Alberta Politics Thread

[peter12]

Originally Posted by MattyC

Go for it. I'm genuinely interested.

Like in this forum? This place leans pretty far left on social issues. I've been here before. I can't really stand the snark.

[Coach]

Originally Posted by peter12

Like in this forum?

Yeah, why not?

[nik-]

Originally Posted by peter12

http://www.calgarysun.com/2016/05/14...lgbtq-students

No. I am not saying I agree with the protest, but hundreds - maybe thousands - of protestors from many backgrounds showed up to protest this bill in Calgary.

A principled, compassionate, and intelligent social conservative platform - combined with solid, prudent fiscal policy could win big in this province.

Yeah, that doesn't really prove anything. The WRP has choked twice in elections over socially conservative issues.

It's a loser tactic.

[peter12]

Originally Posted by nik-

Yeah, that doesn't really prove anything. The WRP has choked twice in elections over socially conservative issues.

It's a loser tactic.

At least 2300 people showed up for that rally. No party in this province can draw that many people.

The WRP is a bunch of callous loons. No discipline, no intelligent spokesperson. I wouldn't trust them to run on anything.

[nik-]

Yeah, don't really know what to say to you. You're obviously a believer that a socially conservative platform would do well here. Recent history has shown you're quite wrong and most Albertans want nothing to do with it.

But we're not going to change minds here, so ...

[peter12]

Originally Posted by nik-

Yeah, don't really know what to say to you. You're obviously a believer that a socially conservative platform would do well here. Recent history has shown you're quite wrong and most Albertans want nothing to do with it.

But we're not going to change minds here, so ...

You are confused as to what the important issues are. In this, you share a great deal of similarity with a lot of social conservatives.

[nik-]

ok

[Coach]

Originally Posted by peter12

You are confused as to what the important issues are. In this, you share a great deal of similarity with a lot of social conservatives.

Important issues for whom?

[peter12]

The growing consensus - probably throughout the entire Western World - is that social policy is being created by a small elite operating primarily on ideological utopian motives that have very little to do with the everyday experiences of family life. This elite has motivated, paid off or fooled a small cadre of activists to act on their behalf - using mainly threats and intimidation - and to create the illusion of a movement with great democratic support.

In reality, the cause is not just. Elite-driven identity politics is a way of fracturing the middle class, and diverting people from the more important social policies currently revolutionizing our society.

Candidates that could point this out courageous and intelligently would have a lot to gain in an election - particularly in Canada where elections are still relatively calm and mannerly affairs.

[peter12]

Originally Posted by MattyC

Important issues for whom?

Well, let's talk about the substitution of identity politics for class politics.

[Senator Clay Davis]

Originally Posted by stampsx2

I guess the ndp is not a relevant regional party. They can't win in rural alberta. Not sure why you would think it's important to win in the cities? Could you explain?

Lol really?

Hint: You can win 0 seats outside Calgary/Edmonton and can still form the government. You can't do the reverse.

Edit: And the NDP did win rural seats the last election. So yeah....

[peter12]

Originally Posted by Senator Clay Davis

Lol really?

Hint: You can win 0 seats outside Calgary/Edmonton and can still form the government. You can't do the reverse.

But you can't win 0 seats outside of Edmonton, and still form government.

[Coach]

Originally Posted by peter12

The growing consensus - probably throughout the entire Western World - is that social policy is being created by a small elite operating primarily on ideological utopian motives that have very little to do with the everyday experiences of family life. This elite has motivated, paid off or fooled a small cadre of activists to act on their behalf - using mainly threats and intimidation - and to create the illusion of a movement with great democratic support.

In reality, the cause is not just. Elite-driven identity politics is a way of fracturing the middle class, and diverting people from the more important social policies currently revolutionizing our society.

Candidates that could point this out courageous and intelligently would have a lot to gain in an election - particularly in Canada where elections are still relatively calm and mannerly affairs.

Anything specific?

[Senator Clay Davis]

Originally Posted by peter12

The growing consensus - probably throughout the entire Western World - is that social policy is being created by a small elite operating primarily on ideological utopian motives that have very little to do with the everyday experiences of family life. This elite has motivated, paid off or fooled a small cadre of activists to act on their behalf - using mainly threats and intimidation - and to create the illusion of a movement with great democratic support.

In reality, the cause is not just. Elite-driven identity politics is a way of fracturing the middle class, and diverting people from the more important social policies currently revolutionizing our society.

Candidates that could point this out courageous and intelligently would have a lot to gain in an election - particularly in Canada where elections are still relatively calm and mannerly affairs.

This sounds like a Trump supporter. No offense.

[peter12]

Originally Posted by Senator Clay Davis

This sounds like a Trump supporter. No offense.

Don't be so crude.

Trump is using identity-tactics to crudely manipulate his supporters. I am suggesting precisely the opposite.

[Looch City]

Everyday experiences of family life = Christian values.

Don't say it ain't so

[Dan02]

Originally Posted by Senator Clay Davis

Lol really?

Hint: You can win 0 seats outside Calgary/Edmonton and can still form the government. You can't do the reverse.

Edit: And the NDP did win rural seats the last election. So yeah....

Maybe i'm misunderstanding your post, but there's 19 in Edmonton, 25 in Calgary.

That's 44 of the 87 seats and that's not including the 5 in the Edmonton suburbs. (st albert, spruce grove, sherwood park) or Airdrie

So 50 of the 87 seats are basically split between Calgary and Edmonton. So you certainly can win a majority without winning a single rural seat, and the opposite is false...

[Coach]

Originally Posted by peter12

Well, let's talk about the substitution of identity politics for class politics.

Sure. But you know, anyone that may disagree with whatever point you end up making isn't just some brainwashed shrew. We can all think for ourselves.

To say that others simply don't understand what issues are important is pretty arrogant, and likely very wrong. It's probably safer to assume that everyone does understand the full range of issues, but personally have different opinions on what is important. It's kind of why we have multiple parties trying to use different methods to accomplish the same end goal in mind: prosperity for everyone.

Originally Posted by peter12

Don't be so crude.

Trump is using identity-tactics to crudely manipulate his supporters. I am suggesting precisely the opposite.

What are you actually suggesting? I haven't seen anything in the way of an actual comment on any "important" issue. Just that there are important issues that apparently the rest of us just don't understand. I really am interested in what you have in mind. Specifically.

[Senator Clay Davis]

Originally Posted by Dan02

Maybe i'm misunderstanding your post, but there's 19 in Edmonton, 25 in Calgary.

That's 44 of the 87 seats and that's not including the 5 in the Edmonton suburbs. (st albert, spruce grove, sherwood park) or Airdrie

So 50 of the 87 seats are basically split between Calgary and Edmonton. So you certainly can win a majority without winning a single rural seat, and the opposite is false...

Yeah that's what I'm saying. You can win all the seats in YYC and YEG and you've formed the government. You can win every rural seat and not form the government. So until the WR starts appealing more in the cities, they have almost no chance since expecting to win every single rural seat is very unlikely. Nevermind that seats in Lethbridge or Red Deer or Medicine Hat are not truly rural seats.

[peter12]

Originally Posted by Iggy City

Everyday experiences of family life = Christian values.

Don't say it ain't so

No, actually, that's the rub. It's not just Christian values. There is huge potential for a large, diverse coalition.