One of the most frustrating things about living in Alberta is that politicians are unresponsive. While there are hundreds of issues to be addressed about its social structure, it seems impossible that any one of these representatives is at least going to listen. For instance, I have written countless of letters on all sorts of topics, but I usually get a response from a secretary justifying the status quo. They usually just copy and paste the same legislation I'm criticizing, as if to say that if I understood laws and policies, I would not be complaining.

I've also tried calling politicians and meeting with them in person, but with every attempt, their secretary answers and tells me that he or she is unavailable. I've tried visiting their actual offices, but they also seem never to be around. One day after speaking with an assistant, he threatened to call the Police if I didn't leave his office. Of course, I had done nothing to deserve that, the fact was that he just didn't like what he was hearing. All of this is in sharp contrast to what you see on television, where politicians stand in front of Parliament and make speeches about how they're changing things. For instance, I've noticed they continuously refer to us Albertans, but they don't even bother meeting with the common folk.

I also have problems with the representation in this so-called democracy. A quick glance reveals that the dominant political parties are the Conservatives, the Liberals, and the NDP. But other parties like the Marxist-Lenninist Party or the Communist Party of Canada (I can't remember if they're the same thing) do not play any substantial role in Parliament. I think that's rather sad considering that even these apparently radical parties are pretty mainstream. They're not really making changes to the basic structure of society, but rather just interested in reforms. Sadly, I've also tried contacting other parties for their assistance, but they're also too busy making speeches. I have yet to receive one reply from the Liberals and NDP, telling me that they would work with me to ensure my concerns were heard. In fact, they don't even bother sending me a thank-you letter.

I'm at a loss of words in knowing what a more responsive democracy in Alberta would look like. That's mostly because none of the issues I raise really appear on the table. It's true, I don't cling to the television, waiting to hear what goes on in Parliament. But I can honestly say that in all my time having listened to them in the media, not once have I heard them bring up the issue of public housing, nor have I heard them propose substantially raising the allowance for “the severely handicapped.” They've talked about student loan exploitation, only they don't call it exploitation, they see it as a generous way in which to ensure that people across Alberta receive a post-secondary education. Not once have I heard them even entertain the idea of making college and university schooling completely free. They also haven't touched the issue of our connection as consumers to plantations or sweat-shops, nor have I heard them propose substantial solutions to soaring food prices. They never speak about Alberta's history of racism and its effect in 2013. At best, they might mention that some people on reserves have no clean drinking water, to which ministers simply say “we're working on that.” In essence, nothing I think is important, the things I learned about through my own education, have made it to the table for discussion. And while some of us at the end of the day go back to our “lower income” existences, they go out to lunch when they're done to eat at a nice restaurant.

One of the things that might help, however, is if people started writing more letters and proposals, and the ministers themselves actually read and considered them. I think protesting for CBC or Global is ineffective. You might get your two minutes in the lime-light, but then everything goes back to normal. Put simply, I think people need to tell governments what the real issues are, and start proposing solutions to be put into action.

On the other hand, I think it's also true that perhaps politicians don't have any power. There are some, for example, who believe that there is a power structure already in place, where politicians are forced to propose and vote for things which people behind the curtains are asking. Otherwise, this might spell the end of their career as they may be ostracized.

If that's not at all how it works, and it's not corporations and other powerful people dictating politics, then I think it reflects poorly on politicians that the things I mentioned are still on the table. Why, for instance, was my letter passed on to a social worker when I criticized AISH legislation? Why didn't anything I said have any weight? Furthermore, why are basic things like housing, food prices, or structural racism nothing to be concerned with? And why would it be so difficult to say “Thank you for your input,” rather than respond as if I didn't understand laws or policies. Maybe establishing a web-site would help. Perhaps people could log-on and express their concerns, and politicians could take the time to sort through the information and understand general patterns. Whatever the solutions, the fact remains that politicians in this province are not listening, which leaves people already in dim situations feeling frustrated.