2011 Canadian Election Thread

[IliketoPuck]

Originally Posted by Azure

I'm not exactly seeing how an election is such a bad thing. If anything its $300 million dollars being pumped into the economy.

Sure, we'll probably get more of the same old, but elections, and what they cost should be part of any democracy.

Agreed here, the actual ~$300 million cost is largely the same as increasing government spending for Womens basketball. No one really cares, although they like to beat the drum about it.

[Reggie Dunlop]

Originally Posted by nik-

Watching this news coverage is making me angry that the Bloc is even allowed to exist in such an inflammatory role.

This country needs a referendum to force political parties to run legitimate candidates in the majority of the country or they can #### right off. The fact that a separatist party can play such a major pivot role in Canadian politics is disgusting.

A group of citizens who are pursuing their political objectives via peaceful, democratic means.

Are you suggesting they should adopt alternative methods?

Regional parties exist in many parliamentary democracies.

[SeeBass]

What I always find interesting is that the green party gets mentioned and is asked for opinions.

Am I wrong here, but are they still a party without a seat?

With the enviroment slipping further down the list as an issue this might be the end.

[Slava]

The Greens are a party without a seat, but the latest poll has tem at 10 percent support. That's not enough to win a seat (most likely) but still deserves a few media questions.

[SebC]

Originally Posted by transplant99

Also I think what played a part so deeply in the failed coup of 2008 is that Dion was asked specifically if he would agree to form a coalition with the NDP a week before the election. He answered unequivocally that he would not. The less than 2 months after the results come in, not only is he agreeing to partner up with the NDP but also to get in bed with the seperatists.

The best-laid plans...

I suspect had Dion known the Conservatives would propose not stimulating the economy and cutting federal funding to parties, he may have had a different answer.

This comes back to the whole, "I'd rather not have my politicians held to things they perhaps shouldn't have said" thing.

[flames_1987]

Originally Posted by Azure

I'm not exactly seeing how an election is such a bad thing. If anything its $300 million dollars being pumped into the economy.

Sure, we'll probably get more of the same old, but elections, and what they cost should be part of any democracy.

It's bad thing in my mind because I don't feel the desire to vote or even think for a second I'm happy with Layton, Ignateiff or Harper leading this country. All these politicians represent offer me nothing but a continuation of the awful PM's this country has had over the last 20 years. Once again, no party will directly communicate with the youth of this country, or for that matter, even try too.

[FurnaceFace]

I found this CBC survey/questionaire interesting. It clearly works best if you answer honestly instead of how you think you should answer to get a result you want.

http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/cana...1/votecompass/

[transplant99]

Originally Posted by SebC

The best-laid plans...

I suspect had Dion known the Conservatives would propose not stimulating the economy and cutting federal funding to parties, he may have had a different answer.

This comes back to the whole, "I'd rather not have my politicians held to things they perhaps shouldn't have said" thing.

Dion had no clue nor answer about anything that anyone would propose...he was a complete and utter no-mind who became the ultimate punch line in Canadian political history. He earned it as well.

That spin ^^ is as good as any I have heard since those most transparently power grubbing days of Dec 08, but it changes nothing.

We have an election upon us...time to change things if its desired...I suspect it is not.

[LChoy]

Originally Posted by FurnaceFace

I found this CBC survey/questionaire interesting. It clearly works best if you answer honestly instead of how you think you should answer to get a result you want.

http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/cana...1/votecompass/

The party that most represents me is the Liberals??

[FurnaceFace]

Originally Posted by Lchoy

The party that most represents me is the Liberals??

I figured there would be some surprises.

[FlamesAddiction]

I ended up smack dab in the middle with the Liberals as the most suitable party.

[Slava]

Originally Posted by FurnaceFace

I found this CBC survey/questionaire interesting. It clearly works best if you answer honestly instead of how you think you should answer to get a result you want.

http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/cana...1/votecompass/

It is pretty interesting. I answered honestly and was afraid that after all the shots I've taken against the CPC that I would be closest to them (its not that much of a stretch I guess). I landed somewhere in no mans land and the compass points to Liberal.

[CaptainCrunch]

I'm right in the middle between Cons and Libs with the Green and Bloc not even being on the graph.

[Cowboy89]

Originally Posted by FurnaceFace

I figured there would be some surprises.

No one likes to see themselves on the 'extreme' end of any spectrum. Therefore on excercises like that the answer for most people will end up with the most wish washy party, hence the Liberals. People should use the adjustments at the end to ignore the issues they don't care about and then see where they end up.

For me the things that are most important are the economy and low taxes. I might be more Liberal in my views on other things, but I don't care enough about those things enough to override my big two. Also a lot of issues try to peigonhole the conservatives as wanting to repeal things that are already pretty well established. Even with a majority, is anyone really scared stiff that gay marriage is going to be repealed? Or abortion outlawed? I think it's already been estalished that those planks would be a good way for Harper to have only a one term majority should he win one and start up the social agenda.

[Frequitude]

Originally Posted by FurnaceFace

I found this CBC survey/questionaire interesting. It clearly works best if you answer honestly instead of how you think you should answer to get a result you want.

http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/cana...1/votecompass/

Rigged

[Resolute 14]

Originally Posted by FiftyBelow

Harper and the Conservative strategists have done a masterful job of shifting the rhetoric towards coalition-talk as opposed to the government's contempt for parliament. Ignatief and Libs are having a hard time providing a consistent response while the Conservatives are able to just drive the message home. More importantly the media is running with the coalition issue.

Just brilliant politics so far. I'm impressed. Obviously its still early, but so far its a good start.

If there is one thing Harper has consistently done, it is this. He's frequently outmaneuvered the opposition. If dude had any charisma at all, he'd really be dangerous.

[SeeBass]

Originally Posted by Slava

The Greens are a party without a seat, but the latest poll has tem at 10 percent support. That's not enough to win a seat (most likely) but still deserves a few media questions.

I have seen them at 4% not ten.

at that number if they asked canadians if they would vote for the chocolate cake party they would probably do better.

I bet most of those saying yes to green are like my wife and are really just saying none of the above.

[Bagor]

Closest to the Liberals, furthest from the Conservatives ... I'm an undecided.

At the end though.
"For a more accurate analysis, select the issues that are important to you"

No healthcare? In fact were there any healthcare questions at all?

[Pierre "Monster" McGuire]

I don't know if this has been discussed at all, but I honestly can't see much wrong with the 2011 budget. The Conservative Party has come up with some real good ideas on this budget.

I'm going to start getting annoyed if there's going to be an election called every year after the budget announcement. It's a little frustrating for voters.

[GirlySports]

Originally Posted by Resolute 14

If there is one thing Harper has consistently done, it is this. He's frequently outmaneuvered the opposition. If dude had any charisma at all, he'd really be dangerous.

What charisma would he need if you were advising him?

He's decent in interviews, he sings and plays the piano. He's a sports fan that attends hockey games, the Brier and the Olympics.

What else is there?