2011 Canadian Election Thread

[calculoso]

Originally Posted by WilsonFourTwo

Thanks for completely missing the point.

Not a word of debate in the Commons before we wrote the cheque, but we can't stop complaining about the cost of an election.

May want to make your point a little clearer and more accurate then. A loan is certainly a lot different than spending that will never be recouped. Plus, the loan can easily be seen as a job saving measure for the workers at the auto plants plus the parts makers +++. While an election is a short term spending boon for vote counters, sign makers, tv companies, etc, the comparison is totally not valid.

[burn_this_city]

I dont remember much fuss when Ottawa constantly bailed out Bombardier and Air Canada in the 90's.

[Ark2]

Originally Posted by calculoso

May want to make your point a little clearer and more accurate then. A loan is certainly a lot different than spending that will never be recouped. Plus, the loan can easily be seen as a job saving measure for the workers at the auto plants plus the parts makers +++. While an election is a short term spending boon for vote counters, sign makers, tv companies, etc, the comparison is totally not valid.

This. I've never understood how Layton can condemn Harper for bailing out the auto manufacturers but then claim that he is pro working class. Makes no sense at all.

[transplant99]

Op/ed piece in the Herald suggeting the Liberals may be switching strategies mid-stream.

http://www.calgaryherald.com/news/de...537/story.html

[calculoso]

Originally Posted by Ark2

This. I've never understood how Layton can condemn Harper for bailing out the auto manufacturers but then claim that he is pro working class. Makes no sense at all.

Especially when it was a loan!

[burn_this_city]

Originally Posted by Ark2

This. I've never understood how Layton can condemn Harper for bailing out the auto manufacturers but then claim that he is pro working class. Makes no sense at all.

Layton is pro not working class.

[kn]

//rant on

I really wish we had proportional representation. It would help diminish the regionalism in this country and make every vote count. Not everyone in Alberta is a Conservative and not everyone in Ontario is a Liberal. Being in a riding that is a Conservative stronghold, any vote I make is a wasted vote, unless I give it to the Greens so that they can get some funding.

And if I dislike Anders, think there's a better person to represent my constituency, why can't I vote for a candidate of a different stripe but vote for Harper to be PM?

//rant off

[Ark2]

Originally Posted by burn_this_city

Layton is pro not working class.

No? Then what is he? Pro-unemployed?

[Ark2]

Originally Posted by kn

//rant on

I really wish we had proportional representation. It would help diminish the regionalism in this country and make every vote count. Not everyone in Alberta is a Conservative and not everyone in Ontario is a Liberal. Being in a riding that is a Conservative stronghold, any vote I make is a wasted vote, unless I give it to the Greens so that they can get some funding.

And if I dislike Anders, think there's a better person to represent my constituency, why can't I vote for a candidate of a different stripe but vote for Harper to be PM?

//rant off

How would you like to see proportional representation implemented?

[Resolute 14]

Originally Posted by Ark2

No? Then what is he? Pro-unemployed?

Based on his idiotic proposals, "pro-unemployment" is probably the best way to describe Layton.

As far as PR goes, I personally would like to see a hybrid format. i.e.: Of Alberta's 28 seats, keep 14 on the current format so that we have MPs that still represent our ridings/regions. Assign the other 14 on the basis of the overall vote within the province. Though, of course, care would have to be taken to figure out who gets those PR seats, as there would have to be some way for the public to vote for who specifically gets them.

[SebC]

Originally Posted by Resolute 14

As far as PR goes, I personally would like to see a hybrid format. i.e.: Of Alberta's 28 seats, keep 14 on the current format so that we have MPs that still represent our ridings/regions. Assign the other 14 on the basis of the overall vote within the province. Though, of course, care would have to be taken to figure out who gets those PR seats, as there would have to be some way for the public to vote for who specifically gets them.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mixed_m...representation

I prefer this one though...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Single_transferable_vote

As far as (authentic) democracies go, Canada needs electoral reform in the worst kind of way.

[Reggie Dunlop]

Originally Posted by Slava

Oh really? I had no idea about that. The strange thing is that Larry was a really nice guy to me. Clearly I would never vote for him, but he has his opinions and goes about getting them out there in the right way.

http://democracyattwilight.org/

I guess using the social media on teh intarwebz for campaigning is a bad thing.

[transplant99]

Originally Posted by Reggie Dunlop

http://democracyattwilight.org/

I guess using the social media on teh intarwebz for campaigning is a bad thing.

I dont get what it is he is suggesting....at all. People didn't vote via FB or Twitter, people simply talked about it there...is he suggesting they not be allowed to share ideas and opinions via web or something?

Weird idea.

[nik-]

Originally Posted by Ark2

No? Then what is he? Pro-unemployed?

He's pro-camera time.

[HOZ]

Originally Posted by transplant99

Op/ed piece in the Herald suggeting the Liberals may be switching strategies mid-stream.

http://www.calgaryherald.com/news/de...537/story.html

Annoyingly, the attacks work. This will likely make it much closer race.

" Guns on the street" Baby

[CaptainCrunch]

Originally Posted by HOZ

Annoyingly, the attacks work. This will likely make it much closer race.

" Guns on the street" Baby

I don't know in this case I agree.

The Liberal's have always tried to claim the higher ground, now they're not doing anything to differentiate.

Its funny because as much as Ignatieff and the Liberals have said that they're about hope and positive Canadian values, they've pretty much tried to run a fear based campaign especially with the latest ad, and when you combine that with a very NDP'esque platform, I think people are wondering what the hell they stand for.

I think that whoever is running the Liberal strategy side has done a really piss poor job. Combine that with an ok but not good enough performance by Ignatieff in the debates and you have no reason to expect a increase in Lib numbers.

[SebC]

Originally Posted by CaptainCrunch

The Liberal's have always tried to claim the higher ground, now they're not doing anything to differentiate.

I'd say this applies equally to the Conservatives.

[calgaryred]

Originally Posted by CaptainCrunch

I don't know in this case I agree.

The Liberal's have always tried to claim the higher ground, now they're not doing anything to differentiate.

Its funny because as much as Ignatieff and the Liberals have said that they're about hope and positive Canadian values, they've pretty much tried to run a fear based campaign especially with the latest ad, and when you combine that with a very NDP'esque platform, I think people are wondering what the hell they stand for.

I think that whoever is running the Liberal strategy side has done a really piss poor job. Combine that with an ok but not good enough performance by Ignatieff in the debates and you have no reason to expect a increase in Lib numbers.

that and all through the debate Ignatiff didn't have much to say, so he said the same thing at least 50 times. Harper is bad, Harper can't be trusted, Harper doesn't respect Parliament, Harper is the first PM to be impeached, Harper doesn't trust Canadians.

[CaptainCrunch]

Originally Posted by SebC

I'd say this applies equally to the Conservatives.

I think you completely missed my point.

Ignatieff wanted to differentiate himself, instead he's running a very Conservative campaign with a very NDP platform, and he's not doing a good job of either.

[kn]

Originally Posted by Ark2

How would you like to see proportional representation implemented?

I really don't have a preference at this point in time; I'd need to do more research. Single-transferable vote would probably throw the electorate into mass confusion but party lists would likely ensure we'd have coalitions forever.

I'd like the votes cast to be more representative without parliament being completely beholden to every small party like we see in Europe. It definitely would take some creative thinking to make it work.

Of course, no party that gets elected with the first-past-the-post system has any intention of changing it, especially if they get a majority.