How are you planning to vote?

[Avatar]

Election day is almost upon us and I'm wondering how folks around here are considering voting (I wish I could set up a poll). I was considering voting NDP but now I think I'll vote liberal because I'm a bit scared of a Conservative government. They may well be good people but I'm just not sure where they stand, or if where they say they stand is the truth. At least with the liberals you know what you're getting. So what are the rest of you thinking?

 

[SallyNow]

I'm in the same confused boat as you! Perhaps a "Unite the Centre and Left" campaign is in order. Green, NDP, Bloc and Liberal. Except, that wouldn't be very Canadian, because we like the multi-party system. And the nice thing about our system is that we have so much variety, with good representation.

I think the "unite the right" thing was a bit of a bust. People who were PC might vote for the Conservatives, and end up with a government to far right. The really right-wingers will vote for the Conservatives and end up with a government that isn't right-winged enough. I've even heard some leading PCers saying they will vote Liberal.

Gah! A very confusing election indeed!

 

[sweetlambofgod]

No matter who you pick they'll screw us in one way or another, Green party is the only one that wont screw us over.

 

[Blank123]

I'm not even sure if I will vote, I mean I know I should, but it seems to me that you always end up with the same people in Government, and they never do anything for the citizens of Canada. Maybe its just me but I don't really think theres anybody I can vote for.

 

[Ginsu]

I don't get involved in politics. But I want that stupid gun registry law abolished.

 

[klewlis]

Well I am most definitely not voting for either liberal or conservative.

I think I will vote NDP (never thought I'd hear myself say that!). Their values are the closest to mine (whether or not they will actually stick to them...) and I think that if they have some seats they can help keep the liberals and conservatives in check, whichever one gets in (because obviously the NDP won't get gov). I'd rather have a liberal gov than a conservative gov, though in either case I'm praying it's a minority so that neither has free reign.

 

[Svt4Him]

Get out and vote. If we get a minority government, in a year's time there will be a vote of non-confidence in the budget, the government will dissolve and the whole process will start over again. We will have to go back to the polls, waste countless dollars, as well as have an ineffective government, all for nothing.

 

[Athanasian Creed]

Forget the Liberals - their time is up (or should be !!!!!!!)

How 'bout the "Christian Heritage" Party ?? Anyone with any info. on them ?? I've seen some of their signs in certain parts of Toronto.


Ray

 

[Blank123]

I don't think I've even heard of the CHP

 

[sweetlambofgod]

never seen or heard about them

 

[klewlis]

I'm not even sure if I will vote, I mean I know I should, but it seems to me that you always end up with the same people in Government, and they never do anything for the citizens of Canada. Maybe its just me but I don't really think theres anybody I can vote for.

Vote for the one whose values and priorities most closely line up with your own. None of them are perfect, but you should be able to find one that's close. Even if the one you vote for doesn't get anywhere, your vote still matters because they still pay attention to how many people voted which way, and a lot of things can be indirectly influenced by that.

For summaries of what each of the major parties is saying about the major issues, go to www.cbc.ca/canadavotes and click on "The Campaign" and then "Leaders and Issues". I have found this to be EXTREMELY helpful in figuring out where they stand on different things.

 

[kermit the toad]

Green party is the only one that wont screw us over.

I could not agree more. I will probably be voting Green. I'm excited by the fact that the Green's are predicted to actually win seats in this election (even if it is only 2 seats).

 

[kermit the toad]

Forget the Liberals - their time is up (or should be !!!!!!!)

How 'bout the "Christian Heritage" Party ?? Anyone with any info. on them ?? I've seen some of their signs in certain parts of Toronto.


Ray

I got a pamphlet from them in the mail the other day. They only mention a single issue - that of abortion. Regardless of your opinion on abortion, I think it would be foolish to vote for a party that appears to be basing its entire campaign on a single issue (I'm sure there is more to their platform than that, if you look at their website or something, but that's all the was mentioned in the pamphlet).

P.S.: Sorry about the double post.

 

[jbarcher]

Hm...there was some stuff posted by the Capp's here: http://www.christianforums.com/t57451

 

[Athanasian Creed]

Hmmm...after going to their site seems as if they want to make Canada into a Theocracy !!

I'm not sure about Christians in politics anyways - it seems as if it would be very difficult if not impossible to remain faithful to Biblical mandates and to your constituency which the majority will not be inclined to follow. Especially moreso in an ultra-politically correct, ultra-secular society that is Canada.

Case in point - Stockwell Day and, to a much lesser extent, Preston Manning. The left wing media stirred up all sorts of fearmongering - "God" forbid either one should become PM - back to the Dark Ages !!


Ray

 

[jbarcher]

I have the same view as you about politics, but it is totally unsubstantiated. Just a hunch of mine.

I did watch the...er, 'debate' last night, and it was like a few old friends turned sour, picking at personal issues.

 

[gluadys]

Christian Heritage is Canada's version of a religious right party. Strong focus on abortion and "family values" (if yours is a "traditional family").

Lots of interesting little parties out there, but many of them cannot run candidates in every riding. So you may not have heard of the Marijuana party, the Coalition of Regions party, the Natural Law party (based on the teachings of Maharishi Yogesh Yogi), the Canada Action party and a dozen or so others.

Really, the main focus this election, and every election, until it happens, is to push for a fairer voting system. Right now, one party typically gets 40% of the vote, 60% of the seats and 100% of the power. And six of ten ballots dropped in the box on election day don't help to elect anyone at all.

If we get a minority government, one good thing that may come of it is putting in place the machinery for changing the voting system so that every vote helps elect somebody you really want to see in Parliament. Layton has pledged to make that a condition of NDP support for whichever party forms the government. The Green party supports a change in the voting system too, and five provinces are currently looking at a change from the out-dated first-past-the-post method we still use.

 

[California Dreamin']

I am not sure, anything but liberal for sure. The guy going for Liberal will probably win in my area though sadly..
It's my first year to vote, I turn 18 two days before the election. I am working the polls election day too.......

 

[Athanasian Creed]

The best we can hope for is a minority government - be it the Liberals (God forbid) or the Conservatives.

Minority governments historically help keep the governing party "on it's toes" so-to-speak.



Ray

 

[kermit the toad]

Knowing that it will, as it has been since 1867, either Conservative or Liberal, I really would rather see a Liberal government (despite the fact that I'd rather see NEITHER of them get in, I think the Liberals are the lesser of two evils). Of course, if I had my way, the Green's would magically become the most popular party in the country and win a majority government. LOL