If you have such an important message to send, fill in one of these, and start spreading your message!
http://www.elections.ca/pol/can/ec20010_e.pdf
The power of democracy.
Reject the election. Don’t mark your ballot!
- Thread starter atlanticaparty
- Start date
If you have such an important message to send, fill in one of these, and start spreading your message!
http://www.elections.ca/pol/can/ec20010_e.pdf
The power of democracy.
I don't know anybody that is looking for work.
I don't vote for any of them. I vote against the worst. That is usually (but not always) the NDP.
Not voting is not a solution. What makes them sit up and take notice is a HIGH voter turn out with cancelled ballots. All you have to do is put a X for all the parties, this way your vote is counted but you send the message that you are fed up with the whole system.
Does anyone really think that politicians care about spoiled ballots????
They only care about the number of votes they get.....
They only care about the number of votes they get.....
]....and it came to past that a God fearing man called Preston Manning started another kind of movement which...
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Face it all the parties in the House wanted to go to the polls even the Conservatives.
If that was not so they could have given the NDP a few more pennies and no one
would have done anything. Contempt of Parliament is a serious matter that did not
come from the opposition parties, it came from the Speaker of the House, who raised
the issue in a serious way.
As for spoiling my ballot by writing in an angry voter mark is something that is not a
serious solution at all. We need to understand we are not the United States and we
don't need initiatives, on the ballot so special interest groups can mug for cameras,
We don't need referendums either that is why we vote in the politicians we want to make
laws. The problem is we have a general public that doesn't know what it wants, and we
have a public that does not trust the government they have elected.
I am looking at what I am going to do, I know I will not vote for the Conservatives, especially
under Harper. Iggy is a problem, but I have never voted Liberal. The Greens are little more
than a impractical joke foisted on us by a bunch of urban wing nuts who have no idea what
they are talking about when it comes to the big picture.
My only choice left is Jack Layton, who at least believes what he is saying whether he is
actually right or not.
I agree we don't have a lot of choice but the fact remains, my country is way more important
to me than engaging in a selfish act of spoiling my ballot. If you are all that unhappy then join
a political party anyone you want and fight for the changes you believe in. Instead some of us
just want to drag the whole bloody country into some impractical solution that solves nothing
and allows the current problems to grow even larger. I politics no one is going to have their
own way so let us make some compromises that at least we can live with, vote for something
rather than vote against everything.
If that was not so they could have given the NDP a few more pennies and no one
would have done anything. Contempt of Parliament is a serious matter that did not
come from the opposition parties, it came from the Speaker of the House, who raised
the issue in a serious way.
As for spoiling my ballot by writing in an angry voter mark is something that is not a
serious solution at all. We need to understand we are not the United States and we
don't need initiatives, on the ballot so special interest groups can mug for cameras,
We don't need referendums either that is why we vote in the politicians we want to make
laws. The problem is we have a general public that doesn't know what it wants, and we
have a public that does not trust the government they have elected.
I am looking at what I am going to do, I know I will not vote for the Conservatives, especially
under Harper. Iggy is a problem, but I have never voted Liberal. The Greens are little more
than a impractical joke foisted on us by a bunch of urban wing nuts who have no idea what
they are talking about when it comes to the big picture.
My only choice left is Jack Layton, who at least believes what he is saying whether he is
actually right or not.
I agree we don't have a lot of choice but the fact remains, my country is way more important
to me than engaging in a selfish act of spoiling my ballot. If you are all that unhappy then join
a political party anyone you want and fight for the changes you believe in. Instead some of us
just want to drag the whole bloody country into some impractical solution that solves nothing
and allows the current problems to grow even larger. I politics no one is going to have their
own way so let us make some compromises that at least we can live with, vote for something
rather than vote against everything.
I would love to see 100% turnout with not 1 vote cast. That would send the right message, but it is impossible to achieve. If I thought a cancelled or spoiled ballot would send a message I would do it. I fear however that under todays system that the pols will never get any message.
We definitely need major politaical reform and I would suggest you all take the time to grill every candidate in your riding and vote not for a party or a particular policy but for the one who will attempt to make it a government for the people.
Some problems we have at present with my ideas for solutions...
Representation, You can be as active as you like but all major parties use 'whipped' votes in parliament. This means it does not matter what your candidate promises for your community the leadership of the party controls them in Ottawa so your screwed. I have sat down with my local MP and asked her to vote one way on an issue because it would be best for our local community and she blatantly refused because her leader was voting the other way.
Solution - Remove the party system entirely or at least disallow whipped votes. I would like to see all candidates as independants.
Accountability, As it stands today recall is almost impossible and the MPs are given almost complete immunity from prosecution if acting 'in good faith'. This means they can do as they please.
Solution - Make recall reasonable to attain then they would have to hold to their promises and represent their community or else...gone.
Corporate influence. With the greatest portion of campaign contributions coming from corporations and unions the elected are beholden to their wishes once the voting is over.
Solution - New law or constitutional ammendment to remove all corporate money and lobby from govt. Make them represent us, the people.
These are but the first steps need to fix the rest of the issues with our government. Without true representation and accountability and as long as corporations can buy politicians we cannot expect anything but business as usual from any party.
I suggest everyone start emailing and calling their candidates and asking questions. After the election keep it up, question every move they make and force them to justify it. It is only by continuous and concerted pressure that they will be made to feel any responsibility to the people of this country.
We definitely need major politaical reform and I would suggest you all take the time to grill every candidate in your riding and vote not for a party or a particular policy but for the one who will attempt to make it a government for the people.
Some problems we have at present with my ideas for solutions...
Representation, You can be as active as you like but all major parties use 'whipped' votes in parliament. This means it does not matter what your candidate promises for your community the leadership of the party controls them in Ottawa so your screwed. I have sat down with my local MP and asked her to vote one way on an issue because it would be best for our local community and she blatantly refused because her leader was voting the other way.
Solution - Remove the party system entirely or at least disallow whipped votes. I would like to see all candidates as independants.
Accountability, As it stands today recall is almost impossible and the MPs are given almost complete immunity from prosecution if acting 'in good faith'. This means they can do as they please.
Solution - Make recall reasonable to attain then they would have to hold to their promises and represent their community or else...gone.
Corporate influence. With the greatest portion of campaign contributions coming from corporations and unions the elected are beholden to their wishes once the voting is over.
Solution - New law or constitutional ammendment to remove all corporate money and lobby from govt. Make them represent us, the people.
These are but the first steps need to fix the rest of the issues with our government. Without true representation and accountability and as long as corporations can buy politicians we cannot expect anything but business as usual from any party.
I suggest everyone start emailing and calling their candidates and asking questions. After the election keep it up, question every move they make and force them to justify it. It is only by continuous and concerted pressure that they will be made to feel any responsibility to the people of this country.
First of all I think the system works quite well for the most part. yes there are
some things that might change but they are not major things. Whipped votes
ensure that people are voting for the policy people elected them to carry out.
For example as a voter, you are the person who decides who gets elected.
If a majority elect a Tory or a New Democrat or Liberal, then of course those
people are going to vote accordingly.
I don't agree with Recall, we elect people to do a job and the ultimate recall is
an election. We can't have this bully mentality that every issue is a recall if
some people in a riding don't like it. Listen to the candidates and vote according
to what your opinion is, if you lose in a riding respect the majority of ballots that
were cast. This goes for all parties.
Accountability, how do you measure that? Seriously, if you voted Liberal and the
Conservatives get elected, you are never going to admit the other guys were in
fact accountable. Nature of the beast. Accountability is in the eye of the beholder.
Accountability comes at election time when we the electorate get to determine who
is accountable.
Election law has already dealt with contribution reform, unions and companies are
not permitted to contribute the way they used to. On the other hand, why in a democracy
can't these groups contribute and have influence. I don't belong to a union however I see
no reason why they can't influence government policy anymore than any other group.
Same goes for Corporations.
As for lobby groups, people fail to understand anyone who, goes before a government at
any level Federal, Provincial or Municipal and asks for something is in fact lobbying for the
position the represent. That can mean the Chamber of Commerce, Corporations, Unions
or even the Boy Scouts. People often lose sight of that. Lobby rules are laid out and work
well I have no problem with them in their present form. If you isolate these or any other
groups you would also isolate the elected representatives that are there to work on your
behalf.
Should we get rid of the Senate? Oh Oh open the constitution to solve that one and you don't
want to open the constitution, not in this country anyway I can't think of a way to become more
hated, than opening the constitution.
People do not understand how big government is, or how it works and that is a shame because
our perceptions sometimes do not match the actual facts. Government is there for a reason
and I suppose it depends on your view of what government is and what it does.
I have been around this stuff for decades, and having been in the media for a number of years
I also got a first hand look at what happens and how frustrated people can get. Most of it is
usually because their issues don't get addressed when their party does not get elected
and policy is different than they think is should be. Its called democracy.
the other problem is even if you get your party elected those officials also confront the reality
that sometimes their position is not palatable with the general public and it would be political
suicide to enact that particular law.
Nope even though Harper is in power and I don't like some of what he has done, does not mean
they system isn't working. There are things he did I agree with as well. All in all I believe the
system works well, its just that as voters we do not do our jobs very well.
some things that might change but they are not major things. Whipped votes
ensure that people are voting for the policy people elected them to carry out.
For example as a voter, you are the person who decides who gets elected.
If a majority elect a Tory or a New Democrat or Liberal, then of course those
people are going to vote accordingly.
I don't agree with Recall, we elect people to do a job and the ultimate recall is
an election. We can't have this bully mentality that every issue is a recall if
some people in a riding don't like it. Listen to the candidates and vote according
to what your opinion is, if you lose in a riding respect the majority of ballots that
were cast. This goes for all parties.
Accountability, how do you measure that? Seriously, if you voted Liberal and the
Conservatives get elected, you are never going to admit the other guys were in
fact accountable. Nature of the beast. Accountability is in the eye of the beholder.
Accountability comes at election time when we the electorate get to determine who
is accountable.
Election law has already dealt with contribution reform, unions and companies are
not permitted to contribute the way they used to. On the other hand, why in a democracy
can't these groups contribute and have influence. I don't belong to a union however I see
no reason why they can't influence government policy anymore than any other group.
Same goes for Corporations.
As for lobby groups, people fail to understand anyone who, goes before a government at
any level Federal, Provincial or Municipal and asks for something is in fact lobbying for the
position the represent. That can mean the Chamber of Commerce, Corporations, Unions
or even the Boy Scouts. People often lose sight of that. Lobby rules are laid out and work
well I have no problem with them in their present form. If you isolate these or any other
groups you would also isolate the elected representatives that are there to work on your
behalf.
Should we get rid of the Senate? Oh Oh open the constitution to solve that one and you don't
want to open the constitution, not in this country anyway I can't think of a way to become more
hated, than opening the constitution.
People do not understand how big government is, or how it works and that is a shame because
our perceptions sometimes do not match the actual facts. Government is there for a reason
and I suppose it depends on your view of what government is and what it does.
I have been around this stuff for decades, and having been in the media for a number of years
I also got a first hand look at what happens and how frustrated people can get. Most of it is
usually because their issues don't get addressed when their party does not get elected
and policy is different than they think is should be. Its called democracy.
the other problem is even if you get your party elected those officials also confront the reality
that sometimes their position is not palatable with the general public and it would be political
suicide to enact that particular law.
Nope even though Harper is in power and I don't like some of what he has done, does not mean
they system isn't working. There are things he did I agree with as well. All in all I believe the
system works well, its just that as voters we do not do our jobs very well.
If you want to reject the election then vote for your Conservative candidate! Send a message to the opposition parties that you're unhappy with them forcing another election. Leaving the ballot blank literally just wastes your time and truly makes your vote "not count".
Well Grumpy, you are entitled to believe the system is fine as it is and continue to particpate as you wish and I would never encourage you to do anything else.
You have to bear in mind that once the election is over our reps are ther for ALL of their constituents, the whipped vote system may work ok some of the time but there are many times when a policy is introduced that is detrimental to a particular riding as a whole and to have that riding's rep vote the party line against the interest of the people they are paid to represent is wrong under any circumstance.
I did not and will not say recall should be made easy as pie. It should be a lot easier than it is now though. I do not know how many successful recalls there have been in the last 50 years but I am sure it is a very small #.
Accountability may be tough to measure, I'll give you that, but if your cnadidate promises to vote one way during a campaign and then votes different we shoud have some kind of recourse.
My idea of complete removal of corporate and union (or any other group) donations is based upon the premise that our government is there for the PEOPLE. A corporation is a fictional legal entity and therfore not a person, it cannot cast a ballot so should not have influence or representation. Unions and other special interest groups can still donate individually to the maximum allowed and think of how much savings there would be for union members if millions of $ in dues were not used for donations. Of course CEO's and other execs could also donate the maximum personal amount.
Lobbying by individuals or groups of individuals is quite fine by me as is organizations like the boy scouts. My point is that the corporate lobby is much larger and richer than any individual or community group and is there on behalf of something other than a real person (see above) and therfore does not deserve influence or representation. the whole idea is to make government for the people not for the banks, Home Depot and the oil companies.
I am not afraid to open the constitution, I believe it is only a statute by royal proclaimation anyway as it was never ratified by referendum of the people.
I do know just how BIG govt is and how it works very inefficiently and would like to see both of these change for the better.
I agree as voters most don't take enough action in govt. We must all keep involved and keep the pols on their toes at all times.
You have to bear in mind that once the election is over our reps are ther for ALL of their constituents, the whipped vote system may work ok some of the time but there are many times when a policy is introduced that is detrimental to a particular riding as a whole and to have that riding's rep vote the party line against the interest of the people they are paid to represent is wrong under any circumstance.
I did not and will not say recall should be made easy as pie. It should be a lot easier than it is now though. I do not know how many successful recalls there have been in the last 50 years but I am sure it is a very small #.
Accountability may be tough to measure, I'll give you that, but if your cnadidate promises to vote one way during a campaign and then votes different we shoud have some kind of recourse.
My idea of complete removal of corporate and union (or any other group) donations is based upon the premise that our government is there for the PEOPLE. A corporation is a fictional legal entity and therfore not a person, it cannot cast a ballot so should not have influence or representation. Unions and other special interest groups can still donate individually to the maximum allowed and think of how much savings there would be for union members if millions of $ in dues were not used for donations. Of course CEO's and other execs could also donate the maximum personal amount.
Lobbying by individuals or groups of individuals is quite fine by me as is organizations like the boy scouts. My point is that the corporate lobby is much larger and richer than any individual or community group and is there on behalf of something other than a real person (see above) and therfore does not deserve influence or representation. the whole idea is to make government for the people not for the banks, Home Depot and the oil companies.
I am not afraid to open the constitution, I believe it is only a statute by royal proclaimation anyway as it was never ratified by referendum of the people.
I do know just how BIG govt is and how it works very inefficiently and would like to see both of these change for the better.
I agree as voters most don't take enough action in govt. We must all keep involved and keep the pols on their toes at all times.
I've met many Canadian's with this stance.
Wish washy, not wanting to watch the debates, or bother to vote, but if you took away their right to b*tch they would lose their mind.
Wish washy, not wanting to watch the debates, or bother to vote, but if you took away their right to b*tch they would lose their mind.
Totally dumb and a totally childish way-proves totally nothing-acheives one thing only-no party gets the $1.95 for your vote.
Maybe the Conservatives are a group of intelligent people. Being as the Opposition was talking "Election" last Fall they did not need a cystal ball to see that any Budget would be defeated. Iggy has wasted enough time in Canada and either needs to get Crowned PM or it is time to go back to Harvard.
Beth May reps the only party in Canada that has never been given the opportunity to lie,
'errr, lead us.
All things being fair, she deserves the chance.
If disappointed Canadians want to stir thing up, and send a sound message to those elite poli party's who act like they have us by the shorties, giving The Greens a lions share of the votes in the next unwanted election would accomplish just that.
Not that it would ever happen, given the enabling factor that 'we the collective sheeple' have a happening.
Two mths of campaign brainwashing, and 99% of 'em will think that the election was their idea.
For a lark - I did the CBC Vote Compass thing.
I answered every question as negatively as I possibly could.
The polls result spit out that I am now a Harper supporter.
'errr, lead us.
All things being fair, she deserves the chance.
If disappointed Canadians want to stir thing up, and send a sound message to those elite poli party's who act like they have us by the shorties, giving The Greens a lions share of the votes in the next unwanted election would accomplish just that.
Not that it would ever happen, given the enabling factor that 'we the collective sheeple' have a happening.
Two mths of campaign brainwashing, and 99% of 'em will think that the election was their idea.
For a lark - I did the CBC Vote Compass thing.
I answered every question as negatively as I possibly could.
The polls result spit out that I am now a Harper supporter.
Morons.
If you don't vote then you do not have any right to bitch and whine. So therefore, vote or STFU!
Just had to see this again. Read it and weep morons.