Canadian Elections 2004

[Devon Lake]

In not too long, I'll be voting for the first time in my country's federal elections. I can honestly say I've never been so disallusioned with democracy. So, for anyone who gives a damn, here's the run down on the major parties:

The Liberal Party: They're in power about 2/3rds of the time, leading many eggheads to dub them "The natural ruling party of Canada". If I were a compulsive gambler, I'd put my money on their winning their fourth consecutive majority government this election. As far as policy goes, I like to think of them as the "status quo" party; rather than actually doing anything, they just sort of kepe the wheels of the state rolling without actually doing anything. They're platform revolves almost entirely on improving the state of healthcare, the biggest concern of most Canadians.

The NDP (Or "New Democratic Party"): The NDP have never formed a ruling party, and by my guess, probably never will. In fact, I'm not sure if they've even ever formed the main opposition party. Anyhow, they're our big socialist party; they wish to decriminalize marijuana, officially recognise gay marriages, protecting the environmnt, improve funding to medicare, schools, employment ensurance, and start getting the government to pay for our university tuitions again. Now, that all sounds well and good with me, I just don't trust them not to run up our national defecit which is already proportionally bigger than that of the US. Also, I'm afraid their crazy rabid unionists are going to do something stupid to scare away the entire bloody economy.

The Conservatives: Not long ago we had two right wing parties but after a few decades, they realised that having the votes of the right wing split between two parties just allowed the liberals to win in more ridings. Anyhow, I like to think of them as evil incarnate. They're the only party intent on banning gay marriages, they wish to move to two-tier healthcare, they wish to recriminalise abortions, return capitol punishment up the military so that we can pointlessly tag along whever the US sends out its forces, and inact insane ammounts of tax cuts, especially to the folks who don't need them like the rich or big businesses. Oh ya, many of them are also big avengelical Christian zealots. They promise that despite the ridiculous tax cuts they wish to enact that they'd continue funding all our social programs as is, despite any mathematical sense. My guess is that they just want medicare and Unemployment Ensurance to go broke and to pray that no subsequent government rebuilds it.

The Bloq: Some crazy French party whose platform revolves entirely along Quebec seperating to make their own homeland or something. No one really cares about them anymore because the seperatism fad is dead.

Anyhow, I'd really like to vote or the NDP, even considering their flaws, but the Conservatives are so evil that I'm probably just going to vote Liberal to keep them out of power. The liberals are just like the "NDP lite" party anyway. I still wish I could vote for what I wanted... Stupid Convservative party. That they can even have such policies makes me disgusted at the state of our democracy. And yet, the only ones up to democratic reform (Like popular representation instead of this archaic constituency system) is the NDP, which I can't afford to vote for. Bleh.

[Trico]

In fact, I'm not sure if they've even ever formed the main opposition party.

Their best showing yet was in the 1988 elections, under Ed Broadbent (who is running for them again, though not as leader). Even then they were not official opposition.

just don't trust them not to run up our national defecit which is already proportionally bigger than that of the US.

I suppose you mean debt? The Liberals have been running a surplus for many years now.

Anyway, I absolutely despise the Conservative party, but the Liberals absolutely need to be removed from power. The ideal position for me would be perhaps an NDP minority forming a coalition with the Liberals, but that is certainly not happening this time.

I do love the NDP, but I doubt they would be prepared to govern if given the chance. I sincerely expect the result would be similar to the infamous Bob Rae government in Ontario.

I do not trust the Liberals, though, as they have given so many reasons not to. Anyone remember the Red Book? Or how about the sponsorship scandal? Shawinigate? Any of these ring a bell?

My reasons for despising the conservatives run along the same lines as those outlined in the topic :

They're the only party intent on banning gay marriages, they wish to move to two-tier healthcare, they wish to recriminalise abortions, return capitol punishment up the military so that we can pointlessly tag along whever the US sends out its forces, and inact insane ammounts of tax cuts, especially to the folks who don't need them like the rich or big businesses. Oh ya, many of them are also big avengelical Christian zealots. They promise that despite the ridiculous tax cuts they wish to enact that they'd continue funding all our social programs as is, despite any mathematical sense.

To emphasise that, the Conservatives spending promises double those of the Liberals, yet the Liberals have promised no tax cuts. The conservatives have suggested taxes should be lower even than those in the United States. I don't actually trust same-sex marriage to make it through a Liberal government, either, though, especially if the conservative presence grows. Even bill C-150 made it through only by the slimmest of margins.

The Bloq: Some crazy French party whose platform revolves entirely along Quebec seperating to make their own homeland or something. No one really cares about them anymore because the seperatism fad is dead.

Actually, the Bloc looks to take the vast majority of seats in quebec. It may not seem like much, but in the past they have formed the official opposition.


I guess my opinion is that the government is doomed for at least four more years. Aren't I the optimist?

[semysane]

I'll be voting for the first time myself this year. I'm probably going to vote NDP myself. We have some fairly interesting fringe parties as well, don't forget.

Green Party: Essentially Green Peace with less hippies. But not much.

Marijuana Party: All of the other hippies. Their platform revolves around legalizing pot.

Communist Party: Believe it or not, there actually is one. There's even a communist candidate in my riding. He's surprisingly convincing.

[Trico]

Originally Posted by semysane

I'll be voting for the first time myself this year. I'm probably going to vote NDP myself. We have some fairly interesting fringe parties as well, don't forget.

Green Party: Essentially Green Peace with less hippies. But not much.

Marijuana Party: All of the other hippies. Their platform revolves around legalizing pot.

Communist Party: Believe it or not, there actually is one. There's even a communist candidate in my riding. He's surprisingly convincing.

We actually have two Communist parties. One running as communist and the other as marxist-leninist.

We also have Canadian action, christian heritage, and Libertarian.

[Devon Lake]

I suppose you mean debt? The Liberals have been running a surplus for many years now.

Ya; debt, defecit... I always mix those two up. Oh well, at least it's less embarassing than mixing up body fluids.

I don't think the NDP have such a bad chance this time around. I mean, the news actually mentions them once in a while. That's more than I could say for them in a long time. The polls are also looking relatively favoreable as far as I've seen lately; because of all the screw ups of the provincial liberals in Ontario, a lot of folks here are jumping ship to the NDP.

Anyhow, I think gay marriage is safe under the Liberals. Paul Martin doesn't seem exactly fond of the idea yet it seems like he claims he supports them anyway; Of course, support for him basically means not to touch it with a ten foot poll and instead just let the courts handle it; it Supreme Court has already decided in favor of same sex marriages so it's not much of a problem in that respect. It's not as solid as having actual legislation as the NDP would like, but the Conservatives would just go trigger happy with the Notwithstanding Clause in the Charter of Right and Freedoms to ban gay marriages despite the courts (That is by the way how they wish to recriminalise abortions to.)

Communist Party: Believe it or not, there actually is one. There's even a communist candidate in my riding. He's surprisingly convincing.

True story: They had an office in the building where I used to take Kung-Fu, I never had the guts to go in. I voted for them in the last provincial election just for kicks. Apparently there's also a "Marxist Lenninist Party" running to.

Oh, there's also the "Rhinosaurous Party" whose one policy is to change Canada's National animal to the Rhinosaurous.

Has anyone else heard of the "Natural Law Party" of Canada? They're a bunch of wackos who claim all government problems can be solved through transcendental meditation. A quick run through the registered parties provides some pretty crazy results; "Absolutely Absurd Party", "Grey Party", "Undecided Party", and "Ontario Party".

[Beau]

I always find it funny Canada has communist parties when we're already a socialist country.

And what's up with PM Martin's talk about making revolutions with wind power? I mean, it sounds great and all, but has he ever really had anything to back this up?

[Devon Lake]

I always find it funny Canada has communist parties when we're already a socialist country.

We're still a long way from the Soviet Union and central planning. There's a big difference between the socialism of the Swedes say and that of East Germany...

[Beau]

Yeah, I'm aware of that much, I was just having some fun. That's what keeps us from getting in too much trouble. Our sense of humour.

[Omega Mage Zero]

Originally Posted by Devon Lake

The Liberal Party: They're in power about 2/3rds of the time, leading many eggheads to dub them "The natural ruling party of Canada". If I were a compulsive gambler, I'd put my money on their winning their fourth consecutive majority government this election. As far as policy goes, I like to think of them as the "status quo" party; rather than actually doing anything, they just sort of kepe the wheels of the state rolling without actually doing anything. They're platform revolves almost entirely on improving the state of healthcare, the biggest concern of most Canadians.

Improving healthcare? That's strange, all I hear in America is how great healthcare is in Canada. Is it not as perfect as a lot of Americans think?

BTW, I know an embarassingly small amount about Canada. I live pretty far from the border. Sorry if this seems a stupid question to the natives.

[Beau]

By "great", most Americans mean "free".
Yes, we do have free health care (and find it quite strange not everyone does) but that doesn't make it perfect by a long shot.