Talk to the Goat
Ooooh, a political post.
I don't think I'd show up to eat my vote. I'm not really one for the taste of paper...
I hope that whoever gets in power this time will make more positive changes. No matter what they'll undergo scrutiny. I just hope the reasons for that can be kept to a minimum.
There are too many people who think that the candidates are too much, and have decided voting is unimportant.
It really is a shame that they don't take pride in their rights. In our rights.
Everyone should vote. Or stop fucking complaining.
You sure sound like a liberal. I would agree wholeheartedly that in general, liberals are more selfless than conservatives. Just look at the US. What has conservative values gotten us? A big mess. I also firmly believe that liberals are more innovative. In general, liberals tend to be the ones willing to try new ideas and to tweak existing programs. Conservatives are more concerned with making rich people richer. Liberals are more socially minded.
I would love a US that believes in the values you do. It would be a wonderful place to live.
It's heartbreaking what you guys are stuck with....now the question remains, have Canadians learned a lesson from our neighbours to the south?
I'm not into politics but no matter what party gets in, someone is going to bitch about it. I'll be voting NDP if I go and vote at all.
What the hell?
This wasn't funny at all.
Excellent piece, Jay.
If you're not into politics, politics will be into you... or your wallet!
So which is the party that bends over for business and gives them a reach around? IMO Business needs to flourish but NOT at the expense of the people or the environment.
Anyways, I'd vote for Jay 
Does that count?
Since I live in the US and have to deal with the people who voted for the puppet and the devil VP I am extremely jealous of the Canadians.
Everyone in the US points to how the Canadian system of healthcare is such a failure. I find it hard to believe, and since I have a large family in Canada I know that they have managed to live quite well with such an "inept healthcare system".
The conservative right wing in the US is now tripping over itself. Hopefully it will fail so we will in fact actually have family values, and not the ones that they have been trying to slam down everyone's throats. Values where we can accept people for what they are, and where people can expect medical treatment without going through a medical maze.
Excellent post Jay!
Christine
Great post. I too believe in balanced budgets, universal health care, same-sex marriage and a myriad of other things that we are so fortunate to have (at least at the moment) in Canada. My husband recently applied for his Canadian citizenship, and flipping through the little book that you have to study for your citizenship test, I discovered that, as a Canadian citizen, it is my responsibility to not only obey the laws of Canada and to vote, but also to "help others in the community" and "care for and protect our heritage and environment." Stephen Harper wanted to take part in the invasion of Iraq. Stephen Harper doesn't want to be part of Kyoto. I wonder if he knows what his responsibilities as a Canadian citizen are...
i'm actually not looking forward to this election. i'm voting liberal as well, it scares me to see the pc's gaining confidence like that, at least martin does have a history with finance. i don't think we really have a strong leader, for any party.
Apathy is for jerks and Americans? Being an American, I'd be offended if I didn't agree with you 100%. It's appalling to me that the majority of people who complain about our leader are the same people who don't go out and vote. Tragic.
So, Canada's been liberal since 1993? I think my family's going to make a move to the North before the dear, old US becomes a dictatorship. It's on its way.
Christine, I like your attitude.
And yes, most Canadians are very proud of our health system. It is not perfect. There are some major areas that do need imrovement. However, when I was very sick and in and out of the hospital on a daily basis for 5 months solid, and then received nursing care at home, I was never so grateful to live in this country. Not only was every thing free to me, I was offered services I didn't even know existed. For example, I was put on a drug program that gave me my meds at only a buck a pop, much to my relief. And rehab was worry-free.
In fact, with all the surgeries, the ER visits, the illnesses, etc in my 24 years, the only thing I was ever asked to pay for was a neck brace after a car accident...and then my car insurance paid for that.
Beth, thank you for sharing that story. It makes me proud and worried at the same time!
BSTS - I agree. I really do wonder if that's really the best they could do? Really? When Paul Martin first came into office, he was definitely not my favourite. He's improved a bit, but he's not charismatic.
Of course, I remember when Trudeau died, and the lineups of people outside of parliament to pay their respects...where can we get another one of those?
Jo-Fo, according to the stats posted on wiki, voter turnout for your most recent election was 56%, which is the highest it's been since 1968. But considering how heated and important the election was, it's still astonishingly low.
Our voter turnout is better, but not much: the last election, it was 63% while it was still riding in the 70s during the 1990s. This election is apparently threatened by the fact that it takes place in the dead of winter.
This is Canada. If you can make it to Canadian Tire, if you can make it to Burger King, then believe me, you can vote.
My Dad says, "vote! I will pick you up and drive you myself if I have to, but you have to vote!" I'll have to ask Dad if we can stop for a case of Beer and a slab of bacon on the way, but I'll go.
Oh hell. Here we go again. Time for the red neck Western Canadian view to chime in.
Overall I share the same views on many points. I don't trust Harper's (who'se riding I live in) views on same sex marriage.
At the same time, Western Canada has gotten a raw deal over a lot of things that have happened in the near past. (We still haven't fogiven the Liberal's for the Nationa Energy Program).
Basically I have to choose between an ultra right ring bible thunmer (who'se riding in live in) and a bunch of thieving Libreals.
Makes me wish i could vote for the Bloc Quebecois.
Then again, having the Prime Minister be my MP would be cool too.
Basically I hope for a minority government so these guys cannot go off unopposed on thier agenda.
You've got my vote Jay I try to stay out of formal politics only because people don't tend to listen very well to the issues... and end up arguing over missunderstandings or paying too much attention to mud-slinging. One thing I always believe in is people expressing their opinions and standing up for their rights.
Good Luck in the elections, I hope Canada has a lot of people like you who will take part in your election process.
DB
Apathy sucks...no matter what country you are from...truly...it does...show up & vote of LOSE your right to complain...slackers (spoken like a true American?...fuck it...I'm from a war mongering...is that a word?...country...we'll invade you if we feel like it...she said...sarcastically).
I like to think of myself as more patriotic than political. And I did go register this afternoon - people who move around as much as we do tend not to be on the official list.
And K., I know it's been rough. Jack Layton is from the riding across the street from us, not that I've seen him around a lot lately...
i totally agree that conservatives have bad memories. and, let's not forget all of the consititutional havoc they caused.
I have been an NDP voter all my life, and never once has my candidate been voted in; however, I think that the potential is there. It is also my firm belief that we live in an amazing country with a definitely Liberal leaning, and that behind every successful Liberal MP, there's a bunch of NDPers nagging their asses off.
i've voted liberal all my life, but for the first time, i'm tired of them. paul martin just didn't do it for me, and the scandal? well, while i tend to be pretty non-chalant about political issues, the endless escapades kinda got to me.
i'll vote NDP on the 23rd, because i feel safer with jack layton than i do with beady-eyed harper and his engineered smile.
did you know he took lessons for that?
i'll be voting. i don't know who for yet, but i really lked what you had to say.
Excellent post Jay, and great points. I like your attitude, girl.
And I agree that while our Canadian health system isn't perfect, I wouldn't want to live anywhere else in this world whenever my health needs attention. Having said that, I wouldn't want to live anywhere else in the world anyway. I love this country and I'm one proud Canadian.
...ugh... regarding same sex marriage--the "current" fave bumper sticker around this hick town is "Marriage=1 man and 1 woman."
I hate that...
hey,
as an appalled aussie voter im always interested in federal elections around the world and the discussion that springs up around em. good luck!
an aside: the australian liberal party are proud conservatives... just ironically named ;p
Thanks. I'm a little out of touch with things back home...
I was surprised to see the Tories regaining some lost power. Last I checked, they had about 4 ridings...haha
Will Canada come and conquer the rest of World please :p just jocking. Politics is good and bad in every way But yeah I do envy the health care system.
I think any politician that wants our military to take part in foreign operations should go along with them to fight.
I also find it scary that there are only 28 comments on this topic after a few days, but discussions about your mother-in-law are at 57.
A lot of people I know here in Aust envy Canada as well. It's probably cos it has people like you there.
Voting is compulsory here, which I think is a good thing.
I agree Chai. I wish they would make it so here.
Oh, I just checked the statistics, BTW..... in 2004 the voter turnout in Canada was 60.5%; in the US the turnout was 60.3%...not really a braggable difference in rate. Just trying to clear up some misconceptions...
Commenting by HaloScan
