Who did you vote for? - Official Election Results Thread

[Ozy_Flame]

Originally Posted by Cowboy89

It's democracy in action. While you believe that social and green programs are good thing long term, others see their benefits not being worth the effort and expense. A majority of Albertans who bothered to show up last night held up that view. Call them ingrates, call them greedy, it doesn't change the election result nor does it change its legitimacy.

Oh I know, believe me. It's like kicking a dead horse; it ain't going to move.

But then again, it's not about convincing the stubborn; it's about motivating the apathetic. Alot of people didn't bother to vote because they just knew the Conservatives would get re-elected. That is the real curse in this election.

[GirlySports]

Originally Posted by Ozy_Flame

Oh I know, believe me. It's like kicking a dead horse; it ain't going to move.

But then again, it's not about convincing the stubborn; it's about motivating the apathetic. Alot of people didn't bother to vote because they just knew the Conservatives would get re-elected. That is the real curse in this election.

The Liberals ran a bad campaign and didn't get the vote out. They didn't make it important enough. 28 days wasn't enough perhaps?

How the Liberals lost Edmonton is a mystery to me.

[llama64]

So... for all the people who went out and voted PC. Are you still angry at Stelmach for the royalty issue?

There is a lot of support for the PC's in Calgary it seems. Much more then anyone predicted (not that anyone actually seemed to vote).

Or does this victory give credence to his policies? I remember this board coming down on Ed pretty hard for "ruining" the oil patch. Now it seems like most people have forgotten that and reverted to voting along party lines again.

Personally, I wanted a functional government again. Yet another landslide majority does nothing but damage the chances at having a decent official opposition. Taft had better step down soon. He's a smart guy but one of the worst party leaders I've ever seen. Next to Dion of course.

The only saving grace is that Stelmach so far has been more "Tory" then Klein was.

[Ozy_Flame]

I was listening to one of the morning breakfast shows this morning, and somone mentioned how the Libs might do better if they changed their name, given it's somewhat "evil" connotations in this province. I think that might be a smart idea.

Then again, "Wildrose" just conjures up images of unscrupulous right-wing politics, so that may not be such a good thing after all.

[Bobblehead]

I found I tend to be a bit of a contrarian. I tend to lean away from what the I feel is being pushed on me. In university, many of my profs had a strong NDP bent. I was pretty far right of that. I never liked the Trudeau/Turner Liberals, and had a number of spirited debates.

Then the Reform came on the scene, and Preston Manning gave a presentation. I came away thoroughly unimpressed. He refused to answer many point blank questions and seemed very evasive. The first impression I got was that he was not someone I could trust. The traditional PC party eroded until it disappeared. I don't feel any allegiance to any party, and don't feel any party represents me.

[Thunderball]

Originally Posted by llama64

So... for all the people who went out and voted PC. Are you still angry at Stelmach for the royalty issue?

There is a lot of support for the PC's in Calgary it seems. Much more then anyone predicted (not that anyone actually seemed to vote).

Or does this victory give credence to his policies? I remember this board coming down on Ed pretty hard for "ruining" the oil patch. Now it seems like most people have forgotten that and reverted to voting along party lines again.

Personally, I wanted a functional government again. Yet another landslide majority does nothing but damage the chances at having a decent official opposition. Taft had better step down soon. He's a smart guy but one of the worst party leaders I've ever seen. Next to Dion of course.

The only saving grace is that Stelmach so far has been more "Tory" then Klein was.

I think there isn't a simple explanation for this... but I'll try.

I think Calgary is still pretty pissed about the Royalties... but who would be better? Only the WRA. The Liberals are just as smash-and-grab as the PCs if not worse. Lets say for the sake of argument 20% of Calgarians work in the patch. Well, 7% voted for the WRA (was about a 10% average for Calgary), maybe another 7% voted PC in fear the Liberals would do worse, and the rest stayed home.

I think this was by no means an Endorsement on Stelmach (nor should it be looked at this way), but more of an attack against the opposition parties. I'd like to say the WRA was too socially right, but that sure doesn't explain Hinman's riding... The Liberals and NDP proved that Alberta won't accept anything but a centrist/centre-right government. Unfortunately, that one is run by a farmer with zero understanding of urban economics and requirments and features a lot of powerhungry opportunists.

[FlamesAddiction]

I find it somewhat crazy that the PCs got ~53% of the actual vote, but got 72/82 of the ridings. That discrepency is worse than in federal elections.

Sounds like some pretty creative riding boundaries.

[the_only_turek_fan]

Originally Posted by Tron_fdc

I've always wondered that too. I actually put it up to education....from the informal friend surveys I've done I've found that those who didn't go to post secondary and entered the workforce after high school tended to be a little more right leaning. Those who went to post secondary (especially anyone who went into education) was really left wing. I have one side of my family (an aunt, an uncle, 2 cousins and their husbands) that are all teachers, and man o man do they ever lean left.

I've always wondered why that was, but never really put a lot of thought into it.

How in your opinion does education direct people to the left. This is really interesting cause I think there is some merrit to this. The stereo type I have of right wingers are that they more meat and potatos kind of people.

I guess I am one that is totally different. I went to post secondary and lean right. I can see where people come from when it comes to social issues like same sex marrige and abortion and all that kind of stuff, but when it comes to other stuff I just don't get it.

Do you like high taxes? Do you like high spending? Do you support governments that are not financially responsible?

Do you support a government that is soft on crime?

When it comes to the military/foriegn policy, do you support your government to stand on the sidelines during the war against terrorism?

Always interesting to hear peoples responses.

[Thunderball]

Originally Posted by FlamesAddiction

I find it somewhat crazy that the PCs got ~53% of the actual vote, but got 72/82 of the ridings. That discrepency is worse than in federal elections.

Sounds like some pretty creative riding boundaries.

Its not quite the work of the gerrymander... but the rural/urban split that they have to fix right away. The data is in its raw form, but if you took the results from Calgary alone and Edmonton alone, you'd find a much closer battle.

The Supreme Court better make those dufuses change the ridings, cause I don't see Farmer Ed doing it voluntarily.

[Bobblehead]

So Liberals lose seats in Edmonton but gain them in Calgary.

Is it a case that there is no longer a Premier from Calgary, but there is one from Edmonton?

[Thunderball]

Originally Posted by Bobblehead

So Liberals lose seats in Edmonton but gain them in Calgary.

Is it a case that there is no longer a Premier from Calgary, but there is one from Edmonton?

Either that, or they liked the royalty review "sticking it" to Calgary white-collar oil and gas... even though it hurts everyone in the patch... or both.

[Ozy_Flame]

Originally Posted by the_only_turek_fan

How in your opinion does education direct people to the left. This is really interesting cause I think there is some merrit to this. The stereo type I have of right wingers are that they more meat and potatos kind of people.

I guess I am one that is totally different. I went to post secondary and lean right. I can see where people come from when it comes to social issues like same sex marrige and abortion and all that kind of stuff, but when it comes to other stuff I just don't get it.

Do you like high taxes? Do you like high spending? Do you support governments that are not financially responsible?

Do you support a government that is soft on crime?

When it comes to the military/foriegn policy, do you support your government to stand on the sidelines during the war against terrorism?

Always interesting to hear peoples responses.

I'd believe the education arguement too. Most of my dad's side of the family are highly educated, and are definitely centrist / liberal and vote as such. Likewise, my mother's side are more traditional by nature, don't have the degree of education that my dad's side does, and usually vote PC. Infact, my grandmother is so incredibly right-wing, it's surprising given that she immigrated with hardly a dime on her, but didn't rely on government social programs.

Perhaps people with education are more centrist / left-leaning because a government-subsidized education has offered them a better life? The government pays for a good chunk of post-secondary education, and I haven't forgotten it either.

Just my two cents.

[Ozy_Flame]

Originally Posted by fotze

But what field are they highly educated in and what is there career choice? That is the key.

I think a pHd in Finance who's paycheck comes from the University will more likely be left leaning than a pHd in Finance working for the Royal Bank. A PHd in environmental science working for the Pembina institute will more likely be left than a PHd in environmental science working for Exxonmobil.

Interesting you say that, given how little some professors at universities actually make (the recent thread on Dr. Dube's plight made me think of this). I would think then, that a pro-government bias in a sponsored institution is a lifestyle choice over making private sector paycheques doing a similar role. Your examples imply a greater earnings potential for private sector employment, yet some people choose to work for the government, as thousands upon thousands of civil servants do, when they could be making private sector money.

I have, among other things, a catholic, rural-based upbringing, attained a business degree, and grew up with an entrepreneurial father doing the breadwinning, however I choose to lead a left-learning lifestyle. I may be the exception to the rule, but I'm an eduated guy who grew up in a very conservative lifestyle but chose not to be.

It's all personal preference.

[Ayrahb]

Originally Posted by Ozy_Flame

I was listening to one of the morning breakfast shows this morning, and somone mentioned how the Libs might do better if they changed their name, given it's somewhat "evil" connotations in this province. I think that might be a smart idea.

Then again, "Wildrose" just conjures up images of unscrupulous right-wing politics, so that may not be such a good thing after all.

I don't think it's as simple as changing a party's name. It probably has more to do with the old "If it ain't broke,..." attitude and the fact that it will take many years before a significant number of voting Albertans consider even seriously listening to a left-leaning party's platform.

Personally, even though I usually don't give a damn about most things conservative, I don't mind the PC Party in Alberta so much. Well, except the fact that farmer Ed became premier thanks to the support from Ted the "right-wing American".

And congratulations to Ms. Greyedanus on the job well done at CP. 16% of the board vote is actually more than I expected and I am sure that at least some of it is due to your participation here.

[Tron_fdc]

Originally Posted by the_only_turek_fan

How in your opinion does education direct people to the left. This is really interesting cause I think there is some merrit to this. The stereo type I have of right wingers are that they more meat and potatos kind of people.

This is actually a pretty deep question...I could ramble on for days actually. Not that I will, but it's a pretty interesting topic with a million different theories.

I think there's a certain sense of entitlement (job wise) from people who graduate University after 10 years of education, and when that doesn't pan out there's immediately something wrong with the government/society when a rig worker can pull in 6 figures with no education whatsoever, or how an electrician can start his own business and within 4 years owns 3 houses and 10 work trucks. Finishing a PHD takes a lot of time, money and work, and it might seem unfair that you don't get paid for it when you're done.

And I agree that right wingers are the more meat and potatoes type person. They're no less intelligent than a left leaning individual, but I'd say they tend to be more entrepreneurial, and a little more individualistic in nature. They don't want to share wealth that they built on their own with someone who thinks they "deserve" it because of their education.

My family is pretty diverse in this respect. I work for a 4th generation family company that has been built and run by a variety of different family members, some of whom are university educated (masters, PHD's, etc) some are SAIT grads, and a few with nothing more than high school. I've seen lots of different ideas and opinions, and listened to more than one debate at the family dinner table. Everyone has their theories, and what I've typed above is more or less what I've garnered from listening to them for the last 30 years. Definitely caused a rift or 3 here and there, and a little bad blood, but it can be comical to listen to my uncle (masters in business, owns his own company) talk about "effin teachers", and then walk into the kitchen to hear my aunt (masters in education, is a teacher) talk about "effin capitalists".

[FlamesAddiction]

Originally Posted by fotze

But what field are they highly educated in and what is there career choice? That is the key.

I think a pHd in Finance who's paycheck comes from the University will more likely be left leaning than a pHd in Finance working for the Royal Bank. A PHd in environmental science working for the Pembina institute will more likely be left than a PHd in environmental science working for Exxonmobil.

I can see where you're going with that and I am sure it's right a lot of the time, but for myself personally, I never thought of picking the government based what it could do for me personally. It never even occurred to me to think that way.

[Rathji]

Originally Posted by llama64

So... for all the people who went out and voted PC. Are you still angry at Stelmach for the royalty issue?

Certainly.

Do I think the Liberals would be any better?

Not in a million years.

The only other vote I considered was WRA, and ironicly the main thing that swayed me back to PC was Jane Morgan pointing out her 'interesting possible outcome'.

Bottom line is, at this point I don't want to do anything which could possibly facilitate a Liberal government, even though I do agree it might be better in the long run had the PC's NOT got such a huge majority.

[Flame On]

Apparently the riding boundries are set to change and the split then will favor the urban centers for the first time where rural areas dominated before. Apparently they have to be re written every two years. I hear this is the last hurrah for the ruralies...although we hear a lot of things that don't pan out.

[troutman]

Originally Posted by FlamesAddiction

I can see where you're going with that and I am sure it's right a lot of the time, but for myself personally, I never thought of picking the government based what it could do for me personally. It never even occurred to me to think that way.

Is that the difference between Liberals and Conservatives in a nutshell? What is best for the most vs. what is best for me.

[Ford Prefect]

Originally Posted by Ozy_Flame

Oh I know, believe me. It's like kicking a dead horse; it ain't going to move.

But then again, it's not about convincing the stubborn; it's about motivating the apathetic. Alot of people didn't bother to vote because they just knew the Conservatives would get re-elected. That is the real curse in this election.

Unfortunately, I've slowly come to realize that apathy is a more intransigent state than stubbornness. It's tough to motivate people who neither care nor have an opinion. I'm not saying that's all non-voters, but it's a big chunk of them.