Alberta Politics & Government Thread 3.0

[iggy_oi]

Originally Posted by CliffFletcher

There are different flavours of conservatism. The prairie populism that spawned the NDP has historically been very anti banks, anti corporate, pro working class. Those values aren’t incompatible with the traditional federal PC platforms of social conservatism and blaming the Eastern Canadian establishment for all the West’s problems.

I must have missed when the federal PC’s were pro working class.

[PsYcNeT]

Originally Posted by iggy_oi

I must have missed when the federal PC’s were pro working class.

They're valuable as a prop, and when they can convince them that trusting the free market instead of their union is in their best interest.

[calgarygeologist]

Potentially some good news from the UCP, I just saw an email from APEGA and the Government has announced that the title of Software Engineer will be exempt from APEGA control. Additionally, the Ministry of Advanced Education will be able to add other tech related engineering titles to the exemption list as time goes by. I think this is a positive move.

[timun]

As an engineer I think this is a stupid idea, but it's not unlike quacks like chiropractors and 'naturopaths' getting to call themselves 'doctor'. Just dilutes the title, even more than it already is, but I'm not surprised given the preponderance of the use of "software engineer" in the US (precisely because it's not a protected title in lots of states).

[fotze2]

Originally Posted by timun

As an engineer I think this is a stupid idea, but it's not unlike quacks like chiropractors and 'naturopaths' getting to call themselves 'doctor'. Just dilutes the title, even more than it already is, but I'm not surprised given the preponderance of the use of "software engineer" in the US (precisely because it's not a protected title in lots of states).

Lucky software engineers free of the Apega nonsense.

[timun]

Lucky "software engineers" get to call themselves "engineer" even though they're not one.

[Fuzz]

They should just shorten it to Software 'gineer. Easier to say, avoids all the engineer land mines as well.


I do think there is a place for a software engineer certification though, holding the same responsibilities as a "real" engineer. Safety critical systems, medical devices etc I think require a higher standard and this could open up certifications to require them for types of programming work.


I just don't think anyone who writes code should be calling themselves an engineer, because I write code, and don't want to be at all associated with those weirdos.

[ZedMan]

Originally Posted by Fuzz

TI just don't think anyone who writes code should be calling themselves an engineer, because I write code, and don't want to be at all associated with those weirdos.

The ones who go through all the engineering trouble, just to go into software development, have got to be the weirdest of the weirdos.

[PepsiFree]

I think everyone should be able to call themselves engineers because engineers need to be taken down a peg. Basically the opposite of doctor.

[timun]

Originally Posted by PepsiFree

I think everyone should be able to call themselves engineers because engineers need to be taken down a peg.

Taken down... APEGA?

Spoiler!

[Fuzz]

Ya, see, that's what I mean. Weirdos.

[MoneyGuy]

Originally Posted by timun

Lucky "software engineers" get to call themselves "engineer" even though they're not one.

I’m more concerned with chiros and naturopaths calling themselves doctors.

[timun]

Me too, frankly. It's a farce that they are allowed to peddle their quackery.

[Mr.Coffee]

Originally Posted by timun

As an engineer I think this is a stupid idea, but it's not unlike quacks like chiropractors and 'naturopaths' getting to call themselves 'doctor'. Just dilutes the title, even more than it already is, but I'm not surprised given the preponderance of the use of "software engineer" in the US (precisely because it's not a protected title in lots of states).

Finally the stupid pinky rings will be a legit differentiator that means something.

[timun]

Ugh, but I don't wanna wear the damned pinky ring!

[Frequitude]

Originally Posted by Fuzz

https://albertapolitics.ca/2023/11/l...-commentariat/


I know I'm pretty hard on UCP voters, but I gotta ask how you actually feel about this? You voted in the last election for what used to be a moderate Conservative party, and now it's been taken over by a collection of christo-facist morons. Would you vote for the UCP next election, knowing what the party is becoming behind the scenes? Do you feel betrayed/tricked? Or is this all fine and nothing to be bothered about? Genuinely curious.

I’m a long standing PC voter who voted NDP this go ‘round because my UCP candidate skirted the Save Calgary / Take Back Alberta line a little too close for my comfort. I want a little orange back in my blue like the good old days. None of this green wild rose crap.

Deep down I don’t hate the strong armed approach with Ottawa so can hold my nose a bit. And I do kinda think/hope this **** generates more frothy headlines than actual policies. Like throwing red meat to the trolls to keep them fed and shut up while the adults deal with the big issues. But I know that’s mostly wishful thinking. This sort of **** is just embarrassing.

I just don’t understand why no one can crack the socially liberal, fiscally conservative nut (with a strong social safety net). Like can we really not just have a nice big centre tent and throw the crazies on either side to the wolves. It’s like conservatives just can’t help themselves from seeing that crazy right as a nice 10-20% base from which to win…but every single time it rips them apart at the seams.

[Frequitude]

Originally Posted by belsarius

Which is one of the reasons I found the ANDP so refreshing. They governed pretty much on par with their campaign and hit pretty much all of their planks/promises.

It also is what infuriates me when "they shouldn't have said they would increase corporate taxes and they would have won.". Unlike the UCP, they weren't campaigning to "win" they were campaigning on what they would do if elected. It isn't supposed to be all rainbows and roses, governments need to make hard choices and let the people decide.

If they lost because of this campaign direction, well then the people didn't agree. But at least they told us to our faces what they would do instead of "the APP isn't a campaign issue" BS that we heard from DS.

The carbon tax was the glaring exception to this. That was a mighty expensive bait and switch, and huge blunder by Notley. Trudeau was going to shove it down our throats anyway, so she really should have let him take the fall on that one and half heartedly fought it just for show. If she did, along with not stupidly endorsing the CER without understanding it or the corporate tax hiccup, and she probably wins in a landslide.

[timun]

Originally Posted by Frequitude

I just don’t understand why no one can crack the socially liberal, fiscally conservative nut (with a strong social safety net).

Because Albertans want to have their cake and eat it too. Conservatives are the biggest spendthrifts we've ever had in government, and they've bamboozled a huge chunk of the electorate into believing they're the "fiscally responsible" ones.

Albertans don't want "fiscal conservatism", they just want the money redirected to different things. "A strong social safety net" and "fiscal conservatism" are completely incongruous: "strong social safety nets" cost money!

[Bill Bumface]

Originally Posted by timun

Lucky "software engineers" get to call themselves "engineer" even though they're not one.

Unlike the "true engineers" who's job is essentially project managing a bunch of service providers to do the actual work?

[Johnny Makarov]

The only true engineers are the ones who drive the trains