sum67
|
Joined: 12/28/2006
Msg: 101 | |
| Alberta - heading for election - what is your opinion?
Posted: 3/4/2008 6:55:03 PM | | Way too many voters out there that just dutifully check their "X" for the Conservative candidate without even bothering to see what the other parties platforms were, or inform themselves in any way whatsoever. Voter apathy? For sure, but I'm not sure which is worse, those that can't be bothered to vote in the first place, or those who just vote for the sake of doing so, but don't know a damn thing about who they are voting for??? | |
|
| Alberta - heading for election - what is your opinion?
Posted: 3/4/2008 7:51:02 PM | | I researched the candidates in my riding - and voted on the person that was running on one of my important issues - but of course he didn't get in (for some reason the liberal who hasn't done a damn thing ever got in again). And again - with the internet, etc there was no excuse for not doing research if people were confused on which way to vote. | |
|
| Alberta - heading for election - what is your opinion?
Posted: 3/8/2008 12:38:44 PM | If you don't exercise your right to vote you may wake up and find that it's been taken away. Regardless of the motivation behind your choice you still have to exercise that choice to make sure you have one. It's like a muscle - use it or lose it.
There are reports of the election not being administered very well and people who wanted to vote and should have been able to were not because of incompetence and inefficiency by Elections Alberta. Their website crashed on Monday and there were a number of people affected by moving of polling stations. The place where they voted for years was moved and there was not an effective information campaign to alert them.
I'd be incensed if I were one of those people but I doubt that anyone will make much of a fuss. We don't have a transparent government at all and with this huge majority it's only going to get worse. Kiss the good times good by because these guys will not doubt piss it away. How can they not? There is no balance to our provincial government and any outrageous idea can easily be passed into legislation now. | |
|
| Alberta - heading for election - what is your opinion?
Posted: 3/9/2008 3:06:23 AM | What's the point of exercising my right to vote if none of my choices are the right one for me? Sure, I could choose the politican that has lies the least, or presented themselves in a way that gives the perception that they are on my side when they are not.
I've always felt that the democratic process is about having the ability to choose what person you think will do their best to represent your needs on a grander scale. However, it is my opinion that the flip side of that is choosing NOT to choose anybody if a person feels that no one is going to represent their needs.
Sure, there are people out there who just don't care. I care, but I don't think anyone in my area does. And if they did, and they weren't PC, it wouldn't matter because the majority party will focus on their agenda no matter what my MLA thinks.... | |
|
| Alberta - heading for election - what is your opinion?
Posted: 3/9/2008 9:22:38 AM | Apathy
1. lack of enthusiasm or energy: lack of interest in anything, or the absence of any wish to do anything
I find that voter apathy seems to be about 'the absence of any wish to do anything'. Apparently the majority of the people who bothered to go out and vote were PC supporters. If people had just shown enough interest in change (and there was sure lots of people saying they wanted change) to go out and voice their opinion (via the ballot box) we might at least have a decent opposition in Edmonton.
This year I voted in an unusual manner, usually I vote for the party (none of the party platforms were inspiring), this year I voted for the 'person' in my riding who I felt was the best candidate (based on his record). He was elected, but how effective will he continue to be when he is one of only a handful of opposition members?
The next 4 years will prove to be interesting. The tory's will be able to make any changes that they want, with no real way to stop them. Could be frightening. | |
|
| Alberta - heading for election - what is your opinion?
Posted: 3/9/2008 3:16:10 PM | Goldilocks,
The point of voting if none of them match what you would support is to then find the one that has the best opportunity of opposing as much as you do not like.
I'd love to see the none of the above box added and if none of the above wins then another election is called and all previous "contestants" cannot run again! | |
|
| Alberta - heading for election - what is your opinion?
Posted: 3/9/2008 3:27:15 PM |
I'd love to see the none of the above box added and if none of the above wins then another election is called and all previous "contestants" cannot run again! I'd like that approach as well but I just don't know if it'd justify the even BIGGER cost of elections. I think they already cost enough if ya ask me. | |
|
| Alberta - heading for election - what is your opinion?
Posted: 3/9/2008 7:12:22 PM | At least in oyr democray we get to elect our dictator.
I think both Provincialy and federaly. that when a bill comes up, That it should always be a free vote for the MLA or MP. No punnishing a member for not voting along party lines on bills. Maybe make all votes in both places always a private vote. Then the MLA or MP could not get punnished. | |
|
| Alberta - heading for election - what is your opinion?
Posted: 3/14/2008 6:01:07 PM | So here are the new Deputy Minister assignments for the new Alberta cabinet... for those of you not familiar with the structure of the provincial government, these folks are responsible for operations... the GM's if you will of each of the ministerial portfolios... last count I'm familiar with - 22,000 folks are employed by these people.
Aboriginal Relations
Maria David-Evans
Advanced Education and Technology
Annette Trimbee
Agriculture and Rural Development
John Knapp
Children and Youth Services
Fay Orr
Culture and Community Spirit
Lois Hawkins
Education
Keray Henke
Employment and Immigration
Shirley Howe
Energy
Peter Watson
Environment
Jim Ellis
Executive Council
Ron Hicks
Finance and Enterprise
Robert Bhatia
Health and Wellness
Paddy Meade
Housing and Urban Affairs
Marcia Nelson
Infrastructure
Barry Day
International and Intergovernmental Relations
Gerry Bourdeau
Justice and Attorney General
Terry Matchett
Municipal Affairs
Ray Gilmour
Seniors and Community Supports
Tim Wiles
Service Alberta
Paul Pellis
Solicitor General and Public Security
Brad Pickering
Sustainable Resource Development
Eric McGhan
Tourism, Parks and Recreation
Bill Werry
Transportation
Jay Ramotar
Treasury Board
Brian Manning
Corporate Human Resources
Ulysses Currie
Premier’s Economic Strategy Council
Bob Fessenden
A huge establishment to change by one election!
C | |
|
| Alberta - heading for election - what is your opinion?
Posted: 3/15/2008 9:05:03 AM | | Actually I am employed by the Alberta Government - not by the DM or even the minister (which thanks to some of the cabinet reshuffling, some people are loosing their jobs). I got the news immediately in the office, during our DM's retirement party (I didn't go - I worked). People were running around like chickens with their heads cut off, because our department got split up - and was recreated into a new ministry. | |
|
Home
login 
