Canada Votes, 2019

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Ritafee said:
which party should I vote for not to put the needs of corporations ahead of those of people.
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Same two, though the NDP is joined at the hip with Big Labour, but I assume you're more comfortable with that than the corps.
 
Good and difficult questions @Ritafee.

I'm torn on the pipeline/oil and gas issue. I've seen how it feeds people in the BC and Alberta Peace region in particular. I've seen it's value in warming out houses when it's -40. We do still need it right now.

I've also seen the beauty of the waters along the British Columbia coast. I've seen whales and other marine wildlife up close. I have huge concerns about the impact of transporting our gas products in those waters. When Northern Gateway was being discussed, I was concerned about the impact of that pipeline on the wilderness of northern BC. I saw what a spill did to the Pine River in BC around 2000.

I don't see us being able to give up oil and gas anytime soon. I also believe we need to fund and develop alternative energy now. We need to ensure the pipeline infrastructure is safe so that our environment is safe. It seems to me that upgrading our pipeline is important right now too

So, how do we vote in order to ensure there is wisdom in the decisions around this issue?
 
Ritafee said:
It is my 'opinion' that a humane future is not possible under capitalism.
Which party should I vote for ?
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None of the above. The NDP and Greens are not exactly corporation-friendly but aren't going to overthrow capitalism in its entirety.

Personally, I have no problem with capitalism in principle. People making money from their time and talents is ancient, perhaps as old as civilization. The mom and pop shop is as much a function of capitalism as the multinationals. I work for a smallish, family-owned corporation and do so quite happily. I know the owners and executives personally and they really are about more than just profits.

I do have a problem with the behaviour of some segments of the corporate world (profits over people, monopolistic practices) but those fly in face of capitalism as I understand it. It is as much a restraint on individual initiative and entrepreneurship as any government. So I don't see breaking up a monopoly or regulation of certain industries as being about ending capitalism as much as they are about changing its course.

So a party like NDP or Green works for me.
 
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Mendalla said:
Same two, though the NDP is joined at the hip with Big Labour, but I assume you're more comfortable with that than the corps.
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What Big Labour? Conservatives and Liberals have been Big Union Busters in the past 20+ years. And it’s only because of that they have lost power (direct action people-power) to represent the bigger picture. They are too busy trying not to not bleed memberships. I have direct experience with this.

Smaller “incorporated” businesses like you describe don’t fall outside the purview of democratic socialism. It’s the mega-corps they want to break up. That said, the NDP is weak right now. It might turn around in 4 years...depending on the US and what happens there.
 
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Mendalla said:
So a party like NDP or Green works for me.
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Looks like no party works for me. Guess I will abstain from casting a ballot this S'election'go around. And yet I will complain.
Lest one of you might insinuate that if I don't 'vote' I can't complain - count me in as a vote for non-violent civil disobedience.
 
Ritafee said:
Looks like no party works for me. Guess I will abstain from casting a ballot this S'election'go around. And yet I will complain.
Lest one of you might insinuate that if I don't 'vote' I can't complain - count me in as a vote for non-violent civil disobedience.
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Go for it. No mandatory voting here and hopefully it always stays that way. I sometimes wonder if it really does or changes anything. Even the NDP is pretty same old, same old. Green gave me hope for a while but still linger on the fringe. We shall see.
 
Ritafee said:
Looks like no party works for me. Guess I will abstain from casting a ballot this S'election'go around. And yet I will complain.
Lest one of you might insinuate that if I don't 'vote' I can't complain - count me in as a vote for non-violent civil disobedience.
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Abstaining is a possibility. It really sends no message when a plurality of votes cast gets you the win.

Refusing your ballot takes more effort but sends a better message.

Political funding in Canada is tied to the percentage of the vote a party wins.

In a four-horse race with four voters all voting for each horse all horses get an equal share. If that pot was $4 then everybody gets $1

Suppose for a moment in a four horse race no voter votes for any horse they still get an equal share but it drops from $1 to $0.

Take the time to actually exercise your voice. Show up at the polling station and refuse your ballot. Yes it is inconvenient. Staying home and doing nothing is the easy way and as we have seen election cycle after election cycle no party cares for those who cannot be bothered to show up at the polling station.
 
I've never heard of that option of refusing your ballot. It's early here. If you do that, are you somehow on the record as having done so?
 
Yes

There is a process of going in to vote and then telling them you refuse. I believe there is a form. It makes more of a statement than just not showing up or even spoiling your ballot
 
That's interesting. I struggle with the idea of abstaining from voting even though I see it as a valid action. This then would put it on record that the person has abstained.
 
Lastpointe said:
Yes

There is a process of going in to vote and then telling them you refuse. I believe there is a form. It makes more of a statement than just not showing up or even spoiling your ballot
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Don’t think anybody really cares. Better would be to contact all the candidates in your riding asking how they all feel about your concerns, maybe get other people to contact them with similar concerns and then pick the one who takes you most seriously.
 
Actually I think officially refusing to vote at least makes a statement. It won’t matter. It won’t change anything but it is tracked

It would be better I think to have a “none of the above option”
 
According to a quick on line check if you spoil your ballot, say by writing in a different name, those are added in with the accidentally spoiled ones. Someone put a check rather than an X or whatever. So those don’t get noticed

If you decline your ballot it is counted separately

But again I am not sure it makes much difference

I think it would be better, as you say, to find a candidate you do support. Likely that might not be one of the five parties, a fringe candidate. Or actually run yourself.
 
Having a "none of the above" would be fabulous.

Perhaps also a "how can we improve" space....though would there be enough room for that? :cool:
 
I live in an area where it highly unlikely a Liberal or Conservative candidate will get in. I'm comfortable with the candidates in the parties which will likely win. They will represent the area well.
 
Northwind said:
I live in an area where it highly unlikely a Liberal or Conservative candidate will get in. I'm comfortable with the candidates in the parties which will likely win. They will represent the area well.
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My area could be interesting. It's traditionally Liberal but the NDP put in a good showing in the provincial election. However, given their current poll position, perhaps federally they will be held to their traditional stronghold in London-Fanshawe. The incumbent (Irene Mathyssen) there is retiring and they've nominated her daughter to succeed her.
 
Northwind said:
I've never heard of that option of refusing your ballot. It's early here. If you do that, are you somehow on the record as having done so?
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A thief is caught in the act and the gathering crowd prepares to lynch her.
At some point, she has a stroke of genius and yells “I’ve registered as a voter.”
The crowd lets her go, and postpones her beating to October, after the election.
 
Lastpointe said:
It would be better I think to have a “none of the above option”
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Which is still tracked ...
Voting is not a duty, it is a right.
It comes with the right to vote, to spoil your vote or to not vote.
The right to abstain is the least acknowledged of these because politicians want numbers.
 
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