Alberta Politics & Government Thread 3.0

[iggy_oi]

For those who didn’t vote in the last election: vote next time around

For those who held their noses and voted for the UCP because of an irrational fear of the NDP: vote for anyone else to send them a message that this is unacceptable

For those who voted UCP and tell people that they didn’t: vote for someone you don’t have to lie about voting for

For those who like everything the UCP are doing because they’re profiting: remember that when the masses have had enough they typically don’t go after the poor

[Johnny Makarov]

How about making it easier for these idiots by changing the NDP name....

Rocket science for morons.

[FlameOn]

Originally Posted by Johnny Makarov

How about making it easier for these idiots by changing the NDP name....

Rocket science for morons.

That's in the cards w/ Nenshi as leader. Just things take time.

[FlameOn]

We know exactly how well this UCP initiative with Covenant Health will turn out since these guys. There are countless examples south of the border. For example, CEO of Steward Health in the US netted over $250M in compensation while mat wards were closed, hundreds of health care workers were laid off, debt piled onto hospitals, and patients lives were put in danger. It never ends up being better money spent, always just ends up enriching the board and shareholders.

Since Stelmach/Shandro are on the board this is just standard UCP policy of making sure UCP loyalists get a taste.

https://arstechnica.com/science/2024...y-netted-250m/

[Jimmy Stang]

What is the likely timeline for Nenshi to get a seat in the legislature? Someone would have to vacate theirs and a then he'd have to win a byelection, right?

Speaking of byelections, we'll see Shannon Phillips' Lethbridge seat filled sometime this year. I really hope that the NDP are ready and Nenshi is in full-snark mode for this one. It is important to hold this unicorn "rural" seat. I know that Lethbridge isn't exactly rural, but... you know what I'm sayin'.

[Locke]

Originally Posted by Bonded

Anyone who voted for Smith should feel like a clown

The thing is...she said she was going to do this, she told us she was going to do this, they voted for her and now she's doing this.

They learned nothing from the absolutely colossal Clusterfata of the Lab Debacle.

And the thing is, this is going to negatively affect primarily...her voting base which is Rural Rubes.

The problem is money.

A lot of those Rural Rubes? Many of them are quite wealthy. And Elderly. They made Bank over various Oil Booms and want what they want regardless of whats best for the Province or anyone else.

Private Health Care. They can afford it. Cool. So hop on a plane and go get it and leave the rest for us.

As for the Lab Debacle? I had to get a blood test done last week and it was the quickest, easiest and smoothest process I've ever had and I get a fair amount of bloodwork done.

I got this lovely Nigerian Nurse and we were chatting about the Lab Debacle with DynaLife and she just chuckled.

I told her, the last time I had bloodwork done under the DynaLife regime it was like getting health care in war-torn Somalia during a fire-fight.

You know what she told me?

She worked for 'Doctors Without Borders' and saw better, more efficient Health Care services when she was volunteering in Refugee Camps in war-torn Africa.

Put that on your Google Review.

And we want to go down that road again? I know I harp on society not learning from it's mistakes but this is getting ridiculous.

[Fuzz]

People who claim to be fiscally conservative and then vote for the UCP have to be the dumbest mother####ers around, though. Just repeatedly getting dummied over and over, taking the rest of us down with them. They don't even get to revel in their token tax cut! So dumb.

[Bonded]

Originally Posted by Fuzz

People who claim to be fiscally conservative and then vote for the UCP have to be the dumbest mother####ers around, though. Just repeatedly getting dummied over and over, taking the rest of us down with them. They don't even get to revel in their token tax cut! So dumb.

The provincial NDP really need to ditch the NDP name. It carries way too much baggage. Too bad the Alberta party went nowhere.

[undercoverbrother]

Originally Posted by Bonded

The provincial NDP really need to ditch the NDP name. It carries way too much baggage. Too bad the Alberta party went nowhere.

I mean sadly you aren't wrong, but why are people so ####ing stupid.

[Bonded]

Originally Posted by undercoverbrother

I mean sadly you aren't wrong, but why are people so ####ing stupid.

A lot of people approach politics like sports. They vote for the jersey

[iggy_oi]

Originally Posted by Bonded

A lot of people approach politics like sports. They vote for the jersey

On the flip side of the change the name argument, who’s to say that even with a name change enough people stop voting UCP?

[bizaro86]

Originally Posted by iggy_oi

On the flip side of the change the name argument, who’s to say that even with a name change enough people stop voting UCP?

I mean, Fuzz covered it directly above. Many of the people voting UCP are low-effort idiots at this point. Having a different name will make a difference for at least some of these people. And with first past the post a small difference can swing the outcome dramatically

[Locke]

Originally Posted by iggy_oi

On the flip side of the change the name argument, who’s to say that even with a name change enough people stop voting UCP?

I hate to say this because it makes me feel filthy but....

People over a certain age should lose their right to vote.

These are people that are creating policies that affect a lot of people, but not really themselves.

[Bonded]

I know enough people who dislike Smith but hate Singh and that was enough for them to stick with the UCP

[Jimmy Stang]

Originally Posted by Bonded

I know enough people who dislike Smith but hate Singh and that was enough for them to stick with the UCP

Which is absurd. The old Progressive Conservatives are closer on the spectrum to the NDP than the UCP ever were - by a mile. But I get it - blue sign good, orange sign bad, red sign worse.

The Aberta NDP need a re-brand, for sure. But I also know that the UCP will be able to convince many low-information voters of anything, including that the new party is still in cahoots with Jagmeet and Justin - but now in secret!

[Bonded]

Originally Posted by Jimmy Stang

Which is absurd. The old Progressive Conservatives are closer on the spectrum to the NDP than the UCP ever were - by a mile. But I get it - blue sign good, orange sign bad, red sign worse.

The Aberta NDP need a re-brand, for sure. But I also know that the UCP will be able to convince many low-information voters of anything, including that the new party is still in cahoots with Jagmeet and Justin - but now in secret!

Yeah, the Alberta NDP were center economically but it didn’t matter because of their name

[iggy_oi]

Originally Posted by bizaro86

I mean, Fuzz covered it directly above. Many of the people voting UCP are low-effort idiots at this point. Having a different name will make a difference for at least some of these people. And with first past the post a small difference can swing the outcome dramatically

Hypothetically you may be right, but there is still a chance that hypothetically changing the name does nothing to improve their chances unless they put the word conservative in the title. A lot of people don’t seem to realize that there are also some NDP supporters who may not vote for them if they change their name. Not saying that’s a sensible position for them to take, just that it is unfortunately a legitimate factor to consider.

[bizaro86]

Originally Posted by iggy_oi

Hypothetically you may be right, but there is still a chance that hypothetically changing the name does nothing to improve their chances unless they put the word conservative in the title. A lot of people don’t seem to realize that there are also some NDP supporters who may not vote for them if they change their name. Not saying that’s a sensible position for them to take, just that it is unfortunately a legitimate factor to consider.

I'm not saying change it to the "True Conservative Party" but I think there's lots of low information UCP voters who would consider the ANDP if they changed the name to "Wonderful Alberta" or whatever.

I'm skeptical that they'd lose too many votes from the true believer NDP wing, as there's no reasonable alternative for those People. Maybe a few wouldn't vote but I suspect that would be concentrated in ridings they'll win anyway so it wouldn't affect the outcome of the election.

[btimbit]

I go back and forth on the name change thing, but currently I'm in the camp that doesn't think it matters what they're called. They're still not the usual conservative party, and that's the one people that don't pay attention to politics are going to vote for either way

[PepsiFree]

Originally Posted by btimbit

I go back and forth on the name change thing, but currently I'm in the camp that doesn't think it matters what they're called. They're still not the usual conservative party, and that's the one people that don't pay attention to politics are going to vote for either way

Yeah, I think the name change obsession is kind of dopey at this point. I see the merits but I just don’t think it’s a big enough issue to actually sway anything in their favour.

The PCs and the Wildrose combined, and nobody was confused. The NDP isn’t going to hoodwink anyone with a name change. What it does is signify that the party is different, but that same thing might be enough to push the people who are already unhappy with the centrist/centre right lean of the party just stay home.

Maybe that’s something to toy with next election if they don’t win. Seems like a possible landmine to pursue now.