Calgary Civic Election Poll #1: Who do you support for Mayor?

[HeartsOfFire]

Originally Posted by kermitology

Why not bother to do some research, it's not that hard. Municipal elections have the biggest impact on your day to day life.

I beg to differ. Nothing the city does, or doesn't do, affects my life. Unless the city were to suddenly decide that the LRT is to be scrapped.

They affect my property taxes too, but woop-dee-doo.

[peter12]

Originally Posted by HeartsOfFire

I beg to differ. Nothing the city does, or doesn't do, affects my life. Unless the city were to suddenly decide that the LRT is to be scrapped.

They affect my property taxes too, but woop-dee-doo.

Do you drive to work?

[HeartsOfFire]

Nope. Never have in 11 years and 2 jobs.

[Bunk]

I created a new thread with a new poll (pending).

http://forum.calgarypuck.com/showthread.php?t=93805

Mods, could we please lock this thread?

[Bunk]

Originally Posted by HeartsOfFire

I beg to differ. Nothing the city does, or doesn't do, affects my life. Unless the city were to suddenly decide that the LRT is to be scrapped.

They affect my property taxes too, but woop-dee-doo.

They pick up your garbage, they plan and maintain roads, they plan and operate transit, they operate your utilities, they regulate what you can do with yours and your neighbours properties, they run the police, fire department etc, etc.

Yeah, they do nothing.

[HeartsOfFire]

Originally Posted by Bunk

They pick up your garbage*, they plan and maintain roads**, they plan, operate and maintain transit***, they operate your utilities***, they regulate what you can do with yours and your neighbours properties*, they run the police***, fire department*** etc, etc.

Yeah, they do nothing.

* = Not for me, they don't
** = Irrelevant, I don't use these services
*** = As long as they stick with the status quo or improve the service, any one candidate is as good as the next.

[kermitology]

Originally Posted by Bunk

They pick up your garbage, they plan and maintain roads, they plan and operate transit, they operate your utilities, they regulate what you can do with yours and your neighbours properties, they run the police, fire department etc, etc.

Yeah, they do nothing.

Plus a million more things.

[kermitology]

Originally Posted by fotze

Do you really want someone to vote, that you had to convince to vote?

People view the right to vote in a democracy all wrong. It's a responsibility as part of participating in democracy. Not bothering to even read something about the candidates the the epitome of laziness.

[HeartsOfFire]

If it were a responsibility, it would be a law.

Since it is not a law, it is not a responsibility. Participation is a choice.

There is nothing that I believe needs immediate addressing by City Hall, therefore it is inconsequential to me whoever takes the seat of the mayor. I respect that my feelings are very likely going to be different than those of others, particularly those who commute via automobile to and from work on a daily basis and have to deal with things like congested roadways and rush hour traffic spikes. Someone that lives in Forest Lawn might be concerned with what city hall intends to do with the crimerate. Someone that lives Downtown may have concerns with panhandlers.

I have no concerns of any kind. All the services I utilize are provided to me on demand. My water is clean, my electricity is ever present, and transit is always on time and running.

I choose not to do research on the platforms of the various candidates because I am pleased with the status quo all across the board. I honestly do not care who Calgary's next mayor is, because as far as I can tell, it won't have any affect on me.

This is not laziness, this is apathy. Laziness would only apply if I couldn't be bothered to go and mark my X. Don't get me wrong, I'm perfectly willing to go mark an X, I just have no preference as to who to mark the X for. Which is why I think I would be better off offering my vote for auction. That way, at least I benefit from my vote, and immediately so.

[kermitology]

Originally Posted by HeartsOfFire

If it were a responsibility, it would be a law.

Since it is not a law, it is not a responsibility. Participation is a choice.

Because of people like you, I wish we were more like Australia.

[HeartsOfFire]

Where voting in elections is law, I know.

I'd probably just spoil my ballot, unless I genuinely believed one of the candidates was better over his/her peers.

I would like to see what would happen if the option 'Someone else' were to be inserted on all ballots. I think, if given the choice vote as such and if it were counted as a valid vote, the scrutineers would get a pleasant surprise.

Now don't get me wrong, though. I believe in voting. I vote when the issues matter to me. It just so happens that in this civic election, they don't. And that's not my failing, but a failing of the candidates. Too much of the same old same old.

[Slava]

Originally Posted by HeartsOfFire

Where voting in elections is law, I know.

I'd probably just spoil my ballot, unless I genuinely believed one of the candidates was better over his/her peers.

I would like to see what would happen if the option 'Someone else' were to be inserted on all ballots. I think, if given the choice vote as such and if it were counted as a valid vote, the scrutineers would get a pleasant surprise.

Now don't get me wrong, though. I believe in voting. I vote when the issues matter to me. It just so happens that in this civic election, they don't. And that's not my failing, but a failing of the candidates. Too much of the same old same old.

And that would fine with me, but with a caveat that people had to actually look and not be able to choose someone for their reasons. The problem is that we have people in your position who won't take the time to look, think that civic politics has nothing to do with them, etc. and would just use that option as a cop-out.

I find it mind-boggling that nothing the city does affects you. Where do you think that everything around you comes from? The don't worry about the water and electricity delivery for you in Ottawa...

[kermitology]

Originally Posted by Slava

I find it mind-boggling that nothing the city does affects you. Where do you think that everything around you comes from? The don't worry about the water and electricity delivery for you in Ottawa...

Furthermore, I find it incredibly selfish. We are not a bunch of individuals in this city, we are a community. We should be looking for ways to make life better for everyone, not just ourselves.

[HeartsOfFire]

Water and Electricity are something my condo board looks after with a mandate from the owners, of which I am a part. The condo owners consult with the board of directors, who in turn as our representatives, addresses any concerns with the city on our behalf. They have done an excellent job thus far, and I leave those matters in their hands with trust and confidence.

I realize that it can be difficult to fathom how nothing the city does or refrains from doing affects me, especially since as a homeowner, I should be concerned with a great many things. the only issue that I would have problems with would be in regards to Transit, but I am content with the LRt service and have no concerns that need to be addressed.

It's probably much simpler if you just accept everything I have mentioned before as fact.

And as for being part of a community as opposed to an individual, I disagree. Everything I do, I do for myself first and foremost. If a change is to occur and I am to benefit from said change, I want my benefit to be optimized as much as possible. Likewise, if a change is to occur to my detriment, I will oppose it. If a change is to take place with no affect on me, then I will abstain.

I am an individual, and my personal interests are paramount, and supercede those of everyone else around me, so long as acquiring those interests do not directly interfere with others attempting to acquire their own interests. I.E. if I want to purchase a movie ticket, I won't push myself to the front of the line because I consider my desire for the movie ticket greater than anyone elses. Nor will I run people off the Deerfoot in order for me to get to Point B faster. However, a pro-life activist asking me for my support will be refused, as their goals and mine do not mesh.