What political issue can swing your vote?

[Winsor_Pilates]

Originally Posted by FlamesAddiction

The thing that bothers me about the issue of crime is how it has become such an "either-or" issue.

The Liberals say that focusing on prevention is the best way to handle crime. Tackle poverty, inequity, have more rehabilitation programs, weapon bans,and counciling options.

The Conservatives like to focus on deterence to try and prevent crime. They want tougher sentences, real punishment, and more police powers.

Why can't we have both?

I agree comepletely. I think a combo of prevention and punishment is the best answer.

Agree with your take on bandwagoners as well, but on the other end you get the people who will never change their vote no matter what a party does. e.g, Many Calgarians with the Conservatives.

[Bobblehead]

A number of excellent points here. I was wondering how spread around the issues people were, and what the hot buttons were outside of "the Liberals need to go".

I was also wondering if the gun registry would come up, or even lesser discussed issues like Canadian Wheat Board, agricultural subsidies, corporate bailouts, military policy, campaign finance, NAFTA, WTO, US relations, and so on.

Maybe this is another thread, but I wonder which issue should be being discussed, but isn't?

[I-Hate-Hulse]

Crime. The usual cops and robbers type of crime, but also corporate crime. If there's one thing I admire about the Bush adminstration, it's how swift and radical the changes were in the realm of white collar fraud. Under the Sarbanes Oxley act you saw Bernie Ebbers put away for the rest of his natural life. Corporations had to adapt to new rules meant to restore investor confidence. Here in Canada, we collective wrung our hands (govt and corporations) and have done nothing. (yes, I know - insert Liberal joke on theft and fraud here)

Jail means jail. Put em there and keep em there.

The afore mentioned healthcare lineups. Without 2 tiered care.

[calculoso]

Originally Posted by Zarathustra

An open mind is a bad thing? To me, there is nothing more disgusting than someone who votes for a doucebag such as Rob Anders, just because the candidate is Conservative. The same could be said for political candidates on the other end of the spectrum. Scumbags like Anders should never hold any power in a country such as Canada.

How are you keeping an open mind if you absolutely refuse to vote for Anders because he's said one or two dumb things?

Everybody has said a few stupid things in their lives... yes, me and you included. Every party has their own 'outspoken moron' who is viewed as a little on the edge. How do you know what else these people do for the party? There could be a lot more good that they do for the country and their riding as a whole that you'll willingly disregard because of one or two dumb statements.

Nice to hear that your mind is open....

(this should in no way be taken as a pro-Anders post...)

[Zarathustra]

Originally Posted by calculoso

How are you keeping an open mind if you absolutely refuse to vote for Anders because he's said one or two dumb things?

Everybody has said a few stupid things in their lives... yes, me and you included. Every party has their own 'outspoken moron' who is viewed as a little on the edge. How do you know what else these people do for the party? There could be a lot more good that they do for the country and their riding as a whole that you'll willingly disregard because of one or two dumb statements.

Nice to hear that your mind is open....

(this should in no way be taken as a pro-Anders post...)

I'm not sure if you follow the Calgary West riding, but Anders has disappeared to B.C., doesn't show up for all-candidate debates, he has failed as an MP, has basically done nothing during his time as an MP.

Open mind? We have given the guy 8 years to do something other than make outrageous, ignorant statements. He has had his chance, and his time is up.

[calculoso]

Originally Posted by Zarathustra

Open mind? We have given the guy 8 years to do something other than make outrageous, ignorant statements. He has had his chance, and his time is up.

Forgive me if I think that what a party has done to the whole of Canada is more important than what one MP has done (or not done) for one riding.

I'm not pro-Anders in any way. Should there be a better MP available? Heck yeah.... but there are bigger fish to fry.

[Zarathustra]

Originally Posted by calculoso

Forgive me if I think that what a party has done to the whole of Canada is more important than what one MP has done (or not done) for one riding.

I'm not pro-Anders in any way. Should there be a better MP available? Heck yeah.... but there are bigger fish to fry.

Maybe the Conservative party should put a competent candidate in this riding.

[transplant99]

Maybe the Conservative party should put a competent candidate in this riding.

Maybe the Liberals should put a competant leader in too.

[Zarathustra]

Originally Posted by transplant99

Maybe the Liberals should put a competant leader in too.

Not only did you spell "competent" incorrectly, you are trolling and adding nothing to the conversation.

Bravo.

[calculoso]

Originally Posted by Zarathustra

Maybe the Conservative party should put a competent candidate in this riding.

Didn't I already say that?

[Zarathustra]

Originally Posted by calculoso

Didn't I already say that?

Not really. You said "should there be a better MP available", which does not necessarily equate to a better Conservative candidate. Although this is Calgary, and non-Conservative candidate doesn't have a chance in hell.

So, you implied that there should be a better Con candidate, but you didn't say it.

[transplant99]

Originally Posted by Zarathustra

Not only did you spell "competent" incorrectly, you are trolling and adding nothing to the conversation.

Bravo.

Oh goodie...another internet grammar cop.

Trolling? How so?

If it's OK to point out Calgary West needs a different candidate, how is it somehow offensive to you to point out the Liberal party needs a new leader?

Bravo indeed.

[calculoso]

Split hairs much?

Simple fact still remains that there are MUCH MUCH bigger issues to worry about.

[Pileon]

For me, I would say political reform and crime.

I like the idea of going to fixed election dates just so we don't have to have a controversy over a Christmas campaign . I would like to see senate reform. I would like to see someone come up with a way to get Quebec to sign the constitution and dump the separation issue once and for all. I would like to see the issue of native self governance settled. Mostly, I would like to see our country position itself better to deal with the globalized economy of the 21st century rather than rangling over provincial rights. Strong federal and provincial (and even civic) governments with specifically defined roles will help the taxpayer get better bang for their buck and allow Canada to truly compete on a global scale. Ottawa doesn't know best, and it's high time that we begin to govern our lives closer to where we live.

As for crime, I'm tired of drive by shootings being such a prominent part of the news. If that means stiffening immigration policy and enforcing crime laws, then so be it. Put the power in the hands of the enforcers. If more police are needed and these police say that banning guns is the way to go, then maybe they should ban them IN THAT CITY (kind of a wild west suggestion - check your guns at the sherriff's office). Better economics will help reduce crime only if those people that are attracted to crime can be made part of the economy. The money being made in crime must be more attractive than money being made by graduate engineers or auto mechanics. You have to address that by making the former less attractive and the latter more attractive.

[FlamesAddiction]

As a side note on crime:

I spent the Christmas holidays in Toronto, and as I am sure most here heard, there was a girl shot in a gang crossfire at one of the shopping malls there.

I was absolutely disgusted at how politicians, from all parties (but particularly the Liberals and Conservatives) tried to politicize the tragedy and use it to push their party's campaign. They argued polar opposites, and degraded each other. They turned it into faction vs. faction, and it is this type of partisan politics that I am so totally and literally sick of.

What we need are people with perspectives from all over the spectrum getting together and sharing ideas to reach a concensus. Something everyone can agree on. Tit for tat arguments are not productive and will never create solutions. It can't be that hard to do.

[Bobblehead]

Originally Posted by FlamesAddiction

...What we need are people with perspectives from all over the spectrum getting together and sharing ideas to reach a concensus. Something everyone can agree on. Tit for tat arguments are not productive and will never create solutions. It can't be that hard to do.

I 100% agree with that. The "you said no so I am saying yes" has got to go. Political parties have philosophical differences, but your opponents aren't generally stupid, they have good ideas too. Use them to build a concensus on at least some issues.

[moon]

Can't imagine any issue sawying my vote away from the Conservatives. The only way I could see changing is if there was, in my opinion, a viable further right-wing party to vote for.

[Bobblehead]

Originally Posted by moon

Can't imagine any issue sawying my vote away from the Conservatives. The only way I could see changing is if there was, in my opinion, a viable further right-wing party to vote for.

Which issues would you like to see shifted to the right?

[moon]

The dissolution of the welfare state and privitization of healthcare. Lower taxes. Stricter rules on immigration. Harsher punishments for criminals and the institution of the death penalty.

Mainly I am fine with the Conservatives views but think that if they continue to make concessions to the old PC's and voters in Ontario that the need for a real right wing party will exist again in Canada.