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Provincial Election

Peter D.

Peter D.

Moderator
On the eve of the election, this is the most I've ever been in tune with an election trying to understand each party's platform.  I generally have minimal interest in politics as I think pretty much all politicians are lying fools, but this election has me intrigued. 

Unfortunately, it feels like you have to wade through to see who the best of the worst is.  It seems as though we are in for a struggle regardless of who is chosen. 
 
And nothing says democracy like sending letters in the mail to registered voters with the wrong voting address.  Good job PC party!
 
Peter D. said:
Unfortunately, it feels like you have to wade through to see who the best of the worst is.  It seems as though we are in for a struggle regardless of who is chosen.
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Yup. It really feels like the choice is for which kind of bad you prefer - or dislike the least. That being said, in an election with no clear choices, getting out and voting is still very important. Don't waste your vote by not using it (and, I don't mean you specifically, since you're clearly invested in this election, but, you know, in general).
 
Peter D. said:
Unfortunately, it feels like you have to wade through to see who the best of the worst is.
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So that makes it...8,499 elections in a row where that's true.
 
flyer.jpg


It's crap like this that makes me hate politics. That's Tim Hudak photoshopped into a scene from The Dark Knight where the Joker is walking away from the hospital he just blew up.

I wish that there was some sort of rule that made it so you couldn't attack your opposition in ads. They should be focusing on what makes them the best option not what makes the other guy a bad one.
 
CarltonTheBear said:
I wish that there was some sort of rule that made it so you couldn't attack your opposition in ads. They should be focusing on what makes them the best option not what makes the other guy a bad one.
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Part of explaining why you're the best option is pointing out that the other guy sucks. There has to be some negativity in campaigning.  There is such a thing as "too much", though, and that that photoshopped image is taking it way too far.  Disgraceful.

I really hope we can establish an instant-runoff voting system at the provincial and federal level. Too often voters feel forced into voting against a candidate they dislike, rather than for one they actually support.  As long as that's the case, it's actually in a politician's best interest to spend the majority of their time and resources fearmongering, and demonizing their closest competitor.  I think IRV would go a long way to fixing these sorts of problems.
 
bustaheims said:
Yup. It really feels like the choice is for which kind of bad you prefer - or dislike the least. That being said, in an election with no clear choices, getting out and voting is still very important. Don't waste your vote by not using it (and, I don't mean you specifically, since you're clearly invested in this election, but, you know, in general).
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I disagree with this. I think an uninformed, arbitrary vote is just as wasteful because it is meaningless.

Voting for another party to try to prevent a party from winning is meaningful. Voting for who you want to vote for is meaningful, and so on.

I would advocate that people do get informed so they can cast a meaningful vote.
 
Scot4bz said:
If you don't, then you have given up your voice (including the one you use to complain after the election)
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No disrespect intended, but I find this final statement ignorant. You're certainly not the only one to trumpet such a stance, but it's simply not true. I will never give up my right to complain about my government, the actions of its politicians, or the actions of its staff should I see fit, regardless of whether I've voted or not.

Though I'm not one of them, some people are simply not interested in voting or learning about the specific policies of the various parties and candidates. Part of being in a democracy like Canada is having the right to vote......or not.
 
I haven't met someone who said they're voting Liberal unless their vote hasn't been bought.  And by bought, I mean public sector workers, corrupt labour unions, teachers, etc.  I don't understand how you promise more or even the same when you're going in the hole. 
Where I use to work (CLAC union), I could build concrete forms, pour concrete, finish concrete, layout pipes and brackets, install pipes, spot weld in place, paint, etc.  Do it all. The College of trades makes it impossible for a company to hire workers and keep them employed.  They would have to lay-off everyone and just call a union hall constantly for over-paid strangers.  Look at how corrupt Toronto's construction is.  Only organized crime unions can get in there.  And the cost to do anything is crazy.  Do we want that for the whole province?
 
Bullfrog said:
I disagree with this. I think an uninformed, arbitrary vote is just as wasteful because it is meaningless.

Voting for another party to try to prevent a party from winning is meaningful. Voting for who you want to vote for is meaningful, and so on.

I would advocate that people do get informed so they can cast a meaningful vote.
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Well, yes, ideally a vote should come with some sort of meaning, but, still, you can actively refuse your vote at the polling station or you can spoil your ballot. Both are much better options than not exercising your right to vote.
 
moon111 said:
I haven't met someone who said they're voting Liberal unless their vote hasn't been bought.
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If you're going to be electioneering you should probably pin down the number of negatives you want to use.
 
bustaheims said:
Bullfrog said:
I disagree with this. I think an uninformed, arbitrary vote is just as wasteful because it is meaningless.

Voting for another party to try to prevent a party from winning is meaningful. Voting for who you want to vote for is meaningful, and so on.

I would advocate that people do get informed so they can cast a meaningful vote.
Click to expand...

Well, yes, ideally a vote should come with some sort of meaning, but, still, you can actively refuse your vote at the polling station or you can spoil your ballot. Both are much better options than not exercising your right to vote.
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I disagree with that last statement as well.

Spoiling a vote or making an active refusal are only meaningful if they're borne out of knowledge and conviction. Otherwise, it's just as arbitrary as randomly voting.

Some people simply entrust other citizens to make a good decision and they live with that. I've just never agreed with the "you choose to not vote, you void your right to complain." It's complete bullocks.
 
If anything, you'd think the people who would lose their right to complain would be the people who voted for the victorious party that preceded to bungle things up.
 
I usually don't comment on elections, because I work a polling station on election day itself. I will make this one comment though. I don't care how you vote, just that you give enough of a damn to get out and vote. I've seen elections settled by less than 10 votes so everyone's vote counts, regardless of who you vote for. Surely as a society, we can be engaged enough to see more than 50% turnout.
 
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