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Apathy and groaning in the voting booth >> Montreal's arts community speaks out on provincial pundits, federalism and political ennui by DOMINIQUE RITTER Political analysts be gone. We are eschewing redundant "official" commentary on the provincial election in favour of real-people opinions. The Mirror consulted an admittedly unrepresentative selection of people from Montreal's arts and music community to find out how they are voting, how they feel about the candidates and whether or not they give a damn about any of it. Michael Harris, poet
"Whatever vote I cast, it's very much a Liberal riding (Westmount-St-Louis). That's one of the problems with provincial politics. Ours is a form of political sondage that doesn't actually count the true popular vote. In a truly popular vote every vote would count for one party, one leader. Politics is the jurisdiction of compromise. It's a little bit like marriage--one gets what one can." Would the self-professed federalist vote PQ if they promised not to hold a referendum? "If English are welcomed into the grand fraternité of the pure laine, then I'd be delighted to vote PQ." Vittorio Rossi, playwright "I haven't decided who I am voting for yet because it doesn't matter who the hell is in power. It's the same bullshit over and over again. There is no intellectual dialogue. It's been the same fucking rhetoric for 30 years." What kind of changes would he like to see? "It would impress me to see more support for the arts. I think art is very important for the whole system. I know it doesn't help the guy on the street without a job, but it does provoke intelligent thought." John Jordan, saxophonist, the Kingpins, the Planet Smashers "I would vote in the election, had I been organized enough to get my name on the electors list." Who would he have voted for? "Bouchard. We need the angriest, most intimidating, belligerent scrappy guy we can get. He's more likely to do something. I want to see something decisive happen. "I would suggest that, in order to settle the separation issue with finality, Quebecers hold a referendum on a weekly basis for a year. It won't be so stressful if we do it every week. And at the end of the year we would tally up the ultimate outcome." Josephine Mackay, documentary filmmaker, dancer
"I am looking for someone who has environmental concerns, who is against free trade, somebody pro-multiculturalism and bilingualism across the country, somebody interested in preserving social programs, health care and the arts. "I am not a separatist, so if the other option is a federalist, then I guess I'm a federalist. But on the subject of nationalism, I'm down with Trudeau. I think any kind of nationalism is divisive." Freda Guttman, feminist installation artist
And the Liberals? "I certainly would not vote for Charest. He's talking like [Ontario Premier] Mike Harris. "I'm not even worried if they do separate. We would maintain all kinds of ties with Canada and accommodations would be made. People outside the province have a skewed view of what goes on in Quebec. Some Quebec anglophones overreact and play up the victimization. I don't think that helps. The majority of people are really cool about it." Robin McKenna, documentary filmmaker
"I have a general impatience and anger with the empty political rhetoric. I feel that each person has to take responsibility for their own lives. We can't be looking for some great leader to come along and save us. I subscribe to a much more grassroots approach. Rather than rage against what the politicians are doing we need to change ourselves." Irene Kon, poet, arts patron "I have a great attachment to Quebec and to French Canadians. I'm loony about them. You'd have to drag me out of Quebec feet first. I don't think separation is a terrible thing, and I find the anglo attitude espoused by Howard Galganov and William Johnson only serves to drum up fears. "To make a choice between Bouchard and Charest daunts me, but my instinct is that I prefer Bouchard to Charest. He has a firmer agenda. To me Charest is all over the lot. He's flaky." Rhyna Thompson, singer and trumpet player, Parkside Jones
Andrew Dickson, Tricky Woo singer/guitarist "I'm probably not going to vote. I find it's a matter of picking between two evils and it insults me. I don't think any new ground is being broken in this campaign: the Liberals are a Band-Aid and the PQ is the same old thing. Also, I'm always on tour so it doesn't really matter to me. "But really it's such a non-election. People are tired of the same old thing. The best thing to do is spoil your ballot or start your own party. "What would interest me is a party that would get away from nationalist tendencies and separatist tendencies. Spend a little time in Chile and see what real oppression is. The French Canadians have got it good compared to the realities of, say, Nicaragua or South Africa or Detroit."
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Who is he planning to vote for? "One of the lovely things about democracy is that I don't have to share that information with you.
"I've never felt so completely at a loss faced with an election. I would not vote either PQ or Liberal because I find them equally heinous. They are both just power hungry. I guess I would have to vote communist or spoil my ballot because I couldn't vote for either Bouchard or Charest.
"I probably won't vote. I once voted PQ, back when they had a real social platform. But now they are promoting globalization, obeying the IMF and cutting social programs."
"I just can't endorse any of the major candidates. I feel like the campaign debate is alienated from real people's concerns. I watched the leaders' debate and I was part of a youth forum on Radio Canada, and I found myself surprisingly sympathetic to Mario Dumont. He played the role of the jester, provocateur. He seemed sharp and genuine and I'm glad he's there as a critical voice, but I couldn't endorse what he's saying.
"I could move in the Charest direction, but it's more of an instinct than anything. There just isn't anything I believe in strongly enough."