Alberta Politics & Government Thread 3.0

[calgarygeologist]

Originally Posted by GGG

I’m the same era and even in elementary school we had the tiny macs where you learned to type and some basic coding in like grade 6-8. High School had a full computer lab with students typing up written work a lunch if they didn’t have computers at home.

It’s interesting how different peoples experiences were.

I was trying to dig up some info on computer usage and classes from our era and apparently Information and Communication Technology (ICT - which many computer classes fell under) didn't become part of the Alberta curriculum under June 98 with implementation beginning in September 2000 and full implementation by June 2003.

That might point to why different students and schools have vastly different exposure and access.

[Roughneck]

Civilization and Bolo in Mr. McGraw’s computer class back in the mid-90s brings back some memories.

Even Oregon Trail and Odell Lake on some of the more ancient computers at the time. Great times.

[Faust]

Coal mine supporters hope ‘little window’ with new premier generates change:

https://globalnews.ca/news/9211780/c...smith-support/

[IliketoPuck]

Originally Posted by Muta

Since the run up to, and then the appointment of, Danielle Smith becoming Premier, I've definitely noticed some conservatives sliding their way back into this thread, lol. Welcome back!

Just curious - where were all y'all folks when the UCP was busy destroying our province the last 3.5 years? Nary a peep in here from several of you. Or was it only the emergence of Danielle Smith that was finally one foot too far across the line?

Don't start this up again.

There's several of us in here that have been pretty consistent throughout political cycles. Notley was bad for the first two years. Kenney was ok for the start of the pandemic and then lost the plot when he stopped listening to science and buying $1.5Bn of dying pipeline projects. He sold out because he had to balance his Wildrose and PC coalition, and ended up getting over his skis as a result. Overall the government in Alberta has varied from ok to mediocre, across parties. Right now it's quite clear that having Smith in charge is a farce and something that needs to change.

But being smarmy about it is not helpful. Pointing fingers like you are is counterproductive to the provincial government you would prefer to have in power.

What you should be doing instead of an "aha gotcha" is finding ways to make common ground with conservatives that are feeling disenfranchised by their current representatives. Illustrate why the current iteration of the NDP is really a centrist option and one that aligns with their historical views. Posts like yours will do nothing but entrench pre-existing opinions.

If you want a better Alberta government, I'd challenge you to be part of positive change instead of trying to score cheap cathartic points.

[Fuzz]

That outcry — which united urban environmentalists, ranchers, First Nations and municipalities — resulted in a coal policy panel that recommended no new mines be developed before land use plans are in place. Opponents worried developments would contaminate the headwaters of much of Alberta’s water supply and despoil the landscape.

Bold strategy...

[darockwilder]

Originally Posted by Fuzz

Found it, you can see it here:

https://media.proquest.com/media/hms...vB1SieOfh1g%3D

It's from Nov 9th 2000. And no, it wasn't easy to track down!

I get this when I click the link...

Status: Forbidden (403) - Access denied - unable to verify rights to media.

[Muta]

Originally Posted by IliketoPuck

Don't start this up again.

There's several of us in here that have been pretty consistent throughout political cycles. Notley was bad for the first two years. Kenney was ok for the start of the pandemic and then lost the plot when he stopped listening to science and buying $1.5Bn of dying pipeline projects. He sold out because he had to balance his Wildrose and PC coalition, and ended up getting over his skis as a result. Overall the government in Alberta has varied from ok to mediocre, across parties. Right now it's quite clear that having Smith in charge is a farce and something that needs to change.

Really?

The UCP boldly promoted a 'unite the right' effort, where the Wildrose and PC's would come together under one banner, regardless of where you sat on the right - you didn't think, in 2018-2019, that the extremes of the party wouldn't eventually rear its ugly head? Look where we are today. They weren't the good ol' PC party then, and they DEFINITELY aren't them now. Wasn't really that hard to miss.

And no, Kenney and the UCP have been terrible since day one. Notley was great the last two years when their party adjusted and adapted, learning from their mistakes; the UCP only doubles down on their #### and when they don't, they get called out on it and then have to capitulate to the unpopular feedback last minute (remember the strip mining fiasco?).

Originally Posted by IliketoPuck

But being smarmy about it is not helpful. Pointing fingers like you are is counterproductive to the provincial government you would prefer to have in power.

Smarmy? Most conservatives conveniently disappeared from this thread over the last four years. They are the ones that voted the UCP in. Perhaps they could have a) defended their decision to vote for these ass clowns, or b) start the convo about how they're not the party that they thought they were? Why so embarrassed? It's not like a lot of this wasn't forseeable.

Originally Posted by IliketoPuck

What you should be doing instead of an "aha gotcha" is finding ways to make common ground with conservatives that are feeling disenfranchised by their current representatives. Illustrate why the current iteration of the NDP is really a centrist option and one that aligns with their historical views. Posts like yours will do nothing but entrench pre-existing opinions.

Sorry, but UCP voters and conservatives are absolutely welcome in here to talk about their politics, their disenfranchisement, whatever - and they always have been. Perhaps you have selective memory where there were many in this thread that slammed the crap out of us non-UCP voters in 2019, and then bailed. It was bad.

Originally Posted by IliketoPuck

If you want a better Alberta government, I'd challenge you to be part of positive change instead of trying to score cheap cathartic points.

Same applies to you dude. It applies to everyone.

[Fuzz]

Originally Posted by darockwilder

I get this when I click the link...

Status: Forbidden (403) - Access denied - unable to verify rights to media.

Hrmm, ya it seems to expire after a bit. It's on imgur now. Warning, giant.

Spoiler!

[IliketoPuck]

Muta, again, you are proving my point. I'm not here to rehash everything over the last few years. I'm really not. In no way am I defending the UCP. It isn't even a close call based on the UCP's pandemic record alone. Smith as premier is just further reinforcement.

What I am doing is trying to focus your energy in a more positive direction, and one that will have a more positive result. You are very passionate about politics, and quite informed. Not questioning any of that.

Merely pointing out that your previous post, and the post you just wrote, won't help to make a conservative voter that is on the fence change their mind.

I mean c'mon. We both know how human psychology works. The harder we push against someone's beliefs, almost invariably the more entrenched they become.

I'm simply challenging you to hold out a hand to disaffected voters and welcome them, as opposed to pushing them away. I wouldn't challenge you to do that if I didn't think you could do it.

And for the record, I'll certainly be voting NDP next election, and I am actively talking about it every chance I get within my circle of conservative voting friends and family (with great results so far).

[Muta]

Originally Posted by IliketoPuck

Muta, again, you are proving my point. I'm not here to rehash everything over the last few years. I'm really not. In no way am I defending the UCP. It isn't even a close call based on the UCP's pandemic record alone. Smith as premier is just further reinforcement.

What I am doing is trying to focus your energy in a more positive direction, and one that will have a more positive result. You are very passionate about politics, and quite informed. Not questioning any of that.

Merely pointing out that your previous post, and the post you just wrote, won't help to make a conservative voter that is on the fence change their mind.

I mean c'mon. We both know how human psychology works. The harder we push against someone's beliefs, almost invariably the more entrenched they become.

I'm simply challenging you to hold out a hand to disaffected voters and welcome them, as opposed to pushing them away. I wouldn't challenge you to do that if I didn't think you could do it.

And for the record, I'll certainly be voting NDP next election, and I am actively talking about it every chance I get within my circle of conservative voting friends and family (with great results so far).

Fair enough, I can agree with that. My hand is held out - all people on all parts of the political spectrum are welcome in here, and always have been. This place is a great thread for provincial discussion in general. I like to hold the UCP to task, because they're earned it (and that isn't a good thing).

Just so you know, I have many friends who are NDP supporters, as well as UCP supporters. Hell, I'm dating someone right now is far more right wing than I would prefer, but it's just politics so whatever. My posts are more referring to a couple of specific posters who are now back in this thread after four years, who went on the aggressive offensive in 2019 - and were real a-holes to many of us non-UCP voters back then. They know who they are. Everyone else, the more the better. Multiple positions and viewpoints are what makes this thread fun in general.

[stazzy33]

https://twitter.com/user/status/1583205853733486593

This is a place where your workers and customers will get sick. This is a place where there won't be any hospital beds to treat your workers and customers.

[direwolf]

Good grief, this woman is such a f***** embarrassment. Absolute disgrace of a human being.

[Looch City]

Hahahahah honestly if I didn’t live in Alberta, this would be the most hilarious #### ever.

What a sad comedy show she is. Please crawl back under your little rock Danielle.

[RedHot25]

https://twitter.com/user/status/1583224908523646977

[#-3]

Originally Posted by IliketoPuck

Muta, again, you are proving my point. I'm not here to rehash everything over the last few years. I'm really not. In no way am I defending the UCP. It isn't even a close call based on the UCP's pandemic record alone. Smith as premier is just further reinforcement.

What I am doing is trying to focus your energy in a more positive direction, and one that will have a more positive result. You are very passionate about politics, and quite informed. Not questioning any of that.

Merely pointing out that your previous post, and the post you just wrote, won't help to make a conservative voter that is on the fence change their mind.

I mean c'mon. We both know how human psychology works. The harder we push against someone's beliefs, almost invariably the more entrenched they become.

I'm simply challenging you to hold out a hand to disaffected voters and welcome them, as opposed to pushing them away. I wouldn't challenge you to do that if I didn't think you could do it.

And for the record, I'll certainly be voting NDP next election, and I am actively talking about it every chance I get within my circle of conservative voting friends and family (with great results so far).

I don't think qualifying the UPC performance on their pandemic record is fair. They were instating the type of stupid tax policies that just about took down the UK, throwing our money away on ideological pet projects that everyone knew would amount to nothing, actively attacking the common use of public recreational property, and pushing regressive education policy before we even got to the pandemic. I think a decent response in the first couple months of the pandemic actually slowed the spiral but it didn't last long.

I agree we should offer a hand to anyone who will grab it. But there are a lot of people who don't want to remember just how poorly the UPC preformed, and I'm not sure someone who is willfully forgetting is all that reachable.

[Bigtime]

Originally Posted by RedHot25

https://twitter.com/user/status/1583224908523646977

I saw a reply to that original tweet that pretty much said "Bye bye film and television production in the province if you do this".

[Fuzz]

https://twitter.com/user/status/1583120735207591936

Thanks for the healthcare, UCP. What a failure of government.

[Slava]

Originally Posted by Bigtime

I saw a reply to that original tweet that pretty much said "Bye bye film and television production in the province if you do this".

Is that accurate though? I feel like most of the world has moved on from Covid and is just over it in general now.

[Fuzz]

Current wait times:

Spoiler!

https://www.albertahealthservices.ca...waittimes.aspx

In my experience, you can usually double whatever time is here before you actually get meaningful care.

[puffnstuff]

Originally Posted by Slava

Is that accurate though? I feel like most of the world has moved on from Covid and is just over it in general now.

I have heard that film and tv productions are still very much doing protocols, masks and testing. Because if someone gets it, or spreads it, and the on screen talent goes down with it, it causes a very costly delay. Not the same as if Bob from accounting is gone for a week. If the star cant be filming, nothing happens.