Voting will take place in just over a week, and I find I've seen more about the American election that the Canadian. Being new to Dawson Creek, I was having a hard time deciding what party to vote for. I voted for the NDP last time, but I don't really think I want to vote for them again. Basically, I'm hoping that the Conservatives don't win, but unfortunately, I just discovered what a Conservative stronghold I live in. According to the Vote for the Environment website, the Conservatives won with over 21 000 votes last election, with the CLOSEST being the NDP, with only 7000 votes, and surprisingly, the Green Party came third with just over 6000. Apparently the Conservative member in the Peace River has won the last three elections in the Northern riding, and he just switches parties to whoever happens to be winning.
So, I'm pretty torn now. I know I won't vote conservative, but there is virtually no way any other party will win in the Peace, so does it even matter? I put my postal code into the Vote for Environment site and it even said "You choose", do whatever you can for the environment because no party can beat the conservatives up here. Arg. Well, that wasn't very helpful, was it?
So, now I'm wondering, what do you think? Any insights into politics?
If you haven't seen the site, (I found it on Ciboulette's blog--thanks!) here it is:
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7 comments:
Understand your frustrations. We had to vote yesterday since we are unable to vote on "the day". We watch the news regularly which is really my only source and it came down to who I disliked the least. Most of the parties have been so busy pointing out other parties faults that they havn't said much about what they plan to do.
PS- the video you posted no longer works.
Thanks Melissa
I agree with you about that.. Mike said the debate reminded him of watching the View...haha
Hey lovely,
The election's got me all up in arms, even all the way over here in Scotland. I've registered to vote by mail, but they're taking their sweet time with sending me a ballot, so now I don't know if I'll be able to. Which sucks.
I say ... vote the way you feel. Which might sound ridiculous, but at the end of the day, you have to celebrate the fact that you DO live in a (semi) democratic country, and pay homage to that through exercising your vote as though it really does matter ... because it does. Even in a Conservative stronghold like Dawson!
If my ballot doesn't arrive, I'm praying that Jack Layton will still know I support him ... in my heart ... haha.
Also: maybe the excessive coverage of the American election is a good thing, in a way. It's like its own reality TV show, where here ... when it's all said and done, a party will be chosen and Canucks will get back down to business. I'm just crossing my fingers that the Conservatives continue slipping away from their majority ... because if they get a minority again, then they're out, in a way. So that will make me happy.
xoxo
I watched the Leaders debate on the internet and found it very helpful in deciding my vote. After watching so much US coverage and being bombarded down here by Palin did this, Barack is friends with him... blah blah, doesn't matter blah, I was so happy to be a Canadian citizen! I thought the leaders debate was a breath of fresh air after a long and pointless US plolitical storm.
The way I feel is that you can't really look at who wins in your constituency and vote to try to out someone. I think you need to vote with who you believe in, to show them your support, which might not make a huge difference now, but will in upcoming elections and campaigns of theirs.
I supported the Conservatives last election, I like alot of what they do. I love the way they are handling the childcare, and I think they get a really bad wrap from the other 4 party's which makes them seem worse than they are.
HOWEVER, I am not voting Conservative this time because they are not taking the necessary steps on the Environment that are sorely needed NOW in our world.
After watching the leaders debate I came to the conclusion that the NDP can make huge promises because they are not going to win, whey don't really need to balance anything. The Liberals have this huge plan for the environment and taxes, but they seem to desperately be making promises to appease people because they're the closest to taking the majority from the Conservatives, and I'm not sure if they can live up to everything they're saying. I can not understand how it will balance. The Green party, well, Elizabeth May, is very smart and she has lots of knowledge, she seems to have looked around for alot of answers and takes info from alot of sources. I would like Elizabeth May to sit on one of Stephen Harper's shoulders along with a mini Stephen and they can discuss things in a non-partisan environment, then whisper in his ear what to do.
I mean, the Conservatives are going to win, but the hope is to keep them in minority, because then every other party, no matter how small, will play a big role in making decisions and will be heard and affect what happens in our country. A minority is always a good idea because it keeps the majority party in check.
So, even though I like Stephen Harper, I voted Green and mailed my ballot in yesterday. I hope they get a seat in the house. I also hope that they are willing to have a bi-election in their seats region to run Elizabeth May for Green and get her in the house. OR, I hope that after the election is over that Stephen Harper asks her to consult for him or something. I don't like everything the greens say, but as long as the NDP, Liberals and a green are in the house, the Conservatives will be forced to address the Environment. I hope the other parties do not trade the environment away for other legislature.
To conclude my essay/rant, it is important to stay in touch with your rep. I emailed most potential reps in my region to confirm their personal views on different issues I feel strongly about, because they are my voice to parliament and I want to know what they're going to say. All of them replied within 4 days.
Jenn, I think it's awesome how knowledgable you are and how thorough you seem with your political decision making. I'm not nearly as knowledgable but I do think that it's important to look at each candidate individually and not based on what the others are saying about them. I'm voting with my heart, though I don't like to announce my political leanings/decisions. I'd rather just listen to what everyone has to say and then go quietly cast my one vote (that one vote, after all, is just as important as everyone else's one vote). Happy voting, everyone!
Whew! Thanks guys...I feel much more prepared to vote now!
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