Discussion Topic |
|
This thread has been locked |
Mighty Hiker
climber
Vancouver, B.C.
|
|
|
Topic Author's Reply - May 2, 2011 - 11:28pm PT
|
Tommy & his era are GONE. Evolved through the Boomers to the schit we have today.
And where are the snows of yesteryear?
Sorry, but every generation of politicians (and the public) says that about its predecessors. The whole golden age routine. Politics was just as messy in 1900 and 1940 as it is now.
|
|
MoonGoon
climber
canadistan
|
|
Also in good news, it looks like the NDP prevented a Conservative sweep in Alberta, which like North Korea and Cuba has pretty much been a one party state for decades. And the Green Party may have elected its first MP, in BC.
Not true. NDP candidate Linda Duncan was just RE-ELECTED
|
|
Mighty Hiker
climber
Vancouver, B.C.
|
|
|
Topic Author's Reply - May 2, 2011 - 11:35pm PT
|
It looks like the Liberal in the riding that Tami, Tricouni and I live in will be re-elected, although it's quite close.
"the NDP prevented a Conservative sweep in Alberta" and "NDP candidate Linda Duncan was just RE-ELECTED" mean pretty much the same thing, don't they?
|
|
Mighty Hiker
climber
Vancouver, B.C.
|
|
|
Topic Author's Reply - May 2, 2011 - 11:38pm PT
|
In 1900, probably only about 20% of Canadians had the right to vote. You had to be male, a citizen, and over 21, and as you say some groups were excluded. You're right about noise and technology, but while the details have changed, the general picture really hasn't. But if I were 90 years old, I might well think otherwise.
|
|
MoonGoon
climber
canadistan
|
|
"the NDP prevented a Conservative sweep in Alberta" and "NDP candidate Linda Duncan was just RE-ELECTED" mean pretty much the same thing, don't they?
Yep sure does. But the part about AB being a one party province for decades is what I was commenting on. As if you were saying that not having a sweep was a new thing.
|
|
Mighty Hiker
climber
Vancouver, B.C.
|
|
|
Topic Author's Reply - May 2, 2011 - 11:44pm PT
|
Well, essentially the Conservatives (formerly Canadian Alliance, formerly Reform, formerly Progressive Conservatives, formerly Conservatives) have won most federal seats in Alberta since the 1940s, with the exception of a few urban ridings. Likewise, Social Credit and then the Conservatives have dominated provincial politics there since the mid-1930s. Others have a toe in the door, and the Wildrose Alliance may eventually supplant the Conservatives in the same way that they squeezed out the Socreds. Different name, much the same bunch. Just like B.C.'s Socreds in 1991 morphed into Gordon Campbell's "Liberals" by 1996. Turfed a few of the extremists, not much else changed but the name.
|
|
marv
Mountain climber
Bay Area
|
|
oh, wow, Canadian politics, democracy, elections... in Canada ...
America doesn't even know you exist.
|
|
marv
Mountain climber
Bay Area
|
|
Canada = the country that borders America that isn't Mexico
|
|
Mighty Hiker
climber
Vancouver, B.C.
|
|
|
Topic Author's Reply - May 3, 2011 - 01:18am PT
|
Well, I thought it was witty to nickname him "Jacques" Layton, anyway.
The NDP are going to have a real challenge with 70 new MPs, many of them quite young, and about half overall from Quebec.
|
|
Reilly
Mountain climber
The Other Monrovia- CA
|
|
I just saw that Iggy didn't even win his own riding. That's an electoral bich-slap!
I guess Canadians are saying thank you for their jobs and relatively rosy economic future.
|
|
NigelSSI
Trad climber
B.C.
|
|
Looks like my green vote actually went to the winner... First in North America.
Even ousted a Conservative. Imagine that!
|
|
Mighty Hiker
climber
Vancouver, B.C.
|
|
|
Topic Author's Reply - May 3, 2011 - 01:22pm PT
|
Looking on the bright side, there won't be nearly as many calls from pollsters at inopportune times for the next while. (To me, all calls from pollsters come at inopportune times. When they refuse to identify themselves, and won't agree to pay me for my time, I hang up.) And we won't have a federal election for four years or so.
Also, this is probably the first majority government in a long time that did not have significant number of MPs from Quebec. So it will be awkward for Harper to convincingly address that. The NDP will take some time to get its act together, somehow assimilate a large number of rookie Quebec MPs, and perhaps work something out with the Liberals. But assuming that Harper favours corporate, right wing, and Alberta influences, that may be the only real counter-balance.
Looking at the other side, Harper will probably now be prime minister for five or six years, until the next election then, if re-elected, for at least a couple more years. And the prime minister in our system is much less constrained by checks and balances than the president in the US. Harper will now show his true colours - governing for all Canadians, or not.
|
|
Reilly
Mountain climber
The Other Monrovia- CA
|
|
Obviously I didn't have a horse in this race although I am somewhat glad to
see those Bloc wankers disappear. It does seem clear to me that the people
did uphold Reagan's "it's the economy, stupid." That's what it usually boils
down to, eh?
As to a previous statement regarding mental health I can wholeheartedly say
that I am glad my niece with severe autism lives in Canada because there is
no way she would have the care she gets up there.
|
|
Mighty Hiker
climber
Vancouver, B.C.
|
|
|
Topic Author's Reply - May 3, 2011 - 04:01pm PT
|
Reagan's "it's the economy, stupid."
Clinton, maybe?
|
|
Reilly
Mountain climber
The Other Monrovia- CA
|
|
Bruce,
I don't disagree with any of that. Why is it that the Liberals can't
convince the people of it? I mean even the Quebecois have figgered out the
fallacies of le Bloc although that isn't as subtle as seeing through a conservative faustian bargain, eh?
|
|
JEleazarian
Trad climber
Fresno CA
|
|
You know, folks, there's always the possibility that right is correct.
;-)
John
|
|
JEleazarian
Trad climber
Fresno CA
|
|
I didn't feel the need to stir the pot.
John
Edit: ;-) is a wink. I'm not sure what -;) means, though. My upturned mustache, maybe?
j
|
|
Mighty Hiker
climber
Vancouver, B.C.
|
|
|
Topic Author's Reply - May 3, 2011 - 07:20pm PT
|
The proverb "Be careful what you wish for, you might get it" now seems to apply to both the Conservatives and the New Democrats. Likewise the one about living in interesting times.
The Conservatives have their coveted majority. However, they only increased their share of the popular vote from 37.6% to 39.6%. Also, they won only six seats in Quebec, out of 75. It may be the first time since well before World War II that a majority government has been elected with such a small proportion of the popular vote, and with such modest representation from Quebec.
The Conservatives will surely blather about their "mandate", but their win is almost entirely due to vote splitting between the Liberals and NDP, not anything particularly compelling about their platform, or any real endorsement by the public. The only real mandate they have is to provide responsible, centrist government for all Canadians.
The NDP has more than twice as many MPs, half from Quebec. It will take some time to assimilate their young, new, and often Francophone MPs, and start to deploy them. Likewise, merger talks with the Liberals may distract them from providing an effective opposition, again on behalf of all Canadians. Although Jacques Layton seems a popular fellow in Quebec.
About 14.7 million voters cast a ballot, as opposed to 13.8 million in 2008, so that's a positive. And the election was undoubtedly far more entertaining and important than "reality" (fake) television.
|
|
Mighty Hiker
climber
Vancouver, B.C.
|
|
|
Topic Author's Reply - May 4, 2011 - 12:11am PT
|
Will it confuse 'Merrycans if I mention that in Canada, the Conservatives (slightly right of centre, some neocon wannabes) are "blue", the Liberals (slightly left of centre) are "red", and the New Democrats (social democrats, at least until last night - who knows now?) are "orange".
|
|
Mighty Hiker
climber
Vancouver, B.C.
|
|
|
Topic Author's Reply - May 7, 2011 - 05:31pm PT
|
It's usually on the Friday evening nearest to midsummer's day, and includes a swim, refreshments, etc. But is also low key. Sadly, Dave N, who discovered the route many years ago, will be away then. Perhaps Dave V will be available, though.
|
|
|
SuperTopo on the Web
|
Let us know!