Federal Election Called for Oct 19, 2015

[rubecube]

Originally Posted by MelBridgeman

#firstworldproblems

I don't think you get how that meme works.

[JohnnyB]

Originally Posted by MelBridgeman

For me i read their platform and it stinks. How about that?

Platforms aren't the most critical way of evaluating the leadership group of a potential government when you have an actual track record to look at. Words are cheap. It should go without question when talking about any politician that their actual, demonstrated behaviour taken in the context of history provides a better basis for judgment than their words.

Here are some words from the conservative party's policy declaration stating some of their principles:

- A belief in our constitutional monarchy, the institutions of Parliament and the
democratic process;

- A belief that the quality of the environment is a vital part of our heritage to be protected
by each generation for the next;
- A belief that Canada should accept its obligations among the nations of the world;

- A belief that good and responsible government is attentive to the people it represents
and has representatives who at all times conduct themselves in an ethical manner and
display integrity, honesty and concern for the best interest of all;

Those sound good, but the evidence demonstrates that those are not actually their priorities and that in practice the Harper government's leadership are not following those principles.

[Vulcan]

Originally Posted by Iowa_Flames_Fan

See, my gut tells me that the median poster on CP will be likelier to vote CPC than the median Canadian voter--but that is just my gut, based on nothing at all.

Maybe as the election gets closer, we could add a poll? Not sure how people would feel about that, but maybe it would give a little bit of context as to the cross-section of voters who are using this board? If your theory is right (and I'm not saying it isn't) that would suggest that CP users are more liberal as a whole than Calgarians, which would be interesting, if a bit hard to explain.

I'd guess that the CP users are more educated at least politically, than the average Calgarian. When I lived in Calgary most voters just seemed to be happy being "on Ralph's team" with little further thought.

[Makarov]

Originally Posted by flamefan74

I agree that some retirees would be more vulnerable. I was reading it as any pension, which would include company, federal government, etc. So pretty much everybody. It didn't specify, it just said retired people receiving pension. Or maybe I'm just tired and misunderstanding.

No question that not taxing pension income is still a clumsy tool in the sense that it would benefit many wealthy retirees who don't need a tax breaki was just suggesting that it is probablyless clumsy than a TFSA simply because, generally speaking, more retirees are vulnerable than the general population (who for the most part are still earning income from employment) who benefit from the TFSA.

[Makarov]

Originally Posted by 4X4

A lot of it is Mulcair himself. Don't get me wrong, Jack Layton never got my vote either, but he'd have been a lot more likely to in an election like this, where I'm sick of Harper, and wanting to protest vote.

Ah, who am I kidding. Layton never would have gotten my vote.

The NDP just doesn't add up. They seem to want the coffee shop owner and the coffe shop employees to take home the same amount of money, after taxes of course. And somehow, they also want the patrons to get their coffee subsidized. That's the long, long time impression I've gotten from them. Every election cycle. Though I will admit that Notley has yet to live up to this bogeyman impression. It's still early in her term, however. No chance I trust the federal NDP when they have yet to prove themselves provincially anywhere, ever.

In that case, you're just tilting at windmills. No NDP platform or government has ever proposed that there should complete income equality in Canada. It is an absurd proposal that I doubt even one person in Canada supports.

Similarly, I might justify my decision not to vote for the Conservatives by saying that my impression of them has always been that they want to appoint Harper as Great Leader for a life term, criminalize homosexuality, and deport Muslims.

It's your prerogative I suppose, but it's not a rational way to discuss or think about politics in this country.

[FlameOn]

Seems like this should belong here rather than in the polling thread.

http://forum.calgarypuck.com/showpos...4&postcount=18

[Burke Salad]

How do we figure out who is running in our riding? I believe my riding is Battle River - Crowfoot.

[CroFlames]

Originally Posted by evman150

Even if that were true, guess what happened after they stunk up the joint? They got voted out. The Neo-cons have been stinking up Canada domestically and internationally for 9.5 years. Enough's enough.

Unfortunately so many people just can't see past their paycheques and the boogeyman. It's very sad.

Do go on.

Firstly, the CPC isn't anywhere near neo-con. They are slightly right of center.
Secondly, it what ways have they stunk up Canada internationally? I can appreciate the fact that people have different opinions on how the country should be run domestically, but internationally how have they stunk up?

Modernizing and funding the military to be more than just a passive member of Nato? Actually sending expeditions to the North to assert some semblance of sovereignty there?

[Blaster86]

Originally Posted by CroFlames

Firstly, the CPC isn't anywhere near neo-con. They are slightly right of center.

CPC has a very neo-con core. It has only started shining through in the last 4 - 6 years though. Those first 3 years were fine.

[octothorp]

Originally Posted by Burke Salad

How do we figure out who is running in our riding? I believe my riding is Battle River - Crowfoot.

Elections Canada doesn't seem to have their database up yet, which would be the official record. But try here:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Result...election,_2015

So far, seems just Sorenson, plus Kelly for the Greens. No NDP or Liberal candidates declared yet.

[The Fonz]

What are the Liberals intentions in regards to corporate tax rates?

[Makarov]

Originally Posted by CroFlames

Do go on.

Firstly, the CPC isn't anywhere near neo-con. They are slightly right of center.
Secondly, it what ways have they stunk up Canada internationally? I can appreciate the fact that people have different opinions on how the country should be run domestically, but internationally how have they stunk up?

Modernizing and funding the military to be more than just a passive member of Nato? Actually sending expeditions to the North to assert some semblance of sovereignty there?

The shameful Omar Khadr debacle?

A rather un-nuanced view of the Palestine-Israel conflict?

Dragging behind most other developed states on climate change?

[PsYcNeT]

I'm still wondering why Canada requires a modern airforce.

[DFO]

Originally Posted by CroFlames

Do go on.

Firstly, the CPC isn't anywhere near neo-con. They are slightly right of center.
Secondly, it what ways have they stunk up Canada internationally? I can appreciate the fact that people have different opinions on how the country should be run domestically, but internationally how have they stunk up?

Modernizing and funding the military to be more than just a passive member of Nato? Actually sending expeditions to the North to assert some semblance of sovereignty there?

I think they've failed on the defence front. Wasn't one of the original promises to sort out the helicopter replacement debacle? Not so much. Same with the jet replacement program - not alot of leadership or direction in getting that sorted out. What about the navy? Not looking good on that front to date.

The other thing that rubs me the wrong way is veteran's affairs. They talk a good game about supporting the troops but we've seen many stories about troops being left high and dry upon returning home with problems.

[killer_carlson]

Originally Posted by PsYcNeT

I'm still wondering why Canada requires a modern airforce.

Because we have the second largest airspace of any country on the planet?

[FlameOn]

Originally Posted by killer_carlson

Because we have the second largest airspace of any country on the planet?

Not to mention that Russians keep on buzzing our airspace and have disrupted commercial flights in other countries. They almost crashed into a civilian airliner in the UK just a few months back.

[PsYcNeT]

Originally Posted by killer_carlson

Because we have the second largest airspace of any country on the planet?

Canada is definitely a country that is often under threat of attack by air.

[Table 5]

Originally Posted by 4X4

I did not know that I was so left winged. No matter what an online test says, there's no way I'm 87% aligned with the federal NDP. I might be able to hold my nose and vote for "Just Not Ready" , but there's no chance Mulcair gets my vote.

What a crappy election. This feels like the provincial election, but with more potential consequences. There needs to be a shake up, but just enough to scare our politicians straight. Not an NDP majority, please.

I'm kind of in the same quandary as I was in the provincial election. I'm not voting for the Conservatives because they have become the same power-hungry party that they accused the Chretien/Martin Liberals of being, and their policies are at times downright draconian.

And yet the NDP is a party that swings a little too wildly in the opposite direction for me. While a lot of their general policies I can agree, I'm not necessarily convinced that they can be nuanced enough to govern. If the PC's are Black, the NDP is white, and I think we need to be governed by someone who is led not by ideology, but by facts and reasoning.

So in the end, I'm basically begging the Liberals to give me a reason to vote for them, as at least in theory they can be that Centrist party that can navigate the nuance of these issues. It doesn't even have to be a great reason. Even if it's just to counter those hilariously bad "nice hair, though" commercials.

[jayswin]

Originally Posted by evman150

Unfortunately so many people just can't see past their paycheques and the boogeyman. It's very sad.

Again, this is such a smug comment you guys keep making. Do you guys lack empathy or something?

You know what, no I can't look past my paycheque, and I don't think that's sad at all.

Can you look past your paycheque? If so, congrats I guess, but most of us can't because we need them. What a stupid comment and it keeps getting repeated. Pure idiocy.

[undercoverbrother]

Originally Posted by PsYcNeT

Canada is definitely a country that is often under threat of attack by air.

We also have a fishing industry, as well as busy shipping lanes.


The Airforce conducts search and rescue both at sea and land.