Alberta Politics & Government Thread 3.0

[Slava]

Originally Posted by iggy_oi

I’m referencing the selective nature in which you choose to try and “defend” our rights to protest. You randomly quoted a post of mine to start off your rant on the right to protest, even though my post had nothing to do with the right to protest. In my response I say it’s funny that you never took such a strong stance when another government passed legislation that reduced people’s ability to protest, giving two specific examples. You responded by saying you have no idea what I’m talking about, that you’re not getting any younger and are forgetful rather than to comment on the legislation that even if you wanted to pretend you weren’t aware of before obviously were after I mentioned it to you. This isn’t complicated Slava.

Unfortunately, it is complicated. I don't know what conversation you're referring to here. I don't recall discussing whether unions should have the right to strike or cross picket lines.

And I also didn't randomly quote you. Here's your post and I just think it was a protest. That doesn't seem random at all.

Originally Posted by iggy_oi

The correct answer is what happened in Ottawa and at the borders weren’t protests, they were illegal occupations and blockades.

[Yikes]

Originally Posted by Ozy_Flame

Same. As I get older, I believe more and more in no man, woman, or child left behind. Wealth in community health.

With both my father and grandfather rolling in their graves, me too.

[iggy_oi]

Originally Posted by Slava

I’m gonna have to go ahead and disagree on that one.

Unfortunately, it is complicated.

I can see that you’re struggling with it.

I don't know what conversation you're referring to here. I don't recall discussing whether unions should have the right to strike or cross picket lines.

The point is that you seem to pick and choose when to defend the right to protest depending on which government or protesters it affects. Neither of those two other issues you’ve just mentioned were brought up.

[b1crunch]

Originally Posted by calgarygeologist

The vast majority of people in Alberta and Canada have definitely moved on and past Covid and are living normal lives again but the claim that only anti-vaxxers and freedom convoy folks are still posting about things is definitely not the case. If you check out Twitter or the major Reddit subs you will find plenty of folks posting daily about ongoing concerns and ongoing calls to reinstate public health measures such as masking. Covid has become a lifestyle for a small group of Canadians at both extremes.

Proposing masking is hardly a major restriction anyways, and if medical experts determine its necessity based on science than what's the issue?

I had a kidney transplant 15 years ago, and as such I'm immunocompromised and 'at-risk' for Covid. My nephrologist tells me to still avoid crowds, mask wherever I can't, and that my family contacts have all been vaccinated. She is still recommending that I avoid stores, crowded venues, etc. I talked to her about Omicron and it being less severe, and she told me she's still lost many patients to the Omicron strains.

The 'we should bring back masking' side is based in science and rational logic about protecting the weakest among us. Besides masking is not an infringement of any rights, it's just annoying. The 'no restrictions side' is based in illogical views of rights. They aren't the same.

Regardless, you can find crazies on both sides if you go looking hard enough. It's just too bad one of the those crazies is now the Premier of this province.

[Slava]

Originally Posted by iggy_oi

I’m gonna have to go ahead and disagree on that one.



I can see that you’re struggling with it.



The point is that you seem to pick and choose when to defend the right to protest depending on which government or protesters it affects. Neither of those two other issues you’ve just mentioned were brought up.

Not a clue what you’re on about.

[iggy_oi]

Originally Posted by Slava

Not a clue what you’re on about.

At this point I just want to see how many times you’ll keep posting that and how many times Yoho will thank said posts.

[T-Dog]

There are some interesting and insightful comments here on how conservative parties have changed. The policies that attracted me to the right-wing parties in the past seem to have changed (personal responsibility, law and order, fiscal prudence, values of working hard and taking responsibility for your own lot in life, etc). The yahoos that were involved in the trucker convoy (lawlessness, conspiracy theories, selfishness with no empathy for others) are not a group that I identify with at all. However, it seems like the conservative parties have decided to shift to these groups, which leaves me feeling like I don't have a home. It would have seemed inconceivable to me 10 years ago that I would vote for an NDP party, but that is the only sane choice in Alberta at this point in our history.

[Zarley]

Yeah it's pretty crazy but after this Smith nonsense I'm looking at voting NDP next time around. If they come out with a platform that is rational about energy and leaves the corporate tax rate alone I think I'd vote for them.

[Yikes]

Originally Posted by T-Dog

There are some interesting and insightful comments here on how conservative parties have changed. The policies that attracted me to the right-wing parties in the past seem to have changed (personal responsibility, law and order, fiscal prudence, values of working hard and taking responsibility for your own lot in life, etc). The yahoos that were involved in the trucker convoy (lawlessness, conspiracy theories, selfishness with no empathy for others) are not a group that I identify with at all. However, it seems like the conservative parties have decided to shift to these groups, which leaves me feeling like I don't have a home. It would have seemed inconceivable to me 10 years ago that I would vote for an NDP party, but that is the only sane choice in Alberta at this point in our history.

I am voting NDP as well, first time ever. I do believe that the shock of Smith is a tactic and that her plan is to tank the UCP and then fire up a new "grassroots" heavy to the right Provincial party getting lots of support from the rural crowd hell bent on division.

[AFireInside]

Originally Posted by Zarley

Yeah it's pretty crazy but after this Smith nonsense I'm looking at voting NDP next time around. If they come out with a platform that is rational about energy and leaves the corporate tax rate alone I think I'd vote for them.

NDP is the easy choice. I hope the corporate tax rate eventually goes back to where it was.

[Sliver]

Yeah, I have a small business and they absolutely did not need to lower the rate. Such an unnecessary tax cut.

[edslunch]

Originally Posted by CorsiHockeyLeague

See, this is what I'm saying - there seem to be two options after "Sovereignty Act" is brought into force.

First, the feds implement some law or policy that the AB legislature doesn't like, and the AB legislature says, "that's unconstitutional, you're treading on our provincial jurisdiction". This then ends up in court, either because the AB legislature is defying the Federal statute or because the AB legislature starts a court action challenging the federal statute. This winds up before the SCC, likely, which issues its ruling either in favour of the AB Legislature's position, or in favour of the Federal Government's position.

At this point, if things didn't go their way, the AB Legislature can either try to ignore the ruling of the Supreme Court - in which case they should be immediately sent to prison - or live with it and gripe about how they don't agree. The comments from Rob Anderson in the tweet above suggest that it's the latter one. But if that's right and it is the perfectly sane, non-go-to-prison option, that's just the status quo - that's exactly how things currently work. So there is no point to enacting this law.

I believe the thinking is the province would defy the legislation and put the onus on the Feds to take them to court, vs. the current approach of suing the Feds. In either case it would be decided in the courts but the province gets to delay implementation (if they lose) and score points for standing up to Ottawa.

[TKB]

Originally Posted by Slava

Not a clue what you’re on about.

No one ever does….

[karl262]

Smith:
Ukraine should give up its sovereignty.

Also Smith:
Alberta sovereignty now!

[Fuzz]

Originally Posted by karl262

Smith:
Ukraine should give up its sovereignty.

Also Smith:
Alberta sovereignty now!

Consistency in thought isn't really her strong suit.

[jayswin]

Guys, give her a ****ing chance!!!!!! You can't just judge based on everything she says and does, we need her to officially implement garbage first before you can have an opinion.

[PepsiFree]

Originally Posted by jayswin

Guys, give her a ****ing chance!!!!!! You can't just judge based on everything she says and does, we need her to officially implement garbage first before you can have an opinion.

Wrong. We need her to implement some obviously terrible policies and give them 2-3 years to really see how they turn out before we can form an educated opinion. Unfortunately, this means we’ll have to vote her in for at least one full term but that’s the cost of being a fair and sensible voter.

Of course, I’m willing to vote for the NDP so long as none of their promises include raising taxes in any way or changing anything about how the province is currently run. But if they do… well, then it will be their fault I didn’t vote for them and not mine because I am being completely reasonable.

[Yoho]

https://twitter.com/user/status/1582163729776775168

[SebC]

Originally Posted by Yoho

https://twitter.com/user/status/1582163729776775168

Well that seems like a bold assertion, but I have an open mind, so let's look at the evidence shall we?

Oh okay, there isn't any.

Well then, perhaps the source is a reputable source with some authority, so we could at least take their word for it.

Nope, it's Cory Morgan.

So... what's your point here, Yoho? Are we supposed to take this statement at face value, or are you trying to get us to identify an example of propaganda without saying so?

[jayswin]

Originally Posted by Yoho

https://twitter.com/user/status/1582163729776775168

First of all she hasn't and second of all if it were true, she deserves it.