| Who's following the Election?
Posted: 10/14/2008 8:43:38 PM | In the end, people are gonna do what they wanna do right?
Live and let live I say. If you want to vote, fine. If you don't want to vote, that's fine too, that's your god given right.
My 10 year old son sat in front of the tv for almost an hour tonight watching the results roll in, he was really enthralled by it all. Surprised the hell out of me!! Good for him, one needs to be aware of issues that affect us all. | |
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| Who's following the Election?
Posted: 10/14/2008 8:46:10 PM | I voted and I voted Green. It may not have been the popular choice, but frankly Harper with a majority scares me and those other guys were just as bad. At least now that I have voted, I have the right to complain what the government is doing. In the end just going out and voting was the most important thing. I hope you all voted too. Those who didn't effectively shut their own mouths until the next election. | |
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| Who's following the Election?
Posted: 10/14/2008 8:54:31 PM | | hmmm...actually, we have just as much of a right if we didnt vote to discuss what is happening in our world as the next....is your person or party in power....probably not - and it really dosent matter....but, we all have a right to discuss our opinions . Not quite sure where people think that some can speak freely & others cant - in Canada.....hmmm......what type of a country do we live in....thought it was a somewhat free, democratic society. Interesting how communism rears its ugly head sometimes at different times. Depending on what suits different people.....fyi, Harper has a minority govt, and all the other parties have a say....no one party can implement its agenda without say from the others..... | |
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| Who's following the Election?
Posted: 10/14/2008 9:14:48 PM | | Thank you Prof Lurker-it is our responsibility to vote.Many lives were lost to keep it this way.All you have to do is live for a while in a country where this is not the case to appreciate this even more. | |
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| Who's following the Election?
Posted: 10/14/2008 9:34:00 PM | First of all, puhleeeze don't take this the wrong way. I honestly believe people should be able to have as many spouses, same sex spouses, divorces, abortions, trans fat cupcakes and giant suv's as they want. It all changes a bit when kids are involved. But even that doesn't really concern me unless some weird little fat kid with crazy parents burns my garage down. Since you asked, here goes the devil's advocate....
"If you could explain to me exactly WHY it has to be ONE vagina and ONE penis together in a marriage...then I'll listen. I think that with all the single parents out there we can all agree that procreation /maintenance of the population doesn't require marriage. At this point in our evolution as a people I think that marriage is a somewhat archaic institution - what it was once used for is no longer an issue."
Lots of people feel that kids learn different things from men and from women and so in a perfect world (the perfect hetero parents, the perfect homo parents and the perfect single parent) the perfect hetero parents would be the best choice for raising kids. There are about a million research publications supporting each side. But if you're psychotic about kids having the best possible environment, then it's sort of hard to argue against a stable, heterosexual marriage. Should married hetero couples only be allowed to raise kids? Of course not (imo). But I think marriage isn't as archaic as you think either. The world isn't perfect; people are always going to cheat, manipulate, drink, do drugs, die, and generally f' up their kids. A strong, stable marriage helps greatly with these things. (Yes. Even death. Married people live longer) So, I guess that's at least a half hearted attempt to answer your question. Though I'm not convinced. | |
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| Who's following the Election?
Posted: 10/14/2008 9:36:17 PM | Well, just shy of a majority...didn't think they'd get that many either.
But I do admit I was wishing to see even more NDP than the BQ (or the Barbeque Party...they should've added another "B").
Nonetheless, time to put the money where the mouth is...
EDIT:
Maybe I shouldn't say anything yet...just seen the Conservatives jump to 146 seats
DAMMIT...HURRY UP AND COUNT ALREADY | |
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| Who's following the Election?
Posted: 10/14/2008 9:47:12 PM | Conservatives managed to pick up a few more seats with only 58% of the electoral voters going to the polls.
Another minority government, maybe this time the others will jump on board for the good of the country and make good things happen for we the unfortunate!! | |
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| Who's following the Election?
Posted: 10/14/2008 9:50:09 PM | I voted NDP. In my riding I knew they wouldn't get in, but out of self-pride I'd rather vote for the party that best lines up with my beliefs and opinions than just vote against the Tories (e.g. for the Libs). Strategic voting isn't real voting.
Proportional representation would be awesome to have, since the number of seats each party has doesn't really represent the popular vote. The Bloq and Tories have way too many, the Libs and NDP not enough. I can at least take solstice in the fact that with the minority government, the NDP and Bloq (eww) have an oddly powerful position with the Tories and Liberals butting heads against each other. | |
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| Who's following the Election?
Posted: 10/14/2008 10:36:34 PM | Holy crap...still counting in BC yet.
Now I gotta stay up to watch the nail-biting races in THAT province now...so much for an early bedtime | |
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| Who's following the Election?
Posted: 10/14/2008 10:45:28 PM | If someone just goes and votes once every few years, but never does anything in their life to make a difference in their life or that of those around them - what is the point. If one looks at all possible choices, and cannot find one that agrees with their values & beliefs, but works every day at making a difference in their world, thus the larger world around them - doesnt this make a bigger impact sometimes, as in a better role model for the younger generation.
Obviously my comment about it being a responsibility to vote hit a nerve. Please rest assured that people who choose to vote often do things in their lives to make a difference to the community.
The basis of democracy is the ability to vote freely. If you do not exercise that right (and the turnout for this election has been the lowest ever at 58% - ranking us at 88th in the world for voter participation) do not be surprised to have that right compromised or taken away. It's important to vote. Not voting isn't anything to be proud of. As a citizen of a democratic country, regardless of how dissatisfied you are with the candidates, you have a responsibility to exercise that right. If you opt not to vote you are essentially allowing others to make important decisions for you and your country. You aren't stepping up to the plate and making a difference.
Apathy won't keep a democracy going.
Journalist Joe Schlesinger puts it
another way. "Elections," he writes,
"are to democracy what weddings are
to marriage. In democracy, as in marriage, you have to work at it or lose it." | |
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| Who's following the Election?
Posted: 10/14/2008 10:50:33 PM | If the Tories start crowing about having been given a "mandate from the people to do X" you know you can call bullsh*t. The only mandate that has been displayed is that half the population believe the system is broken and couldn't be ars*d...of the rest, slightly over a quarter voted Tory, and the rest voted for everyone else...
So they have b*gger all for a mandate...
Expect a non-confidence vote, a Liberal Leadership convention and another (hopefully legally called this time) election shortly.
***EDIT***
I can't believe it...I hadn't seen this quote yet...now 12:10 pm
"The voter's have entrusted us with a stronger mandate" - Harper
I'll have one of what that twit is having... | |
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| Who's following the Election?
Posted: 10/14/2008 10:55:44 PM | For the last 3 federal election years I worked for the poll stations, I have not found a single ballot that needed to count as void. Those who went to vote meant business, knew not to spoil a ballot. I do not work at the poll station this year. I went in my district station to vote this early afternoon, not busy at all, 3 minutes I am done.
Not everyone is voting, the man who drove me to the poll station is not voting, I don't even ask him why; by all means, it is his choice. | |
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| Who's following the Election?
Posted: 10/14/2008 11:00:03 PM | | to each their own opinion....no, it did not hit a nerve Lurker, no one said it was something to be proud or not about....I just simply do not see it the same way you & some of the others see it. Seems like I may have hit a nerve with some other people as well as yourself. And actually, no, some people that vote are not model citizens or role models for the younger generation, nor do they make a difference to their communitites. Some do, some dont. The reality of democracy is the choice & the freedom to choose what you will do. It is important to you to vote, so go ahead & do so. But do not judge others based on a single choice. I may feel that those that voted made a poor choice in their candidate or party, but, they are free to vote for who they want to. And, weddings are generally a tradition or done for others more often than the couple....a marriage or a commitment does take work....the wedding says nothing about the marriage. Just because a journalist said it, dosent make it truth or reality.So, sometimes the elections that are called by a party or a candidate, are simply a waste of tax payers dollars in the end anyways....as this one was. I am simply a person who has an opinion like yourself, and we make different choices. Dosent make you or I , better or worse than each other, simply different. Do not presume to know or judge me. If you did you would realize I am anything but apathetic....I am a very passionate person about life & everything I believe to be important . I actually feel that in this case, the minority govt is going to be the most accountable to the whole canadian population, because no one party can make up their own agenda, they have to talk & discuss with all the other parties, and have to pass a majority vote to get things approved. | |
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| Who's following the Election?
Posted: 10/14/2008 11:05:06 PM | You missed the entire point of the quote. Like any relationship the one you have with your government takes effort, especially from the electors. you've convinced yourself that your choice not to vote is OK and it's not OK. So what if you have the right to not vote? It doesn't mean it's a good choice, or that it's a responsible choice.
I am a very passionate person about life & everything I believe to be important Apparently democracy isn't one of those things. | |
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| Who's following the Election?
Posted: 10/14/2008 11:12:31 PM | | no, I did not miss the point, I simply am looking at it from a different perspective, to each their own opinion....move on....stop lurking & be real....love when people can misquote & take pieces out of a whole ..... as I have said , to each their own.... this has been an enlightening thread.... and I have had my fill....lol....more important things to do.... | |
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| Who's following the Election?
Posted: 10/14/2008 11:24:08 PM | Well, no surprises and pretty much a big waste of the taxpayers money.
Papabear, I offer you congratulations on your supported party's win.
In my own riding, we were able to topple the conservative member representing us, but man, was is close!
To all who voted, thank you for taking the responsibility and time to be a participant in the country's future. Win or lose, you have excercised your responsibility as a Canadian and done your part. | |
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| Who's following the Election?
Posted: 10/15/2008 12:17:01 AM | | lol...some people are funny....and to each their own....yes, I am a stubborn woman, with her own ideas & opinions....which I will stand up for. I believe everyone is entitled to their own choices, and to decide what their responsibilities & rights are. Not for anyone else to make that decision for you. Will be interesting to see what happens in the following days, months & years..... as the politicians get down to their agendas, stated or not, decided or not.....and see who will uphold what is right for the majority & who will follow through on their various promises or lack thereof. Will be watching with interest as the americans get close to their election date. | |
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| Who's following the Election?
Posted: 10/15/2008 12:18:53 AM |
In my own riding, we were able to topple the conservative member representing us, but man, was is close!
And thank God and the voters for that...Rahim "Or is It My Impersonator" Jaffer had to go... he should have had the decency to resign after that incident.
The only Alberta riding that went NDP or anything other than Tory...which really, really makes me sick at both the voter apathy, and even among those who did vote, failure to be politically educated. The federal Tories were doing things - ARE going to do things - that the Premier's office have noted will be unfriendly to the Alberta economy, yet people voted them in anyway.
Well a small few did anyway. They drove right into that old familiar wall...but they didn't blink.
Time to seriously start talking about proportional representation and electoral reform in this country.
To all who voted, thank you for taking the responsibility and time to be a participant in the country's future. Win or lose, you have exercised your responsibility as a Canadian and done your part.
Well said, well said! People have died for this right. It is a solemn duty to exercise it and more importantly to do so thoughtfully and in an educated fashion. Squander it and, IMHO, you crap on the memory of those who provided the right for you. I might add, lest I be accused of judging those who choose not to vote that this is not the case. If you actively choose not to vote to protest the current system, I applaud your choice as this is also exercising your freedom. It is those who, through apathy refuse to make any choice at all, or don't even bother to think about the process that are, as one thinker put it, destined for slavery. | |
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| Who's following the Election?
Posted: 10/15/2008 1:17:46 AM | The whole 'live and let live' thing is a cop out in this case. It's appropriate for issues that don't matter to us all, but democracy is pretty important. Think how much you'd miss it if we didn't have it.
If you want to have better choices in an election get involved. Join a party and make an effort to change how candidates are nominated. Petition the government for proportional representation. Start an awareness campaign to shine a light on an issue that matters to you. But don't throw your hands up and say 'I don't like any of them'. At the very least vote against a candidate you don't like rather than for one you do. | |
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| Who's following the Election?
Posted: 10/15/2008 7:10:27 AM |
The only Alberta riding that went NDP or anything other than Tory...which really, really makes me sick at both the voter apathy, and even among those who did vote, failure to be politically educated.
This is the most frustrating thing about trying to discuss politics with anyone. When someone has an opposing view, or supports an opposing party, rather than accepting that fact, people go ahead and say things like this - childish insults better suited to a school playground.
Every time the "wrong" party wins, the supporters of the losing party blame it some bullspit excuse. The Conservatives win, it's because the non-Tory voters were too apathetic to vote. If the Liberals had won, Conservative supporters would be saying it's because Tory supporters didn't vote because they were too confident their party had it in the bag. In both cases, the people who did vote "failed to be politically educated"?
I thought the whole point of a democracy was that people got to vote for who they see fit... apparently some on here disagree with that? If you don't vote for certain parties (or more specifically if you DO vote for a certain party), you should automatically be lumped in a group as uneducated? Great way to insult a huge number of people, just because they don't agree with your OPINIONS.
The federal Tories were doing things - ARE going to do things - that the Premier's office have noted will be unfriendly to the Alberta economy, yet people voted them in anyway.
A carbon tax would be a lot worse than just "unfriendly" to the Alberta economy - that's why the Conservatives won Alberta. | |
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| Who's following the Election?
Posted: 10/15/2008 8:54:54 AM | Lurker - I am with you 100%. No matter who you vote for....VOTE!
If you pay taxes, if you have a job, if you BREATHE and live in Canada -as a Canadian citizen it IS your responsibility to vote.
I believe there should be a tax for the apathetic population of Canada. If you can't be arsed to educate yourself and make an informed decision...you should have to pay more. It's an idiot tax.
I talked to a 19yr old kid yesterday that said that voting was for chumps. I wonder where people get their opinions that their vote doesn't count or can't implement a change. If you do NOT vote...if everyone in the country didn't vote save for the actual politicians...well...then democracy would spiral out into dictatorship. Wouldn't that be fun kids? | |
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| Who's following the Election?
Posted: 10/15/2008 9:16:31 AM | | For most of us it was $45million wasted.There is very little change tho there are some new faces as there were several old Reformers who retired. Hopefully a minority government will be productive,and address some of the issues concerning the voters. | |
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| Who's following the Election?
Posted: 10/15/2008 9:32:46 AM |
Wouldn't that be fun kids? After reading a bit of this thread, it sounds like you're addressing the correct crowd.  | |
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| Who's following the Election?
Posted: 10/15/2008 11:24:27 AM |
This is the most frustrating thing about trying to discuss politics with anyone. When someone has an opposing view, or supports an opposing party, rather than accepting that fact, people go ahead and say things like this - childish insults better suited to a school playground.
Every time the "wrong" party wins, the supporters of the losing party blame it some bullspit excuse. The Conservatives win, it's because the non-Tory voters were too apathetic to vote. If the Liberals had won, Conservative supporters would be saying it's because Tory supporters didn't vote because they were too confident their party had it in the bag. In both cases, the people who did vote "failed to be politically educated"?
I thought the whole point of a democracy was that people got to vote for who they see fit... apparently some on here disagree with that? If you don't vote for certain parties (or more specifically if you DO vote for a certain party), you should automatically be lumped in a group as uneducated? Great way to insult a huge number of people, just because they don't agree with your OPINIONS.
I didn't point any fingers at any specific people...I left it open as an open generalization. Certainly not all people who voted for any given party were politically uneducated. But I would argue a great many people voted simply out of habit, out of being sucked into advertising, and name recognition.
Do you SERIOUSLY advocate that the average voter read the platform, studied the issues, compared them and researched their vote...because if you are that is disingenuous in the extreme.
A carbon tax would be a lot worse than just "unfriendly" to the Alberta economy - that's why the Conservatives won Alberta.
And the federal Tory green plan is a slap in the face to the provincial environmental plan and an infringement of the federal government into the sale of resources - a shadow of the NEP for those with long memories and resentment towards Ottawa and federal interference in provincial jurisdiction. The Premiers office was upset about this and a variety of other areas in the Federal platform that tread heavily upon the toes of the province without consultation...apparently you and a lot of other Albertans didn't pay a great deal of attention to this before casting your ballot for the Federal Tories. I call it being politically aware.
Well, we're stuck with another minority, another looming election in two years or less following a non-confidence vote and shortly the Liberals will have a leadership convention. Plus ca change, plus ca meme chose. Hey, that will give you a chance to research your vote at least for next time. | |
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