The Apathetic Voter Thread - 2011

[flamesaresmokin]

This is to be our countries 5th election in just over 10 years. I always vote regardless of the situation but I don't think I can bring myself to do it this time for two main reasons.

1.) Its a colossal waste of money when our economy is still recovering from a recession.

- estimated 280 million; lets put this to use instead of cutting services.

2.) Its becoming increasingly apparent that regardless of what way we vote, the opposition parties will likely form a coalition government. One that hinges on the intentions of a separatist party no one outside of Quebec can vote for. Or force another multi million dollar election within the next 18 months.

-essentially we'd have been better to burn the 280 million in a giant public spectacle and invite David Suzuki to tell us how it effects the environment on a 1 hour cbc special.

[Yasa]

You're putting the phonetical "mock" in democracy!

That sounded cool, right?

As a side note; where do you think that 280 million is going? I do believe it's being put back into the economy by just being used, is it not? Paying for campaign employees and such.

[KTrain]

Originally Posted by Yasa

As a side note; where do you think that 280 million is going? I do believe it's being put back into the economy by just being used, is it not? Paying for campaign employees and such.

But is that a wise use of the money? I would really rather have the American system of scheduled elections so they can be properly budgeted for.

[Yasa]

Don't get me wrong; I don't want another election either, but the 280 million isn't disappearing. There would be many things that it could be spent on, but who's to say it would have gone some place good anyway.

Vote, don't vote. I don't really care either way. Unfortunately, the election is going to happen whether we like it or not, and not voting isn't going to change it. Really though, I only posted to say something useless as always.

Still, it sounded cool, right?

[burn_this_city]

What I'd love to know is why it costs roughly $15/eligible voter?

[Yasa]

We should get a $15 voucher for Orange Julius for voting. Incentives!

[flamesaresmokin]

If we end up with a coalition i'll eat my pubes!

[llama64]

Originally Posted by KTrain

But is that a wise use of the money? I would really rather have the American system of scheduled elections so they can be properly budgeted for.

Because the American system is such a beacon of political prowess...

Elections are properly budgeted for in Canada - Elections Canada is prepared to fund an election at any time. This is money that is already earmarked for an election - debating whether it should be used else where is kind of pointless.

It's been 4 years since the last election and the current government is getting ripe. The only problem is, we're voting for the same collection of morons again. If any of these "leaders" are still entrenched by the time of the next election, I swear I'm moving to Iceland to become a fisherman.

Edit: Hrm, apparently I can't do math, it's been nearly 3 years (hey, it's Friday). Much less time then I thought.

So... did the debate shed any light for anyone? Did it actually help anyone decide on a party? I watched about half of it - turned out to be nothing more then 3 show boats yelling at each other and one guy advocating the tearing apart of the country. Politics certainly doesn't draw the best and the brightest...

[Flames Draft Watcher]

First past the post system leads to apathy.

They need to bring in some sort of proportional representation so that 50+% of the populace isn't have their voices and votes ignored.

[mikey_the_redneck]

I vote for candidates not parties........therefore I will not be voting in this election.

I don't trust Harper or Ignatieff. I give Harper a slight leg up because he wants to abolish the gun registry, but that's about it. I don't care for him going down and signing globalist agreements with the U.S. without our approval or knowledge.

Our politicians are lame, and they lack passion. The debates were dryer than a popcorn fart. They re-hash the same old crap time and time again.

Our leaders are more interested in gaining political power for themselves than actually serving the people.

[SeeBass]

I guess we could have 1000 more MRI machines rather than pay for this election.

[Devils'Advocate]

I think we should have a dictatorship so that we don't have to have these stupid things called "elections" and then we'd have spit for the ocean we call our federal debt. Oi.

Most countries in the world have pseudo-stable governments that don't have elections every second year because they got past this idea of "co-illations = evil" and they have parties that work together to form a governing unit. Either that, or you have a system like in the United States where you only have two major parties, which isn't working out all that well either.

[transplant99]

Originally Posted by llama64

Because the American system is such a beacon of political prowess...

Elections are properly budgeted for in Canada - Elections Canada is prepared to fund an election at any time. This is money that is already earmarked for an election - debating whether it should be used else where is kind of pointless.

It's been 4 years since the last election and the current government is getting ripe. The only problem is, we're voting for the same collection of morons again. If any of these "leaders" are still entrenched by the time of the next election, I swear I'm moving to Iceland to become a fisherman.

Edit: Hrm, apparently I can't do math, it's been nearly 3 years (hey, it's Friday). Much less time then I thought.

So... did the debate shed any light for anyone? Did it actually help anyone decide on a party? I watched about half of it - turned out to be nothing more then 3 show boats yelling at each other and one guy advocating the tearing apart of the country. Politics certainly doesn't draw the best and the brightest...

30 months actually.

As for the debates...Im with you. A whole lot of nothing happened. Not a surprise with the situation at hand.

[transplant99]

Originally Posted by Devils'Advocate

I think we should have a dictatorship so that we don't have to have these stupid things called "elections" and then we'd have spit for the ocean we call our federal debt. Oi.

Most countries in the world have pseudo-stable governments that don't have elections every second year because they got past this idea of "co-illations = evil" and they have parties that work together to form a governing unit. Either that, or you have a system like in the United States where you only have two major parties, which isn't working out all that well either.

i dont think anyone believes coalitions are evil per se, but when it was an election promise not to form one (and especially with a party that wants to break up the country) then at that point it was completely unacceptable and a total coup d'etat.

[Hanni]

I usually love politics, find it super interesting and like talking about it. But with all the federal elections in the last decade, and a couple provincial ones mixed in, I am policted out.

I will still go vote since I feel like it's my duty and I typically go by the feeling that if you don't vote you don't really have the right to bitch.

[Mazrim]

I'm going to vote, as we are fortunate to have the right to vote, but I can't say I'm pleased with the choices this time.

[V]

I usually start all gung ho when there's an election, but then I start reading election threads with t99 posting in it and I just lose all interest.

[transplant99]

Originally Posted by V

I usually start all gung ho when there's an election, but then I start reading election threads with t99 posting in it and I just lose all interest.

Excellent.

[carom]

I saw Andrew Coyne speak today where he was talking about the political situation we find ourselves in and how we got here, starting with "The Fall of the Liberal Empire". It was very interesting.

He was talking about the changes to the system he would like to see including proportional representation, restructuring the seats in the house to reflect populations better (did you know the Maritimes have more seats in the house then Alberta does?), and shifting from having under-represented urban ridings and over-represented rural ridings.

He talked about what the implications the election is going to have on the party leaders future. He thinks this is Jack Laytons last go (part of the reason the NDPs called the election) and unless Elizabeth Mays wins she is done.

Another thing he talked about was changing the debate format to switching between English and French during a weekly debate with different formats (debates focused purely on economy/environment/regional issues, one on one debates, etc.) so that the media can focus more on the issues, rather then the baby kissing/soundbite/gaffes.

I'm not really apathetic (i always vote), it is more that my cynicism manifests as apathy.

[Puppet Guy]

I've always believed that declining to vote cancels out your right to complain, but it's tough this time around - there's no going to be any change. I'm giving serious thought to just marking "None of the above" on my ballot.