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January 17, 2006
If You Don't Mind, Please Rock The Vote
Today I dropped off my absentee ballot for the upcoming Canadian election. Living in the US, and not being able to watch CBC, I had to base my judgment on something less typical: I read the party platforms.
I made up a table of the issues I cared about and each of the four parties' stances. The parties are (in alphabetical order): The Conservatives, The Greens, The Liberals and The New Democrats. If Le Bloc Québécois were running outside of Québec, I would have read their platform too.
In case any of you care about my crack-pot political views, read on. For those of you whose eyes have glazed over already, maybe you'd prefer something a little less serious.
So here goes (note, I'm only highlighting the issues most relevant to me. This list is far from exhaustive):
The Conservatives
- The Good
- Reform our currently appointed-for-life Senate, more money for R&D, support for the Council of the Federation, increase the size of our pitiful Armed Forces, fixed federal election dates.
- The Bad
- Another vote on the legality of gay marriage, cutting the GST instead of income taxes, halt plans for the decriminalization of marijuana.
- The Ugly
- A hidden right-wing social agenda. Harper's speech praising the US's conservative administration makes me suspicious.
The Greens
- The Good
- Environment first, lower taxes for lowest income bracket, a focus on preventative health care, investment in public transportation and alternative renewable fuels, focus on "green collar" jobs.
- The Bad
- A vague commitment to "Recognize a clear result to a clear question in the event of a future Québec referendum".
- The Ugly
- The Greens strike me as a local chapter of a world-wide organization, and not a Canadian party for Canadians. As such, I found Canadian issues, like national unity, health care, defence all took a back seat to environmental issues.
The Liberals
- The Good
- Good economic and job-creation record, R&D investment, enforcement of Canada's northern sovereignty, beefing up the armed forces, ban the weaponization of space,
- The Bad
- A platform full of "Look how great a job we did, and we swear there won't be any more scandals. Scout's honour.", no criminal prosecution for those that embezzeled hundreds of millions of taxpayers' dollars, no mention of marijuana decriminalization.
- The Ugly
- Sorry, I just don't trust these guys anymore.
The NDP
- The Good
- More money for social programs, tax cuts for lowest income bracket, armed border guards (duh!), more money for public transportation, stronger provincial rights, fixed election dates, laws to restrict lobby groups, refocus the Armed Forces for peacekeeping missions, "Fair-trade" not Free-trade, money for the arts, money for the environment, national prescription drug plan.
- The Bad
- Repeal Liberal tax cuts. So that's how we are going to pay for this platform?
- The Ugly
- Knowing they won't form a government allows the NDP to make pie-in-the-sky promises, without having to deliver.
So who did I vote for? Sorry, you'll have to wait for my next blog entry.
Comments
When I voted on the 16th (advanced polls), my question of "Is it possible to register a protest vote, or is that only possible in Provincial elections?" caused quite a stir! No one really understood what I meant, so I had to explain what a protest vote was, and then the offical "Poll Director" said that it was only in Provincial elections, and that I should just spoil my ballot!
Don't worry, Chris, I didn't spoil the ballot ... now I have the right to bitch and complain for the next four years about our shitty government.
However, if Mr. Harper becomes PM, I'm sure that I won't be allowed to voice a negative opinion of the government. Nor will I be allowed to marry any of my gay lovers ... although I will be allowed to shoot them.
Posted by: mark at January 18, 2006 4:50 AM
four more years!
ha ha ha!
four more years!
ha ha ha
four more years!
ha ha ha!
Posted by: dav at January 19, 2006 7:58 PM
Hey Para-Chris,
Don't you get CBC? I did when I lived in corporate housing - its channel 90-something...
Keep those hydrogen atoms spinnin',
Para-Chris
Posted by: Para-Chris at January 19, 2006 11:17 PM