Ok, Wally has made up some posters that we’re going to spreading around town. I think we’ll try and put these on the streets and at the intersections, but I’ve got another idea for the bus stops. Hopefully Wally reads this tomorrow and starts putting one together. 😉 I’m going to put the post below as one giant poster, so if you’re reading this imagine that you’re a Winnipegger waiting for a bus with the hint of elections in the air. Let me know what you think.

Introductions
Hi. You don’t know me but hopefully you will after you’ve read this. I’m a Winnipegger much like yourself, and I’ve lived in Winnipeg for pretty much my entire life. I’ve travelled overseas but my heart will always lie here in this forgotten city. There’s just something about it, you know? The mosquitos, the winters, the road construction – maybe I’m a glutton for punishment. Even still, sitting back on a warm spring evening cracking a beer and enjoying the clear skies – you’ll never appreciate it unless you’ve been through one of our bitter winters.
Right now you’re probably thinking, what the hell is this guy on? Fair enough, you’re not far from the truth. I do have an idea though, and it’s a good one. I think that all of us Winnipeggers should see that we can use the Internet as a tool to get to know each other better. I don’t see anything wrong with having a couple extra drinking buddies, but then again, that may be just me. So I’ve decided to start this website, WinnipegForums.ca, where we can all just get together and chat. That’s the beauty of the Internet – it’s the great equalizer. Everyone has a voice and nobody can speak louder than anyone else.
So I was thinking to myself, why isn’t there much interest in politics? I see quite a few people around me who don’t know what’s going with the upcoming elections, and even some who frankly don’t even really care. That upsets me. We live here in a blessed country, able to exersize the will of the people to invoke change in the way we live but everyone’s lost interest. Voter apathy. Why has that meme even entered into our consciousness? Does it mean we’re lazy, that we’re sheep? Do we even have the intelligence to question what course our lack of interest will send us on? I question. My buddies and I have a saying: Learn to question, question to learn. We question everything and in doing so we learn a lot about the world around us. Let me tell you, there is a lot to question.
WinnipegForums.ca is a non-partisan site dedicated to questioning the values that our elected leaders have, to make sure that the interests of the people are being represented by the majority. That’s what democracy stands for, rule by the majority. If the minority disagrees, then they have the responsibility of the convincing those in the majority that they’re wrong. This is discussion, conversations and what it really means to be human.
This world is a confusing place right now. We have so many problems with the information overload from the news; all the events taking place in the world that are terrible, horrible and so foreign compared to our sedate life. This is the world we live in. We have to come to terms with it, or we’ll become distant of the problems of other places. Still, all we have the power to change is our own city, and our own country. If we at least sat down and talked about some of the issues, maybe we can create some new ideas that will resonate with the majority of the people. Everyone is connected by six degrees to everyone else on the planet. Yeah, we’re talking Kevin Bacon here – not with movies, but with people. Who knows what events will occur because of actions we take? What better way to be confident about ones actions then to have fleshed them out with a couple neighbours.
Ok, I have grand ideas. Maybe Winnipeg isn’t ready for a real discussion site, but it can’t hurt in trying. There’s not much time though, the election is right around the corner. If you like the thought of us all sitting around and chatting then make sure you go to WinnipegForums.ca and check it out. It’s free to register but registration is required if you want to post. If you want to lurk go right ahead, but a forum is always better when everyone contributes their ideas. Who knows? You might change someone’s perception of an issue, or even (god forbid) change your own. If you like it, tell a friend. Spread the word. You know the score.
(I really wanted to include these lyrics but I couldn’t find a good place for them. Still, I’ve never seen a better summary of the problems in the world in one song before so I’m going to post them here anyways)

What’s wrong with the world, mama
People livin’ like they ain’t got no mamas
I think the whole world addicted to the drama
Only attracted to things that’ll bring you trauma
Overseas, yeah, we try to stop terrorism
But we still got terrorists here livin’
In the USA, the big CIA
The Bloods and The Crips and the KKK
But if you only have love for your own race
Then you only leave space to discriminate
And to discriminate only generates hate
And when you hate then you’re bound to get irate, yeah
Badness is what you demonstrate
And that’s exactly how anger works and operates
Nigga, you gotta have love just to set it straight
Take control of your mind and meditate
Let your soul gravitate to the love, y’all, y’all

-Black Eyed Peas Where is the love