Which federal party do you support?
- Thread starter JonB2004
- Start date
None, at the moment, hence the "other" vote. None is other, isn't it?
But anyone who's knows me at all knows I can't just leave it at that.
I have at various times voted Liberal and NDP in assorted elections, both federally and provincially, depending on my perceptions of who's most closely aligned with what I think is important at the time. I've never voted Reform, Alliance, Conservative, Progressive Conservative, Social Credit, or Saskatchewan Party, or anybody else on the right, not for any ideological reasons but because the leaders and candidates I see from those parties generally don't seem to care about the same things I do, and care passionately about things that seem utterly irrelevant, if not actively wrong, to me. The closest I've ever come to voting Conservative was when I lived in Edmonton for a while and Peter Lougheed was Premier of Alberta. Now, *there's* a principled Conservative and a smart, honest, thoughtful, and sober man. (Compare Ralph Klein...8O no contest.) But I lived in the NDP leader's riding at the time, and it seemed important to me that there be some non-Conservative voices in the legislature. Frankly, all that seemed to be keeping Liberals alive in Alberta at the time were the hunting laws, a situation that hasn't changed much in the 30 years since I lived there.
But Lougheed I could have voted for with a clear conscience. Robert Stanfield I could have voted for cheerfully. Bryan Mulroney, not a chance. Joe Clark.... probably not. Flora McDonald, probably, if her party hadn't genteely assassinated her. The Old Boys Network wasn't ready for a female leader. I was deeply irritated by the Liberals' gun registry, and the sponsorship nonsense, and Jean Chretien's arrogant certainty about his divine right to be Prime Minister forever if he wanted to be, and Paul Martin's lame performance as PM after a remarkably successful term as Finance Minister. So I voted NDP in the last federal election.
The jury's still out on Harper, in my mind. He's obviously intelligent, thoughtful, and as far as we know sober, and I see grounds for cautious optimism for his government. However, he was at one time clearly a far right ideologue of the sort that really sets my teeth on edge. I'm not yet convinced his move toward the center is anything more than opportunism searching for a parliamentary majority, and if/when that's achieved we'll see that ideologue again, to our great detriment.
Just my $0.02 worth...
But anyone who's knows me at all knows I can't just leave it at that.
I have at various times voted Liberal and NDP in assorted elections, both federally and provincially, depending on my perceptions of who's most closely aligned with what I think is important at the time. I've never voted Reform, Alliance, Conservative, Progressive Conservative, Social Credit, or Saskatchewan Party, or anybody else on the right, not for any ideological reasons but because the leaders and candidates I see from those parties generally don't seem to care about the same things I do, and care passionately about things that seem utterly irrelevant, if not actively wrong, to me. The closest I've ever come to voting Conservative was when I lived in Edmonton for a while and Peter Lougheed was Premier of Alberta. Now, *there's* a principled Conservative and a smart, honest, thoughtful, and sober man. (Compare Ralph Klein...8O no contest.) But I lived in the NDP leader's riding at the time, and it seemed important to me that there be some non-Conservative voices in the legislature. Frankly, all that seemed to be keeping Liberals alive in Alberta at the time were the hunting laws, a situation that hasn't changed much in the 30 years since I lived there.
But Lougheed I could have voted for with a clear conscience. Robert Stanfield I could have voted for cheerfully. Bryan Mulroney, not a chance. Joe Clark.... probably not. Flora McDonald, probably, if her party hadn't genteely assassinated her. The Old Boys Network wasn't ready for a female leader. I was deeply irritated by the Liberals' gun registry, and the sponsorship nonsense, and Jean Chretien's arrogant certainty about his divine right to be Prime Minister forever if he wanted to be, and Paul Martin's lame performance as PM after a remarkably successful term as Finance Minister. So I voted NDP in the last federal election.
The jury's still out on Harper, in my mind. He's obviously intelligent, thoughtful, and as far as we know sober, and I see grounds for cautious optimism for his government. However, he was at one time clearly a far right ideologue of the sort that really sets my teeth on edge. I'm not yet convinced his move toward the center is anything more than opportunism searching for a parliamentary majority, and if/when that's achieved we'll see that ideologue again, to our great detriment.
Just my $0.02 worth...
RE: Which federal party d
I have no affiliation. I vote based on two things, a) what is good for the country, b) what is good for me. I have been eligible to vote in two elections and I have voted for two different parties.
Personally, I feel that being affiliated to one particular party or another clouds one's judgement. We end up with people like the Conservative supporters who lately seem to have their heads in the sand.
I have no affiliation. I vote based on two things, a) what is good for the country, b) what is good for me. I have been eligible to vote in two elections and I have voted for two different parties.
Personally, I feel that being affiliated to one particular party or another clouds one's judgement. We end up with people like the Conservative supporters who lately seem to have their heads in the sand.
LittleRunningGag, I think belonging to a party is something which has been on the decline in the last 80 years in Canada and I was watching an election day special on that topic just a few months back. I am a card carrying member of the New Democrats, but for any party membership is in decline. These parties which were once power houses of democratic forums, are nothing more then election day lobbists really. Where once you'd hammer out party policy during a convention, the policy of the parties are directed more by the election itself, with party leaders bringing out there programs late in the election instead of long before. Policy on the fly. I really do think for a true democratic forum of Canada to happen, is to have more interest and thus more involvment in the political parties.
It could be argued that the conservatives out drew the other two parties in the last election with there election policy blows during the last election and it could also be said we didn't really have enough time to actually study the impact of many glittering promises like a 1%-2% reduction of GST and the reduction in serves, debt repayment which this will lead to and the increase of prices 1-2% to cover the GST removal. Also other programs such as the cash in the parents hands for child care which is not a tax credit but taxable income. IT appears that families with less then 40k a year will only get about 55 cents a day after taxes for child care. Most of these plans sound good at first, I mean cash in our hands and reduction in taxes... wow it's like he is selling us stuff, but economically it makes little sence and not very conservative.
So back to my point. I say look at all the parties closely, look at the one which is best for Canada and yourself, join it, read the constitution and get involved. It's apart of the democratic process here in Canada and with Representational democracy and not direct is it the closest way to effect policy for the nation.
It could be argued that the conservatives out drew the other two parties in the last election with there election policy blows during the last election and it could also be said we didn't really have enough time to actually study the impact of many glittering promises like a 1%-2% reduction of GST and the reduction in serves, debt repayment which this will lead to and the increase of prices 1-2% to cover the GST removal. Also other programs such as the cash in the parents hands for child care which is not a tax credit but taxable income. IT appears that families with less then 40k a year will only get about 55 cents a day after taxes for child care. Most of these plans sound good at first, I mean cash in our hands and reduction in taxes... wow it's like he is selling us stuff, but economically it makes little sence and not very conservative.
So back to my point. I say look at all the parties closely, look at the one which is best for Canada and yourself, join it, read the constitution and get involved. It's apart of the democratic process here in Canada and with Representational democracy and not direct is it the closest way to effect policy for the nation.
Re: RE: Which federal party do you support?
Someone has to stand up for what is left too.
Jay said:
Someone has to stand up for what is left too.
Re: RE: Which federal party do you support?
If the NDP ever get in, there won't BE any left.
Dexter Sinister said:
If the NDP ever get in, there won't BE any left.
Re: RE: Which federal party do you support?
Actually, I'm inclined to agree with at least one meaning of that sentence, but not to worry, the NDP is highly unlikely to ever form a national government, and they all know it if they're honest with themselves. There are, however, legitimate positions on the left, and legitimate leftist criticisms of the right, that need to be articulated as part of any reasoned national debate. That's the real purpose of the NDP, however it tarts up its message.
Colpy said:If the NDP ever get in, there won't BE any left.
Actually, I'm inclined to agree with at least one meaning of that sentence, but not to worry, the NDP is highly unlikely to ever form a national government, and they all know it if they're honest with themselves. There are, however, legitimate positions on the left, and legitimate leftist criticisms of the right, that need to be articulated as part of any reasoned national debate. That's the real purpose of the NDP, however it tarts up its message.
RE: Which federal party d
Yes because the Conservatives haven'tchanged their tune every election for the last ten years. :roll:
Finder, believe me I have an interest in politics, that isn't the problem. I have a problem with all of the political parties, and I find it inconsitant to belong to a party if you don't agree to all of its policies.
I feel this way about elections as well. If you vote for a party that has in its platform something that you cannot agree to, but you vote for them because you don't think that that is something that they would actually do, you cannot be surprised or angry when they do. (I am refering to protest votes to the Conservatives)
Yes because the Conservatives haven'tchanged their tune every election for the last ten years. :roll:
Finder, believe me I have an interest in politics, that isn't the problem. I have a problem with all of the political parties, and I find it inconsitant to belong to a party if you don't agree to all of its policies.
I feel this way about elections as well. If you vote for a party that has in its platform something that you cannot agree to, but you vote for them because you don't think that that is something that they would actually do, you cannot be surprised or angry when they do. (I am refering to protest votes to the Conservatives)
Now thaat smiling Jack is leading the party I will support the NDP by taking out a membership again after a long time away. I left when the Party chose Ujjal as leader and for the blinck of an eye the Premier. Ujjal was a Liberal and I knew it, Party members followed like sheep, and I left. The party is now beginning to get it direction in order. It stood for the political wilderness for much of the last decade but is making progress now.
The NDP must get back to the principle of being socially left and fiscally right the Tommy Douglas was.
The NDP must get back to the principle of being socially left and fiscally right the Tommy Douglas was.
I support the Conservatives because I feel strongly they are more accountable than the LIberals. (IMO, there are only two parties who will ever be government, the LIBS and the Conservatives).
Conservatives don't generally check the polls before stating their position, Conservatives believe in less government interference in our day to day lives (still too much, but at least less with the Conservatives), Conservatives believe in less taxation, conservatives believe in personal responsibility and accountability, and finally, true Conservatives don't always look first to the government for help before trying to help themselves.
That is why I am a conservative and support the Conservative party. No other party espouses these beliefs, and IMO, the Liberals and NDP are totally opposite these beliefs, which is why I have never, and could never, support either party, federally or provincially. And before the critics jump on me, no, Conservatives do not always live up to these beliefs and philosophies, but over all, they generally hold true to these beliefs.
Conservatives don't generally check the polls before stating their position, Conservatives believe in less government interference in our day to day lives (still too much, but at least less with the Conservatives), Conservatives believe in less taxation, conservatives believe in personal responsibility and accountability, and finally, true Conservatives don't always look first to the government for help before trying to help themselves.
That is why I am a conservative and support the Conservative party. No other party espouses these beliefs, and IMO, the Liberals and NDP are totally opposite these beliefs, which is why I have never, and could never, support either party, federally or provincially. And before the critics jump on me, no, Conservatives do not always live up to these beliefs and philosophies, but over all, they generally hold true to these beliefs.