ADAM OLSEN -- Rather than a healthy, vigorous (but healthy) exchange of ideas and solutions, it’s an all-out war of words in a last-ditch effort to win a majority government on election day

As the summer BBQ tour continues and the federal election candidates make the best of the long, hot days on the hustings, the campaign will heat up as September draws closer.

“Crazy season” starts when the partisan faithful try every angle to get the edge on their competition. It’s when democratic debate turns into a bare-knuckle prize fight. Perhaps it’s the most visible symptom of the sickness in our democracy. 

Rather than a healthy, vigorous (but healthy) exchange of ideas and solutions, it’s an all-out war of words in a last-ditch effort to win a majority government on election day.

I’ve been through a couple campaigns now and it’s a personal test. Social media platforms are both super useful engagement tools and supercharged outrage machines that can overwhelm a candidate and campaign team. The bigger the perceived threat by the competition, the larger the target and the more vicious the attacks.

It’s not the best time in our communities. While we should be focusing on the ideas and solutions, the passion and desperation in a campaign can easily become personal.

The stakes are high because power distribution only happens once every four years. Pressure on the party leaders, backroom strategists, pollsters and number-crunchers, campaign managers and candidates is intense. Each and every campaign team is staffed with volunteers who are heavily invested in achieving a specific outcome in an ever-decreasing amount of time. The clock is always ticking.

Changing the culture of crazy season

With all of these factors on the field of play, how do we change the nature of the game? How do we continue to inspire and engage as many people in the debate as we can while keeping the focus on ideas and solutions?

It starts with a hopeful message, founded on a clear vision of the future we are working toward and an achievable plan to accomplish it.

We have to design an inclusive culture in our campaign teams modeled by the leader and candidates, nurtured by the team leads on the ground in each riding. The priority outcome should be a thoughtful government that looks after the entire spectrum of social, environmental and economic responsibilities of the community, province or country, whatever the case may be.

Finally, our tone is crucial. We need to be able to challenge and critique the proposed ideas and solutions of our competition in a respectful way. How do we do this when time is running out and the pressure is increasing? We need to stay out of the political ditch and in our own lane, demonstrate the value we add to the discussion and commit to changing the culture of campaigning and governing.

Yes, it’s easier to say these words than do it. However, the future of our community, province, country and planet is at stake so it’s worth the effort!

Adam Olsen ... is a Green Party Member of the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia for Saanich North and the Islands. Born in Victoria, BC in 1976, Adam has lived, worked and played his entire life on the Saanich Peninsula. He is a member of Tsartlip First Nation (W̱JOȽEȽP), where he and his wife, Emily, are raising their two children, Silas and Ella.