Andy Ference speaking at the Federal NDP Convention

[Resolute 14]

Originally Posted by EddyBeers

Facts never are and never have been a Liberal's friend, that I definitely know.

fixed.

Originally Posted by EddyBeers

Facts never are and never have been a New Democrat's friend, that I definitely know.

fixed again

[EddyBeers]

Originally Posted by Azure

Yeah, you sound nothing like an arrogant ass when you say that.

Fact - The Stelmach government screwed the pooch big time with their changes to the royalty structure.

If you would actually bother to read any of the reports being released over the past year, you'd notice that oil/gas investments are all heading towards Sask/Man because according to those oil/gas companies, there is more incentive there for them to invest.

Well certainly over 38 glorious years we have diversified our economy enough that we are not solely dependent on one industry.

[Yeah_Baby]

Originally Posted by EddyBeers

Well certainly over 38 glorious years we have diversified our economy enough that we are not solely independent on one industry.

Well Alberta is being forced to evolve after the PCs fracked up the royalties. But wait? Isn't that something the left really wanted?

[calculoso]

Originally Posted by CaptainCrunch

I've always found it so ironic that rich people support the NDP so heavily.

The first people that suffer under the NDP are those that make more then 10 bucks an hour.

The rich people are usually the ones who become philanthropists, start creating foundations (etc) to help people, etc. They've made their millions, now want to give back to help others. Their support for the NDP isn't that surprising.... of course it also happens after they've made their millions/billions, sometimes also at the expense of the same people they're trying to help.

[Yeah_Baby]

Originally Posted by calculoso

The rich people are usually the ones who become philanthropists, start creating foundations (etc) to help people, etc. They've made their millions, now want to give back to help others. Their support for the NDP isn't that surprising.... of course it also happens after they've made their millions/billions, sometimes also at the expense of the same people they're trying to help.

It is also convenient for said philanthropists that they get the positive press of being involved with the NDP and having a social conscience. Fully knowing that the NDP will never form a government and thus they're millions are safe from the taxation of a quasi socialist government.

[Azure]

If all those rich people want to help others so much, why don't they donate all their frickin' money to some charity and go live on the damn street?

[wittynickname]

I'm going to just stick with the idea that 1) it's refreshing to see an athlete who has an opinion, and convictions, who is willing to speak up in favor of them (when so many people complain about Crosby being boring and overly PC) and 2) I like that he'll speak up--and then stand behind it.

Remember the lockout? How he spoke up about how stupid the whole thing was on both sides, calling out his own fellow NHLPA members, and how awesome it was when he didn't shrink back from those comments when everyone else claimed mis-quote or lost in translation?

This is pretty much the same thing.

[Winsor_Pilates]

Originally Posted by CaptainCrunch

I've always found it so ironic that rich people support the NDP so heavily.

The first people that suffer under the NDP are those that make more then 10 bucks an hour.

Do you find it ironic if lower income people support the Conservatives?

Rich people who support the NDP, do so knowing full well it will cost them more money, but believing that the money will be well spent and inline with their ideals.

They might be right, they might be wrong, but it's certainly not ironic.

[wittynickname]

And from a completely shallow point of view--I am a huge fan of the Clark Kent look he's rocking in that clip.

[Vulcan]

Myself, I think Calgary and Alberta residents are getting screwed by always voting Conservative. The Provincial government has no opposition to speak of and they can run things exactly how the want with little fear of reprisals.

Federally the Conservatives don't have to give us anything as our vote is assured. The squeaky wheel gets the grease and Alberta is far too placid to concern anyone in power. It's even worse with the Liberals in power as they know that no matter what they do, Alberta will never give their vote to them.

It wasn't always like this, in fact the CCF, before the name was changed to the NDP, was formed in Calgary. I've heard my grandfather was a part of it there.

http://history.cbc.ca/history/?MIval=EpisContent.html〈=E&series_id=1&episode_id= 13&chapter_id=3&page_id=1

I often vote NDP although I can't agree with a lot of their policies. They were the ones who brought us universal health care, UIC and other social benefits that a lot of us get to use without thinking about where it came from.

[Vulcan]

Originally Posted by Winsor_Pilates

Do you find it ironic if lower income people support the Conservatives?

Rich people who support the NDP, do so knowing full well it will cost them more money, but believing that the money will be well spent and inline with their ideals.

They might be right, they might be wrong, but it's certainly not ironic.

I think it must have something to do with the Stockholm Syndrome.

[Resolute 14]

So what is your solution then, Vulcan?

If we vote Conservative, we get screwed because they don't have to work for our votes.

If we vote Liberal, we are supporting a platform that we disagree with, and which does nothing for us anyway, to what benefit?

If I'm going to lose either way, I'm going to stick with my convictions rather than whore my vote out to a party that doesn't deserve it based on some flawed premise that voting for them might actually lead them to realize there is more Canada west of Thunder Bay.

[Vulcan]

Originally Posted by Resolute 14

So what is your solution then, Vulcan?

If we vote Conservative, we get screwed because they don't have to work for our votes.

If we vote Liberal, we are supporting a platform that we disagree with, and which does nothing for us anyway, to what benefit?

If I'm going to lose either way, I'm going to stick with my convictions rather than whore my vote out to a party that doesn't deserve it based on some flawed premise that voting for them might actually lead them to realize there is more Canada west of Thunder Bay.

Vote NDP, ha ha, just kidding.

If your convictions say vote Conservative, for sure I'd vote that way but I think there are far too many who just vote as a mob. I usually vote for the candidate as I believe if the party can attract the best candidate he'll most often get my vote, so I've voted Conservative to NDP and Green.

[mykalberta]

In the end, he is just a millionaire who graduated high school.

I take his opinon with the same grain of salt I take everyone who has graduated high school.

[HOZ]

Originally Posted by mykalberta

In the end, he is just a millionaire who graduated high school.

I take his opinon with the same grain of salt I take everyone who has graduated high school.

Just the drop out should be taken seriously!

[J pold]

Never liked the guy.

[redforever]

Originally Posted by Azure

Yeah, you sound nothing like an arrogant ass when you say that.

Fact - The Stelmach government screwed the pooch big time with their changes to the royalty structure.

If you would actually bother to read any of the reports being released over the past year, you'd notice that oil/gas investments are all heading towards Sask/Man because according to those oil/gas companies, there is more incentive there for them to invest.

Fact of the matter last election in Alberta, is that every political party had proposed changes to the royalty structure. The Conservatives proposed the least.

Other fact is, the oil patch has very poor communication skills and simply could not get the facts out to those making the decisions, that would be the voters. They might have known that changes to the royalty structure would result in what we are seeing now, but they simply could not communicate those facts.

Case in example was that one page ad they took out in the Herald to try and support their concerns. If you were not involved in the oil patch at a high level, you would not get past the second paragraph.....simply too complex and not written and explained in layman terms...mumbo jumbo to the masses.

[Julio]

Originally Posted by fotze

I identify way more with the right wing, but I truly think the NDP'ers believe the way they do out of slightly more 'good intentions' basis than the right wing. Its not a huge gap, but I think the NDP'ers "mean better", I just totally disagree on how they think we should get to that better place (higher taxes, let government take care of things solely, energy companies are evil).

The NDs think energy companies are evil? The head of the NDs in Saskatchewan was a VP at Nexen before running for the leadership.

[Iowa_Flames_Fan]

Honestly... I know this is just internets, but is there really anyone who takes the parade of mediocrity that is Canadian politics so seriously that they're willing to stop liking a hockey player because he feels differently than they do about our political parties?

Come on. You just can't take politics that seriously--the whole thing is just a sick joke at our expense. The ideological distinction between Harper and Ignatieff is so small you couldn't run a piano string between them--the only difference is that Ignatieff is a bit wet behind the ears politically and Harper has approximately the charisma of a week-old trout. Layton is weird and off-putting, but also principled and ineffectual, and a poor communicator--and isn't even a threat to hold the balance of power, let alone take the reins of government. Meanwhile all these guys are bickering over whether to hold another election so that, under the best case scenario, we can trade one minority government with another one. No thanks. I'll stick to watching hockey. When I do vote, I'll cast my ballot on the issue of which candidate wears the nerdiest sweaters.

Seriously--this is not the stuff of age-old family vendettas here. Let's not get crazy. It's not as though Ference came out as an Oiler fan.

[Azure]

Well, he almost came out as a closet Oiler fan.



I really don't care if he has a political viewpoint I don't agree with. I don't hate him for it. I probably don't think any less of him because of his 'coming out.'

The guy obviously believes that the NDP is something good, and props for getting involved.