I am grumpy about the Federal Election. I vote. It is just something I do, have always done. I'm grumpy because it makes no difference whether I cast my ballot. Only rarely has it made a difference, yet I trudge off to the polling station every chance I get.

Does that make me a fool? am idiot? Maybe. Busybodies tell me, "If you don't vote, you can't complain." I am sure the failure to vote never stopped the mouths of many complainers. Anyhow, what earthly good is complaining? For me, all it does is remind me that I am grumpy.

It is astonishing how pleased I am when the person I vote for wins the election. Three times I have voted for the person elected, all for civic government. Maybe I should just vote for the candidate most likely to win. But I expect that would leave a foul smell in the voting booth--a vote fart?

So, I vote according to the principles I hold dear. And then I grumble. I really wish for a form of proportional representation so that I and most other Canadians might be more accurately represented in the halls of political power. It won't happen, however. The process is controlled by the winners, and they have no motivation to change what made them rulers. Alas.

Still, I will vote and vote and vote, and then be grumpy.