories in Coast Reporter to keep up to date. While we do our best to highlight the most important things, there are hundreds of issues discussed at council meetings and thousands of comments and opinions of councillors that never make it to the printed page. There’s just too much going on to cover it all.
Historically on the Coast there are a handful of people who go to council meetings regularly and see it all first hand. They’re some of the people who are trying to get a few of the “negative” issues out before voting day.
Sometimes people are angry at how they’ve been treated by politicians in power and the only time the power shifts is during the few weeks leading up to the election. What goes around comes around, and if you’ve been horrible to someone when they couldn’t talk, watch out when they get their voice!
And sometimes people care more about what’s going wrong than what’s going right. While it’s nice to talk about all the things a council did well during their term, it doesn’t put any fire in your belly to vote. Find something negative you don’t agree with and you’ll grumble all the way to the polls.
I’m sure negative ads, signs and bumper stickers will get some voters out this Nov. 15, and that’s a good thing.
Of course, my one proviso for all of this is that truth needs to be at the centre of any campaigning, positive or negative. When lies are told, people need to be held accountable — and they usually are, either by the public or the court system.
So while negative campaigning is being chastised by some, I believe it has a time and a place. And that short time is nearly over, so get your griping in while you can. It’s all finished on Nov. 15.
