As this is the first article I have written for the Manitoban, I feel as though I should begin by telling the audience—you, the kind readers of this paper—a little bit about myself. My name is Michael DeLuca; I’m 22 and have recently completed a degree in Political Science at the University of Manitoba. I was raised by my parents, a math and science teacher in the Manitoba Education System, and have a younger sister who is much more artistically inclined then myself and still shows me up every time I try to outdraw her, only to end with a grouping of stick figures. Overall, I have lived a fortunate life, surrounded by a loving family and supportive group of friends that have always been by my side, through the good times and the bad.
There is another little tidbit of information I would like to share with the reader; I am a conservative. Yes, you heard me right, a conservative. For the past few years, I have been involved in many various facets of conservative politics, a great accompaniment to the education I received while completing my undergraduate studies.
Based on this information about myself and my involvement in politics, I would like my first article to stress two key things that I feel are at the crux of most educational based arguments I make when I encounter different people.
First, young people need to get more involved in politics. If you look at the voter demographics, you will see that the age group of 18-24 has the lowest voter turnout across the country. This is evidence that the next generation of Canadian leaders is not exercising their democratic right to be heard, to make a difference in the very system they take for granted. Yes, on the surface, politics can at times be drab, even for a political junkie like myself. However, it is imperative that today’s youth make a more concerted effort to be heard and involve themselves in the very process that affects their futures. Even if one chooses to only involve themselves by going out and casting a ballot, this is still a step in the right direction and pays dividends for the stability and efficiency of the political system. Get involved because who knows, you just might enjoy it!
The second point is this: Don’t be afraid to try conservative politics! Guess what, despite what certain people might tell you, there is great potential in conservatism and everything it has to offer.
As a young person, I thought of myself as a Liberal, in awe of what I felt where the many achievements of my then role model, Pierre Elliott Trudeau. In my first term at the University of Manitoba, I even attempted to get involved with the Young Liberals. When I inquired, I felt like I was given the cold shoulder, in what seemed to me to be a typical condescending Liberal attitude of entitlement. I decided at this point to educate myself a bit, delving into the minds of political philosophers from the past. After reading Adam Smith’s Wealth of Nations and Ayn Rand’s Atlas Shrugged, I realized that my political beliefs stood more in line with conservative politics. I was welcomed with open arms by the University of Manitoba Campus Conservatives and The Progressive Conservative Youth and the rest is history.
Now I’m here, at the beginning of what I feel is an excellent time to be involved not only in politics, but also in conservative politics. The CPC recently won a majority Government and I’m confident that the PC Party is about to rebound stronger than ever with a charismatic new leader. So I challenge you, the reader, to get involved with politics, even if it only means going out and voting in the next election. And, for those of you who are considering involving yourself in conservative politics but were waiting for that extra little push, I urge you to take that leap over the political center to the right side. I promise, we don’t bite!
