Politics

[James Buchan]

Lets TRY and keep this outta the cage match arena!

I have found the last couple elections to be quite interesting and this time around is no excpection. I am kinda curious how fellow board members feel about it and what their take is...

I for one think Martin is looking like a complete fool and has no right leading his party let alone Canada. I think so far Layton has looked the best but doesn't have a snowball's chance in hell so it only leaves the Conservatives for me. I think Harper has done a pretty good job on his platform and with the NDP as an opposition I think it could work with him in power. I HOPE the liberals loose big time so they can't just play petty games in the house to get the conservatives goat.  Polls that I have been listening to are showing that a good chunk of the country feels the same way so I guess the next 9 days as long as Harper doesn't mess up it should be pretty much decided. I can't see the Liberals pulling out of their tail spin...

[egspot]

What the heck, for what is worth. Here what I think.

Harper I do not know, however, I get bad vibes and I fear that he has no idea what they(\"his people\" )are telling him to say.

Martin was the Finance Minister when they first balanced the budget and while it was on the backs of all of us, He executed and continue balancing budgets on the plus side thereafter.

Now I am not fully aware of all the wrong doing going on but as I recall in all developed countries the rich run the show and they always have and probably always will. That being said Canadians are better off today because of their balanced budgets and as sad as it may sound Martin may just be the best of all evil.

The good new is that the election results will be know the day after, and We actually have better chices than The US had in their last.

Emilio

[kirin]

Its been an interesting political question for me. The federal liberals and nothing like the provincial ones(The provincial ones are very conservative at some point). Anybody but that robot harper. He quite honestly freaks me out. Not a fan of him at all and I do not want him representing the country. Jack Layton is a lot better however he is NDP so thats a no go. I agree with Emilio that the liberals seem to be the lesser of all evils. I think Paul Martin represents the country very well and knows how to. I much rather see him back in power then Harper(Mr. Roboto).

But the green party is starting to sound better and better.
 

[Mike Scott]

I have found the last couple elections to be quite interesting and this time around is no excpection. I am kinda curious how fellow board members feel about it and what their take is...

I for one think Martin is looking like a complete fool and has no right leading his party let alone Canada. I think so far Layton has looked the best but doesn't have a snowball's chance in hell so it only leaves the Conservatives for me. I think Harper has done a pretty good job on his platform and with the NDP as an opposition I think it could work with him in power. I HOPE the liberals loose big time so they can't just play petty games in the house to get the conservatives goat. Polls that I have been listening to are showing that a good chunk of the country feels the same way so I guess the next 9 days as long as Harper doesn't mess up it should be pretty much decided. I can't see the Liberals pulling out of their tail spin...

IMO, you should base your vote on what party's platform you perfer and if you support your local candidate. Voting for the Conservative's because the NDP doesn't show well in the polls?? This essentially gives IPSOS a hand in how Canada votes.  

[Chris]

No party is free from criticism and scandal, look at yesterdays front page (i think yesterday) the conservative member being ousted for illegal importation of a car and other items. Today, Jack Layton treated at a private clinic 7 years ago, why is this an issue. Just dirt against him because he supports public not for profit medical services.

Personally any financial promises made during a campaign are completely pointless, there is very little follow through. Things that bother me the most are the obvious fact that voters in Alberta and BC really do not really have power to make changes in the federal government, this is apparent due to the Quebec Bloc Party being considered a major party worthy of being in the debates meanwhile the green party which is a national party is not included.

I watched an interview with some local green party candidates and one thing that was said that really has made me think more about this election is, you cannot vote strategically and be happy, you need to vote with your heart.

I cant vote conservative, currently Russ Hiebert is the MP for my area and I have read his newsletters and written to him on several occasions with questons regarding his views and regarding a situation I was in this summer and received no response at all, other people who were in the same situation as I received responses along the lines that it wasnt a matter worth getting involved in, strange but other Liberal and NDP MP's felt it was.

So if you vote conservative where does that leave things like same sex couple rights, abortion, our financial situation as a country? I get the feeling that this election will lead to an interesting layout in the parliament, more of a 3 way with the 3 major parties, some bloc and some green party seats. I personally just cant see myself voting for a man that thinks Mulroney was the greatest PM of them all. The Conservatives have spent too much time bashing the Liberals and using that to hide the fact that they really have not announced the details of the platform they are running on, the Liberals are doing a lot of climbing to get out of there hole, Ralph Goodale should step down until the income trust leak issue is dealt with, and the NDP are playing the best hand, by remaining calm, sticking to the platform and avoiding heavy smear ads. Jack Laytons hands are too small, what does that mean? Stephen Harper is too american and his eyes are really close together like Bush.

Maybe if politicians really wanted to lead our country to be successful they should roll back there wages dramatically and do the position as a volunteer, too me I see more of the desire to be a politician in the prime pension plan they get to be part of.

Anyway, I am not voting conservative, other than that I am still undecided.

[Chris]

I have found the last couple elections to be quite interesting and this time around is no excpection. I am kinda curious how fellow board members feel about it and what their take is...

I for one think Martin is looking like a complete fool and has no right leading his party let alone Canada. I think so far Layton has looked the best but doesn't have a snowball's chance in hell so it only leaves the Conservatives for me. I think Harper has done a pretty good job on his platform and with the NDP as an opposition I think it could work with him in power. I HOPE the liberals loose big time so they can't just play petty games in the house to get the conservatives goat. Polls that I have been listening to are showing that a good chunk of the country feels the same way so I guess the next 9 days as long as Harper doesn't mess up it should be pretty much decided. I can't see the Liberals pulling out of their tail spin...

IMO, you should base your vote on what party's platform you perfer and if you support your local candidate. Voting for the Conservative's because the NDP doesn't show well in the polls?? This essentially gives IPSOS a hand in how Canada votes.

good point.

[OUTKAST]

Here is how I hope it plays out ;
Liberal minority win just barely forcing paul Martin to resign and give them little power until they straighten up or present good policies .Conservatives loose getting rid of harper He just doesn,t have that leader quality and to many extremists in his group maybe in a couple years they will be ready them getting in would put us in a spin for how many years . I,m voting ndp therefore not giving either of thos two my vote Jack Layton might not win alot of seats but the number of votes will show he is going the right direction .I 'm overall not sure what we are in store for but you can,t bitch if you don,t vote so whatever way you are gonna go be sure to vote

Just my crazy 2 cents    

[BUSDADDY]

They all creep me out! but balanced budgets? sure that was easy, just raise taxes. Have any of you looked at your pay stubs lately and thought about how much of that actually trickles back down to things in the west that benefit you or your community? I don't know who I'm going to vote for, but I sure know who I'm NOT voting for.

[Trevor P]

All three major parties are a bunch of liars and crooks if you ask me.   The election is decided in the east. By the time we vote it's pretty much already known which party will take it. What happened with Martin and his whole promise of reducing the problem of western alienation?? Just another election scam. I'll save my vote for an independent.
 

[silas]

Quebec Bloc Party being considered a major party worthy of being in the debates meanwhile the green party which is a national party is not included.

total bullshit.

All three major parties are a bunch of liars and crooks if you ask me.

i agree 100%

i'm voting green.

[Chris]

i agree 100%

i'm voting green.

total bullshit as you agree or disagree, just for clarification.

[silas]

i agree 100%

i'm voting green.

total bullshit as you agree or disagree, just for clarification.

for clarification...

i think it's total bullshit that the green party is not included with the big 3 1/2 (ndp, conservatives, liberals, bloc) when it comes to the debates & all that.

i agree 100% with trevor. the big 3 are all a bunch of liars and crooks.

i am voting green.

[Chris]

damn quote, i keep forgetting to check what it selects, anyways I figured thats what you meant.

[Bubba]

The thing that amazes me about most Canadians is the extremely short memory (we) collectively have.   Look at the record of the party in power.

1)  HRDC Scandal.  1.7 Billion taxpayer dollars spent on  programs of which, at this point, less than 300M has been accounted for.

2)  Shawinigate.  That one was a beauty.  Chretien skated free from that one because the parlaiment hill press corps were busy munching smoked salmon and drinking imported wines generously funded by the taxpayer.

3)  The infamous gun registry.  Step right up folks, and watch how your elected representatives play the elaborate shell game with your 1 Billion  plus dollars that a) doesn't work, and B) will do nothing to help control illegal firearms.  I suppose it will help the police catch that normally law abiding citizen when he finally snaps and decides to cap his local MP...

4)  Sponsorship Scandal.  Guys, don't you think it is time we treated Quebec with a little more respect and stopped dumping so much money into that province just to keep all the damn seperatists in beer?  Its tough love, but I am sick and tired of all the whining and crying about that we have to give them more money or they will seperate.  HEL-LO? The squeaky wheel gets the grease.

5)  Martin keeps talking about the sound fiscal policies and how the budget was balanced on his watch.  Okay, at what expense?  By offloading medicare costs to the provinces, and then not funding them properly.  All you young healthy guys out there don't see any problems with that, but make sure you stay healthy, and don't get hurt.  Wait lists for surgeries before used to be 6-8 weeks.  Now it is 6-8 months.

6)  Has anyone noticed some of the sentences handed out lately to some of the worst repeat offenders?  Does anyone really believe that our system of justice is really fair?  Do we really want to send a message to gangs that Canada is open for business?

I could go on but I already feel like a guy bent over with his pants down on the corner of Davie and Broughton with the sign \"Pick Me\".


Naw, I wouldn't think of giving an all inclusive trip to some guy who just stole my car.  But I know there are some individuals out there that are stuck on principles and platforms, about what thier politics is, etc.


None of that matters for me.  What I want is a group of people governing our country that is not stealing from us.

The only difference between Canada as a so called developed nation, and a corrupt dictatorship, is that in a dictatorship, everybody knows the rules, and the corruption is out in the open.

[Bruce]

IMO, you should base your vote on what party's platform you perfer and if you support your local candidate. Voting for the Conservative's because the NDP doesn't show well in the polls?? This essentially gives IPSOS a hand in how Canada votes.

good point.

IPSOS does not decide what the polls say.  The Canadian voter does.   Saying IPSOS somehow influences the voting is just stupid.

[Chris]

I think you misunderstood what he was pointing out, voting based on what the polls say is not the best way to vote, so if IPSOS was able to manipulate the polls then they would have a hand in how Canada votes. Ipsos isnt always the best representation of how voters feel.

[slammedbus]

Mixed feelings all around....

Provinvial Liberal gov't screwed many of us, but did get us out of the crapper financially. Economy is booming. Whether as a direct result or not I do not know

Seems like we need to address the social programs within the country but NDP can't balance books if their life depends on it.

I do not trust any of the major three but HATE the idea of voting so that we may end up with a minority gov't where basically nothing will happen. It is like a stalemate.  

I really miss the days of Preston Manning. Say it like it is and F-You if you think I am shooting myself in the foot. I liked him. Little weasely lookin dood that he was. I am tired of listening to BS. Someone step up, say what it is that you are REALLY going to do and let the chips fall where they may. Stop this wishy washy crap that no one buys anyways. I think you will then see people make their way to the polls.  

[Bruce]

I think you misunderstood what he was pointing out, voting based on what the polls say is not the best way to vote, so if IPSOS was able to manipulate the polls then they would have a hand in how Canada votes. Ipsos isnt always the best representation of how voters feel.

So you think IPSOS is wrong when they place the NDP at a distant 3rd place?

Many people think that a vote for the NDP is a wasted vote because they aren't going to win.  This is because they always score low.  Not because IPSOS tells you that.

[Chris]

So you think IPSOS is wrong when they place the NDP at a distant 3rd place?

Many people think that a vote for the NDP is a wasted vote because they aren't going to win.  This is because they always score low.  Not because IPSOS tells you that.

Go back to bed Bruce, theres no swap meet going right now. Did anyone say they were wrong? Do you think IPSOS is always right? Insert the sound of herded sheep.

[Bruce]

So you think IPSOS is wrong when they place the NDP at a distant 3rd place?

Many people think that a vote for the NDP is a wasted vote because they aren't going to win.  This is because they always score low.  Not because IPSOS tells you that.

Did anyone say they were wrong? Do you think IPSOS is always right?

Uhhhh, you said they were wrong here:  \" Ipsos isnt always the best representation of how voters feel.\"

If you knew anything about statistics, you'd know they are accurate 95% of the time.  I bet you buy lottery tickets.

[GRK]

We need to have a NONE OF THE ABOVE on the voters card! Maybe more people would at least get out and vote. As it stands i won't vote Liberal and not sure who's the worst of the other evils. My mother in Law lives in fleetwood and had a DVD droped off by an independant named John Cook if he was in my riding I'd prob vote for him.

Gary

[Chris]

So you think IPSOS is wrong when they place the NDP at a distant 3rd place?

Many people think that a vote for the NDP is a wasted vote because they aren't going to win.

[Chris]

I guess a good question is whether or not it is good that a poll may influence your decision. Guess it depends on who you ask and who won the election. Im still not voting conservative, thank you.

[slammedbus]

So you think IPSOS is wrong when they place the NDP at a distant 3rd place?

Many people think that a vote for the NDP is a wasted vote because they aren't going to win.

[silas]

I took a course about statistics and you can also use stats to look a certain way depending on what you want to use as your stat. It is quite easy to make statistics work in your favour or make a something quite damaging not look so bad.

like chris just did here...

I do buy lottery tickets and about 90% of the time I win something. So I cant complain, my stats say I am doing ok.

see, he says he buys lottery tickets and wins something about 90% of the time. great. but what does he win?

he spends $2 on a lottery ticket and wins $2. good.

he spends $5 on a lottery ticket and wins $5. great.

then he spends $10 bucks on another lottery ticket and wins $5. good. he still won something.

but he's $5 in the hole.

obviously, it is impossible to account for all the $ chris has won over the years playing the lotto, but i bet that he has either lost or barely broken even. the lotto makes him feel like a winner by giving his $2 back to him.

[Chris]

exactly, just like Jason said you can make statistics work any way you want.

[OUTKAST]

86% of statistics are made up on the spot  :lol:  :lol:  :lol:  :lol:  

[Chris]

57% of time you are right

































50% chance that I made that stat up.

[OUTKAST]

100% percent chance of us getting screwed  :lol:  :lol:  :lol:  

[Chris]

Im with you 150% on that one.