CP Federal Election Poll #1

[MarchHare]

Originally Posted by Cube Inmate

I don't quite get this line of thinking -- please explain a bit more. Why is it a bad thing to campaign and govern based on a certain "ideology?" Isn't that just a framework that one uses to understand and connect ideas together, and help govern one's actions? I can certainly understand that you may not agree with a certain ideology, but at least the Cons (in the past) and the NDP have been able to relatively clearly express what they believe in.

I don't think either the political left or the right has an exclusive claim to having good policies. I want a government that chooses the best approach based on research and analysis regardless of any particular ideology. For a few Canadian examples, Harper's "tough on crime" agenda (more prisons, mandatory minimum sentences, harsher penalties, expansion of the war on drugs, etc.) comes from his right-wing ideology, but we know from numerous studies and from observing the experience in other countries that this is not good government policy. On the left side of the spectrum, the NDP are always proposing raising the corporate tax rate because of their pro-worker/anti-corporate ideology, but economists will tell you this is one of the most harmful things a government can do to the economy.

In my view, adherence to ideology can often lead to bad policies. Let data and research be the engine to create good policies, not political agendas.

[Jacks]

So ridiculous, Harper has governed mostly from the centre. He isn't even close to "extreme right wing".

And the NDP aren't campaigning on the extreme left either, the Libs are "out lefting" the NDP right now.

[rubecube]

Originally Posted by Jacks

So ridiculous, Harper has governed mostly from the centre. He isn't even close to "extreme right wing".

His social policies are definitely to the right.

[Smartcar]

No just "extreme undemocratic". Omnibus bills? Check. Voter suppression? Check. I could go on.

[Jacks]

You have selective memory, Harper didn't create omnibus bills., that was the champion of the left Chretien. As for voter suppression that is a load too, every party has been found guilty of various election offenses just in the last few years alone. Not saying that 's a good thing but it's hardly a "Harper is evil" thing.

But feel free to go on.

[Parallex]

Originally Posted by rubecube

His social policies are definitely to the right.

True, but only by Canadian standards. Thankfully we do live in Canada.

[Looch City]

Originally Posted by Jacks

You have selective memory, Harper didn't create omnibus bills., that was the champion of the left Chretien. As for voter suppression that is a load too, every party has been found guilty of various election offenses just in the last few years alone. Not saying that 's a good thing but it's hardly a "Harper is evil" thing.

But feel free to go on.

Suppressing scientists, blocking gas price reports during the election, fear mongering with "jihadi terrorist" talk, creating distractions with niqab debate....Do you have an answer for these?

[Jacks]

Yes yes, Harper is bad, I've heard it many times.

[zamler]

Originally Posted by Jacks

Yes yes, Harper is bad, I've heard it many times.

When he was elected the sky was going to fall, the evil agenda would be on full view and it was goodbye Canada as we know it. Now it's if he gets re-elected the agenda comes out and cue the doom and gloom.

[Looch City]

Aren't we already in doom and gloom?

[Jacks]

Originally Posted by zamler

When he was elected the sky was going to fall, the evil agenda would be on full view and it was goodbye Canada as we know it. Now it's if he gets re-elected the agenda comes out and cue the doom and gloom.

I remember well, he was going to ban abortions, round up the gays and put them in re-education camps, put armed soldiers on every street corner, introduce two tier healthcare, eliminate welfare and bring about the destruction of the earth as we know it. Ten years later he is still apparently going to destroy Canada if he manages to become PM win a second term win a majority win again.

[rubecube]

Originally Posted by zamler

When he was elected the sky was going to fall, the evil agenda would be on full view and it was goodbye Canada as we know it. Now it's if he gets re-elected the agenda comes out and cue the doom and gloom.

I would say Canada as we know it, especially when it comes to open and transparent democracy, has definitely changed. No one is saying if he gets elected the agenda is coming out. The agenda's been out for four years and it's absolutely atrocious from social, environmental, and democratic perspectives. Do people seriously just ignore the stuff that's been going on? Or because they don't see it as directly affecting them, they just don't care?

[rubecube]

Originally Posted by Jacks

I remember well, he was going to ban abortions, round up the gays and put them in re-education camps, put armed soldiers on every street corner, introduce two tier healthcare, eliminate welfare and bring about the destruction of the earth as we know it. Ten years later he is still apparently going to destroy Canada if he manages to become PM win a second term win a majority win again.

And Conservatives supporters were saying we were going to get a more open and accountable government, so I guess both sides were a bit off.

[Jacks]

Seems like every time I post there is a reply from rubecube moments later, I've had you on ignore for about a year now so don't waste your time.

[rubecube]

Originally Posted by Jacks

Seems like every time I post there is a reply from rubecube moments later, I've had you on ignore for about a year now so don't waste your time.

Makes total sense why you'd come into a thread I created then.

[JohnnyB]

As a Canadian citizen living abroad, I feel like Canada has become a much less appealing part of the world to move to over the last ten years. I don't see Canadians as doing particularly well economically and the social and democratic changes to the country's governance have been shameful. While I'm certainly a citizen with an interest in the well-being of the country, I expect my perspective is very different from most. Although I'm planning to move back to do another degree, I see Canada as just one option out of a very open range of countries I could easily move to and live in. From that perspective, even while so much of the world has been having economic troubles, Canada has definitely been dropping in the list of places I would go to.

Economy: Not so good and probably heading for more trouble.
Politics: Definitely heading in a bad direction. The Harper government is a big part of that, but it's also the electorate's fault.
Society: Still very good. Not very exciting or interesting, but pretty free and easy to enjoy the simple things in life.

If the Conservatives hadn't taken away my right to vote with C-24 I think I'd be voting strategically between the Liberals and NDP. I prefer the Liberals, and the Greens, but I would vote for whichever party would most likely take a seat away from the Harper government.

[dammage79]

I'm definitely leaning Liberal. My vote won't count for crap out in my neck of the woods as it will be Orange or Green out here. I'd be shocked if a Liberal candidate won in Victoria. Having said that I should add I have no clue how things are going for the candidates here.

All I know is more than a few staunch National NDP'ers think Alberta is theirs now. I'm thinking they're taking this Provincial win like the Canucks fans take a Cup Final. Smug and over zealous.

[killer_carlson]

NDP in Alberta are slowly leaking support and I am sensing an Anyone But NDP movement.

[PepsiFree]

Originally Posted by killer_carlson

NDP in Alberta are slowly leaking support and I am sensing an Anyone But NDP movement.

NDP have never had support in Alberta federally.

Provincial NDP and Federal NDP are two very different parties from the same mold. If it makes sense, our support of the Provincial NDP is why you're seeing a rise in support for the Federal Liberals.

I know a lot of huge supporters of Notley who simply don't trust Mulcair.

[GGG]

Originally Posted by Jacks

Yes yes, Harper is bad, I've heard it many times.

The long form census.

Cancelling it is indefensible.