What did we do? Harper Majority!!

[Tonington]

Feel free to come up with facts, otherwise, you're looking at a straight D.

You're a charitable guy TenPenny. Bless your heart.

Given the debate about issues that I already addressed (global warming for example) do I really need to give more example of issues that a good number of voters know nothing about?

So, a voter must know everything about everything to be able to vote? Or to be considered an informed voter, they must know the background of every single issue that matters?

I doubt you'll find anyone on this forum that has debated more on climate change than I have, but I'm not so narrow to think that everyone must understand it, and accept it. It's a complex issue. I'd love nothing more than to have all Canadians aware of it, and it's why I debate it so much, hoping that someone who comes along and doesn't know that much about it will at least have alternative views to read when someone posts something without being skeptical of what they are posting. There have been very heated arguments too, but that doesn't mean I demean their democratic rights.

You just sound petty.

 

[karrie]

You're a charitable guy TenPenny. Bless your heart.



So, a voter must know everything about everything to be able to vote? Or to be considered an informed voter, they must know the background of every single issue that matters?

Nope... the point is to hire someone via your vote who will do the in depth research for you, and represent you in the political system, not for you to know it all. The point is to find the candidate who you can trust to be closest to protecting your interests while doing that. Voters do not need to know it all, or even know the political system, to have political representation matter.

 

[Tonington]

No argument from me!

 

[Colpy]

Who should decide what goes on a driving test? A history test? A Chemistry test? If you can't show a basic understanding of economics, history, science and the parliamentary system, then you are not going to be able to make a good educated decision. This is not a partisan concept. I do not say this to disallow those who support a particular party over another. All the parties have certain ideas that are just plain stupid.

Will a test make the system fool proof? No. Will it help wittle down the morons who think we live on a flat earth (you can substitute whatever dumb idea you want)? Ya , it'll help.

I call BS.

Your entire attitude towards this election screams that you believe Harper was voted in by a bunch of ignorant rubes not nearly as wise and sophisticated as your wonderful self. And if only they could be prevented from voting, you and your fellows in the proper party could come down from the upper class and mend their rotten ways. (Apologies to Jethro Tull.....)

If you want to change the level of understanding of the political system, try reforming the school curriculum. Include Canadian history, and parliamentary democracy as part of the requirements for high school graduation.

And let everyone of age vote. "I have a RIGHT to vote" is the argument that trumps all others.

 

[Praxius]

Give me a break. I handed in a blank ballot again this election one reason being how all my local candidates spent more time attacking each other than presenting their platform.

Though I lean right, I actually liked Layton as a leader as well as May for not being as confrontational than Ignatief and Layton. Heck, even Duceppe was more admirable on that front.

This OP shows the left still has not learnt its lesson any more than the right. If you want to win seats, stop just pulling the boogey man out of the hat and present something people will vote for.

Based on what the other parties were offering, a Harper majority is no better or worse.

So you think you're on your high horse by dropping in a blank ballot?

You think that actually makes a statement?

Your blank ballot is equal to not voting at all. Sure you got your name ticked off the chart, but since nobody counting the votes knows what you voted for (or didn't) you only exercised a futile action, thinking you somehow made a difference..... when in reality, anybody else could have assumed you voted Con, Bloc, Lib, Green or NDP.

Casting a blank ballot is the exact same thing as sitting home, not voting and doing nothing..... the only difference is that you wasted your time & energy making your way out to the polling station.

Actually, it's worse then just sitting home and not voting...... those who sat home and didn't vote are not ticked off the registry..... they know these people were not engaged in any of the parties or the election.

But you registered, thus they see your name on the list as someone engaged in the elecetion, but as far as any of them are concerned, you voted for a political party.

You coming in here and saying you didn't and you cast a blank ballot makes no difference & you are not impressing anybody in here. Telling us has no impact on the results.... it has no impact on Elections Canada, and as far as anyone is concerned, you validated this past election by going into the polling office & getting involved.

Once your name is marked on the list as showing up to vote, anything you do beyond that doesn't matter, because once again, nobody knows what you truly voted for, or didn't..... nobody counting the votes knows what ballot belongs to who.

You can pat yourself on the back & think you did something great and profound, but in reality, you just wasted your own time.

You may think you did something special by not voting for anybody...... but neither did the people who stayed home.

 

[cranky]

This election is reminiscent of George W. Bush winning in 2000. At the time I knew instinctively it meant bad times ahead. I have that same feeling of dread with Harper winning a majority. I predict Canada will be directly affected by some Pearl Harbor like event within a year.... probably within 6 months.

I garantee that the Japanese are not building fleets of comakaze planes at the moment they are a bit too busy dealing with their own problems

 

[Praxius]

I call BS.

Your entire attitude towards this election screams that you believe Harper was voted in by a bunch of ignorant rubes not nearly as wise and sophisticated as your wonderful self. And if only they could be prevented from voting, you and your fellows in the proper party could come down from the upper class and mend their rotten ways. (Apologies to Jethro Tull.....)

If you want to change the level of understanding of the political system, try reforming the school curriculum. Include Canadian history, and parliamentary democracy as part of the requirements for high school graduation.

And let everyone of age vote. "I have a RIGHT to vote" is the argument that trumps all others.

I agree for once..... and I always figured I had a right to vote as well.... yet I was told I wasn't eligible to vote in this past election because I'm currently living outside of the country, had no direct plans in the near future to return and thus had no specific riding to vote for.

But I'm still a Canadian Citizen and lived all my life in Canada right up until this past January..... and now I am told I'm not eligible to vote.

I thought it was my right, and like you, I thought that trumps all other arguments..... but I guess not.

 

[ansutherland]

I call BS.

Your entire attitude towards this election screams that you believe Harper was voted in by a bunch of ignorant rubes not nearly as wise and sophisticated as your wonderful self. And if only they could be prevented from voting, you and your fellows in the proper party could come down from the upper class and mend their rotten ways. (Apologies to Jethro Tull.....)

If you want to change the level of understanding of the political system, try reforming the school curriculum. Include Canadian history, and parliamentary democracy as part of the requirements for high school graduation.

And let everyone of age vote. "I have a RIGHT to vote" is the argument that trumps all others.

I have a right to vote is the dumbest argument of all. At one time you had a right to a slave.

 

[Praxius]

I have a right to vote is the dumbest argument of all. At one time you had a right to a slave.

Wow, brilliant counter-argument. :roll:

 

[ansutherland]

Wow, brilliant counter-argument. :roll:

Actually, it is.

 

[Praxius]

Nope... the point is to hire someone via your vote who will do the in depth research for you, and represent you in the political system, not for you to know it all. The point is to find the candidate who you can trust to be closest to protecting your interests while doing that. Voters do not need to know it all, or even know the political system, to have political representation matter.

Indeed, because if we did know all of this, then we wouldn't need to vote for someone in the first place and just do the damn job ourselves.

Just like if we knew everything about our cars, we wouldn't need to hire someone to fix them, and would just do it all ourselves.

 

[ansutherland]

Nope... the point is to hire someone via your vote who will do the in depth research for you, and represent you in the political system, not for you to know it all. The point is to find the candidate who you can trust to be closest to protecting your interests while doing that. Voters do not need to know it all, or even know the political system, to have political representation matter.

You think they do the in-depth research? Really? I suppose that the Cons must have carefully studied the peer reviewed studies published in journals such as the Lancet indicating that Insite was helping yet somehow knew better because of how well informed they are. It has nothing to do with the fact that they represent a rightwing constituency, right?

What about all the global warming research they must have done.

And to whomever it is that thinks I said a voter must "know everything".....learn how to read.

 

[CDNBear]

Bear's repeating Bear's...

Actually, you're right, I do lack something, patience. I have none for sour grapes asshats, that call the electorate ignorant, because his ideology got bruised.

It isn't so much I can't argue your asinine rant into shreds, it's more of I just see it as a waste of time. You have already clearly exhibited all the failings and trappings of a locked in a mindset ideologue.

Besides being an effort in futility, arguing with you, would be tantamount to discussing welding theory with a Red Heeler. Pointless.

But please, don't let me stop you from continuing with your emotional outpouring and shining exemplar of inflated self importance. It's entertaining.

I just hate it when I'm right.

Seriously!

Really. I do.

 

[lone wolf]

Sheesh.... someone sounds like one who does....

 

[CDNBear]

Sheesh.... someone sounds like one who does....

I was thinking TheGuy's big brother.

 

[karrie]

You think they do the in-depth research? Really? I suppose that the Cons must have carefully studied the peer reviewed studies published in journals such as the Lancet indicating that Insite was helping yet somehow knew better because of how well informed they are. It has nothing to do with the fact that they represent a rightwing constituency, right?

What about all the global warming research they must have done.

And to whomever it is that thinks I said a voter must "know everything".....learn how to read.

So you don't feel that the Cons are doing the research, or representing you well, don't vote for them. It's pretty simple. Explain to others why they aren't representing them well too if it floats your boat. But, the lengths you're proposing, just because you don't like the outcome, and percieve the choices of others to be made out of ignorance, is a bit ridiculous.

 

[CDNBear]

a bit ridiculous.

A bit?

 

[Goober]

I have a right to vote is the dumbest argument of all. At one time you had a right to a slave.

A right to become a slave - Really - I am sure there were massive line ups hoping to becomes slaves. They have great benefits I hear - Yep - Again Fuk Off

 

[lone wolf]

I liked a lot of his policies. Something inside me just couldn't be comfortable with Harper.

 

[JLM]

i have a right to vote is the dumbest argument of all. At one time you had a right to a slave.

troll!