CP Federal Election Poll #2

[N-E-B]

Originally Posted by rubecube

Are altruism and empathy completely foreign concepts to CPC supporters?

It just seems a bit odd to me that someone wouldn't think of themselves first when voting, it wasn't necessarily directed at one voter base.

[rubecube]

Originally Posted by N-E-B

It just seems a bit odd to me that someone wouldn't think of themselves first when voting, it wasn't necessarily directed at one voter base.

Yeah, well I'm not sure if it's that I'm not thinking of myself or it's more that I think I don't need all that much help compared to a lot of other people. If it comes down to me getting a $500 tax credit that I can blow on wants vs. that $500 going to someone who needs it, I'm picking the latter, and I'm not even in a very high income bracket.

[bigtmac19]

I would find it ridiculous for the government to be giving me child tax benefit if I'm making over $200K.

[EldrickOnIce]

The altruism in this thread warms the heart. I'm assuming you all are already spending that money on the needy in your community. One would hope you aren't waiting for the feds to do it for you.

[Baron von Kriterium]

I will never, ever, ever vote Liberal or NDP. Sadly, Harper's Conservatives aren't any better.

I live in the Nose Hill riding and Rempel is the MP. Let's be honest, she isn't hard on the eyes. I can be shallow and, yes, I may vote for her just based on that.

Otherwise, the Conservatives have lost me with their child tax credits (why not just lower taxes?), sale of military equipment to those inbred goat herders in Saudi Arabia, Bill C-51, their stance on marijuana, and the TPP.

Choosing between CPC, Liberals and NDP is like having to choose between syphilis, gonorrhea and chlamydia.You don't win know matter what you choose.

I have no idea who Edward Gao is, but I'll vote for him.

[Kjesse]

Originally Posted by Baron von Kriterium

Otherwise, the Conservatives have lost me with their child tax credits (why not just lower taxes?),

There are actually OK policy reasons behind this, such as the declining birth rate. Canada needs to increase the birth rate as a whole. A targetted tax break which makes raising children a little cheaper is good policy. We wouldn't want to get to the spot Japan is in right now, for example.

[Codes]

Hello fellow Lethbridgians!

I intend to vote today. Based on threehundredeight.com and strategicvoting.ca, the best option to kick the Cons out is to vote NDP. I'm just wondering if anyone has a better pulse on how the district is "feeling"; are we still riding the Orange Wave in Lethbridge, or has that support cooled off in favour of the Liberals?

[GirlySports]

Originally Posted by Baron von Kriterium

I will never, ever, ever vote Liberal or NDP. Sadly, Harper's Conservatives aren't any better.

Why would you never ever ever vote for anyone? Maybe their policies have changed to be more inline with yours?

All parties evolve.

[Bootsy]

Originally Posted by EldrickOnIce

The altruism in this thread warms the heart. I'm assuming you all are already spending that money on the needy in your community. One would hope you aren't waiting for the feds to do it for you.

If they lean left waiting for the feds to do it for them is most likely what they are doing:
http://www.ijreview.com/2015/03/2767...owerful-story/


From the link:

• Although liberal families’ incomes average 6 percent higher than those of conservative families, conservative-headed households give, on average, 30 percent more to charity than the average liberal-headed household ($1,600 per year vs. $1,227).
• People who reject the idea that “government has a responsibility to reduce income inequality” give an average of four times more than people who accept that proposition.
• Conservatives also donate more time and give more blood.

It appears that despite the common objections to the studies, there is at least some truth to the notion that conservatives give more to charity, while liberals see the government as a source of ‘charity.’
Whether or not one agrees with the poignant anecdote, it at least gives people something to think about."

[PsYcNeT]

Originally Posted by Bootsy

If they lean left waiting for the feds to do it for them is most likely what they are doing:
http://www.ijreview.com/2015/03/2767...owerful-story/


From the link:

• Although liberal families’ incomes average 6 percent higher than those of conservative families, conservative-headed households give, on average, 30 percent more to charity than the average liberal-headed household ($1,600 per year vs. $1,227).
• People who reject the idea that “government has a responsibility to reduce income inequality” give an average of four times more than people who accept that proposition.
• Conservatives also donate more time and give more blood.

It appears that despite the common objections to the studies, there is at least some truth to the notion that conservatives give more to charity, while liberals see the government as a source of ‘charity.’
Whether or not one agrees with the poignant anecdote, it at least gives people something to think about."

It's been pointed out before, but the cited article from Russia Today cites a study done on publicly available tax return data from 2006-2012 in the US.

This data categorizes church donations as charitable donations, and I think many persons would disagree with this categorization, and therefore the data is disingenuous, especially since there is much data showing that churches have a much narrower return to charitable investment compared to many of the more well-run charities.

[Drak]

Originally Posted by codes

hello fellow lethbridgians!

I intend to vote today. Based on threehundredeight.com and strategicvoting.ca, the best option to kick the cons out is to vote ndp. I'm just wondering if anyone has a better pulse on how the district is "feeling"; are we still riding the orange wave in lethbridge, or has that support cooled off in favour of the liberals?

codes!

[Drak]

Originally Posted by PsYcNeT

It's been pointed out before, but the cited article from Russia Today cites a study done on publicly available tax return data from 2006-2012 in the US.

This data categorizes church donations as charitable donations, and I think many persons would disagree with this categorization, and therefore the data is disingenuous, especially since there is much data showing that churches have a much narrower return to charitable investment compared to many of the more well-run charities.

Exactly.

[EldrickOnIce]

Originally Posted by Bootsy

It appears that despite the common objections to the studies, there is at least some truth to the notion that conservatives give more to charity, while liberals see the government as a source of ‘charity.’
Whether or not one agrees with the poignant anecdote, it at least gives people something to think about."

Well I can guarantee you not $1 nor 1 hour of time of our household contribution to need in our community goes to 'middle class' earning 75k per year. Taking from the rich to give to the reasonable well off only addresses one need: votes. To paint the LPC a champion for this is pretty funny actually.

[Baron von Kriterium]

Originally Posted by Delgar

There are actually OK policy reasons behind this, such as the declining birth rate. Canada needs to increase the birth rate as a whole. A targetted tax break which makes raising children a little cheaper is good policy. We wouldn't want to get to the spot Japan is in right now, for example.

I prefer lower taxes as it benefits more people. Why do you prefer tax credits for some over tax cuts for all?

[Baron von Kriterium]

Originally Posted by GirlySports

Why would you never ever ever vote for anyone? Maybe their policies have changed to be more inline with yours?

All parties evolve.

I didn't say I never, ever, ever vote for anyone. The gentleman I pointed out more closely aligns with my views than the three main political parties.

[AcGold]

Tax cuts for the impoverished would be nice. Nothing like paying all my bills and there's nothing left for food because the government took the rest.

[EldrickOnIce]

Originally Posted by AcGold

Tax cuts for the impoverished would be nice. Nothing like paying all my bills and there's nothing left for food because the government took the rest.

Tax cuts for the impoverished buys you virtually no votes.

[MarchHare]

Originally Posted by Delgar

There are actually OK policy reasons behind this, such as the declining birth rate. Canada needs to increase the birth rate as a whole. A targetted tax break which makes raising children a little cheaper is good policy. We wouldn't want to get to the spot Japan is in right now, for example.

Is there any empirical evidence that boutique tax credits aimed at parents actually increases the birth rate? According to StatsCan, it looks like Harper's baby handouts didn't really have any effect at all.

http://www.statcan.gc.ca/tables-tabl...lth85b-eng.htm

Also, Japan is an incredibly insular country that allows very little immigration, but Canada is an open and multicultural society. We can easily avoid the demographic problem Japan is facing though increased immigration. I can see why that solution doesn't appeal to Harper and other Old Stock Canadians, though.

[MarchHare]

Originally Posted by AcGold

Tax cuts for the impoverished would be nice. Nothing like paying all my bills and there's nothing left for food because the government took the rest.

How much tax are you paying? Assuming you live in Alberta and work a full-time job (40 hrs/wk) making minimum wage ($10/hr), you earn $20,800 per year and pay $1,679 in combined federal and provincial income tax (effective tax rate of 8.07%). At that low income level, you're also eligible for GST rebate cheques every quarter (and I assume a variety of other government programs designed to assist low-income Canadians, but I haven't looked into it personally). What amount of taxation do you think is reasonable?

[Smartcar]

Originally Posted by Codes

Hello fellow Lethbridgians!

I intend to vote today. Based on threehundredeight.com and strategicvoting.ca, the best option to kick the Cons out is to vote NDP. I'm just wondering if anyone has a better pulse on how the district is "feeling"; are we still riding the Orange Wave in Lethbridge, or has that support cooled off in favour of the Liberals?

If you intend to vote strategically, I'd recommend you wait until election day.