Calgarypuck Forums - The Unofficial Calgary Flames Fan Community - View Single Post - Who(that can) isn't going to vote on Oct 14th?

MarchHare · 10-10-2008, 12:22 PM

I've voted in every federal and provincial election since I was of legal age (I've never voted in a municipal election though). I'm seriously considering abstaining (NOT the same thing as voter apathy) from this election.

I'm a card-carrying member of the Liberal Party, but I didn't support Dion for the leadership and I don't think he'd be an effective PM. I don't want to support him in this election because I think if the Liberals lose 10-15 seats, it will prompt a leadership review and hopefully a better leader will be selected this time. So that rules the Liberals out.

Then there's the NDP, who I genereally support on social issues but whose economic polices I strongly disagree with. If the NDP ever won a majority (gods help us!), they'd bankrupt the nation with their drunken sailor-esque spending while simultaneously crushing our economy and killing businesses by applying punitive corporate taxes. So that rules the the NDP out.

Then we have the Conservatives. As stewards of the budget and the economy, they've done well enough (the Halloween Surprise and carte blanche cheques to parents notwithstanding), and the more radical social conservative element of the party has been held in check because they're in a minority government situation. Regardless of what anyone says to the contrary, though, I simply don't trust the CPC on social issues if they were given the free reign of a majority government. There's still too many far-right religious conservatives in the party, and Harper has often said he wants more private members' bills and free votes in Parliament, effectively giving those radical elements more power. So that rules the Conservatives out.

Ultimately, I live in a Calgary riding that is going to be easily won by the Conservative candidate (Lee Richardson) regardless of how I cast my vote, but that never deterred me in the past from exercising my fundamental democratic right. This election, however, has left me completely unmotivated. It's not even a matter of choosing the lesser evil -- every party this time around is poor choice, each for a different reason. My ideal outcome would be another Conservative minority, with Harper's party winning about the same number of seats he has now. The Liberals would lose 10-15 seats to a combination of the Bloc, NDP, and Greens, Dion would be ousted, and we get much of the same style of government for the next two years by which time the Liberals have selected a more capable leader.

Ah, a man can dream...

10-10-2008, 12:22 PM	#2
MarchHare Franchise Player Join Date: May 2004 Location: YSJ (1979-2002) -> YYC (2002-2022) -> YVR (2022-present) Exp:	I've voted in every federal and provincial election since I was of legal age (I've never voted in a municipal election though). I'm seriously considering abstaining (NOT the same thing as voter apathy) from this election. I'm a card-carrying member of the Liberal Party, but I didn't support Dion for the leadership and I don't think he'd be an effective PM. I don't want to support him in this election because I think if the Liberals lose 10-15 seats, it will prompt a leadership review and hopefully a better leader will be selected this time. So that rules the Liberals out. Then there's the NDP, who I genereally support on social issues but whose economic polices I strongly disagree with. If the NDP ever won a majority (gods help us!), they'd bankrupt the nation with their drunken sailor-esque spending while simultaneously crushing our economy and killing businesses by applying punitive corporate taxes. So that rules the the NDP out. Then we have the Conservatives. As stewards of the budget and the economy, they've done well enough (the Halloween Surprise and carte blanche cheques to parents notwithstanding), and the more radical social conservative element of the party has been held in check because they're in a minority government situation. Regardless of what anyone says to the contrary, though, I simply don't trust the CPC on social issues if they were given the free reign of a majority government. There's still too many far-right religious conservatives in the party, and Harper has often said he wants more private members' bills and free votes in Parliament, effectively giving those radical elements more power. So that rules the Conservatives out. Ultimately, I live in a Calgary riding that is going to be easily won by the Conservative candidate (Lee Richardson) regardless of how I cast my vote, but that never deterred me in the past from exercising my fundamental democratic right. This election, however, has left me completely unmotivated. It's not even a matter of choosing the lesser evil -- every party this time around is poor choice, each for a different reason. My ideal outcome would be another Conservative minority, with Harper's party winning about the same number of seats he has now. The Liberals would lose 10-15 seats to a combination of the Bloc, NDP, and Greens, Dion would be ousted, and we get much of the same style of government for the next two years by which time the Liberals have selected a more capable leader. Ah, a man can dream...