Politics can be frustrating. This is an understatement, politics can be plain dumb at times. Here’s the thing – I am fond of politics actually (a bit of a junkie if I must admit) but I am not fond of partisan, party politics.

The idea that complex Canadian (or American) life can be represented by one of two to four parties is absolutely insane when you think about it. Frankly the only way a party system in Canada could truly represent everyone is if there were 35 million parties…one for every Canadian.

The problem with political parties and their very existence is that they convince people that there are three or four broad categories of correct thought, one of which best represents you. The amazing thing is that people actually buy this line of thinking. Look at Americans right now in the run up to the election – there are two options and they are being told one is evil and the other is good (and depending upon which party you choose you too are either evil or good). I am oversimplifying but you get the idea. You’re with one and against the other – there is no other option.

Worse still people have been known to actually fight over party affiliations. Seriously. Is “your” party really worth that level of commitment?

I can tell you right now that no one party in Canada best represents who I am. Party politics stagnates thinking as people feel forced to identify with one over the others and it becomes their paradigm…no more thinking required.

Personally I wish the entire political system would be overhauled and parties were removed so that MPs could vote their conscience or the conscience of their constituents depending upon how you interpret the democratic process. What would a no party system even look like? Could it even be done?

Canadians are not so simple that the ones who stand against one issue automatically stand against a neat little colour-coded package of other items tidally labelled Conservative or Liberal or Green or NDP. I can’t even imagine voting in an American election where you are told you have only two choices (one choice more than a dictatorship). Wow. It makes no sense whatsoever.

I deeply dislike it when people automatically assume that as a Christian I am a Conservative. Sometimes I am, sometimes I am not – it depends on the issue, it depends on the context because I like to think I am a thoughtful person.

This is why I think I prefer the municipal system where party affiliations (when they exist) are not usually presented. You have a group of people, men and women, of varying perspectives all voting according to their unique perspectives and makeup – and shockingly – it works. The mayor does not have nearly the authority of the Prime Minister or a president. The mayor is simply another vote on council in most instances.

Maybe we need to model provincial and federal politics after the municipal system and see what happens.