I have waited a week to post any comments because I needed some downtime and to also reflect on the election results. Somewhere in my blog I had predicted that the Conservatives would get a minority government, and everyone else would be in a similar position. My reasoning was because none of the parties provided any proof that they deserve a majority of votes from Canadians. And I am not talking about the election because its nothing but very unfortunate noise and anyone who votes based on election marketing and polls I say you are doing a disservice to you your family and your country.
Should we not be looking at what a party has done for the past term? Its like a person who goes to confession but behaves differently when not in the pew (you Catholics will know what I mean lol) isn't the person outside of the confession booth the true behavior?
lets examine this:
Conservatives: for the past 2 years they have ignored the environment, reduced some taxes, attacked the other parties, ignored Ontario, ignored the plight of manufacturing, boosted the war in Afganistan, attempted to increase crime laws and zero action on the economy.
Liberals: Fought with the Conservatives, fought with each other, undermined their leader, forgot to raise money, and sat on their collective bottoms on pretty much everything.
NDP: Criticized anyone that is not an NDP supporter.
where are the real solutions from any of these groups? You got nothing and the vote was polarized by mostly partisan supporters. You have met those people I am sure. They support one party and no matter what thats the party who should be elected. You ask them why, and they all say because iot reflects my values. You say oh yah and what are those? Well Conservatives this and Liberalas that and NDP this. Or my parents and my family always votes this way etc. Does anyoone ever think for themselves?
From a real world here are some serious issues:
The Economy - what party actually had a real plan to address the downward moving economy in North America? Who and what would they do with the significant decrease in manufacturing with massive job layoffs and increased cost of living?
The Environment - Climate Change is supported by a majority of experts and what partyhad a plan that does have an impact on green house gases while balancing our economic stability?
Health Care - The baby boomers our all moving into the grey years and wil put an ever increasing demand and burden on our universal system - who had any ideas to address this?
Aboriginal Issues - nothing has been solved what soever
The list goes on but my point is that none of the 3 major parties offer any real leadership for real diffuclt issues and times. So they are where they should be but theydon't get it. The answer to them is unite the left or right for more members, but guess what that solves nothing for Canadians.
Sunday October 5, 2008
Hope everyone enjoyed the weekend. Went golfing with a couple of colleagues and of course we all at some point talked about the debate. Each had mixed views on who won, but we all agreed that no one has any real economic plan. Which makes me even more concerned about this election. Another comment from all of my colleagues (and they all vote differently - lol) was that they felt Harper does not care one iota about Ontario.
Confession, I voted for Stephen Harper the last election because of the following:
1. wanted to get rid of the Liberals for obvious reasons at the time
2. Felt that Harper truly was different than the status quo and would make a positive difference.
I feel betrayed and angry since then. I had never voted Conservative but felt we needed a change. What I am seeing is a party that for some reason hates Ontario and is playing a lot of the same games that the Liberals played while in office. I am also realizing that my value system isn't aligned with the current Conservatives. Not sure about you, but I am scared about the state of the economy, environment and health care. Don't see any kind of plan to address either from the government. If you do, please tell me exactly what it is.
Monday September 22, 2008
Voted today at the election office - There were a lot of people there, this may end up being a heavy voter turn out.
Harris Poll Today has Conservatives at 38%
Does not matter which party you vote for, ask your self if 38% of voters should decide who elects your next government? That means that 62% of Canadian voters will not have elected this government! Seems undemocratic to me that less than half vote for a certain party and that party gets elected a majority?????
Do you think the systems needs to change? You figure it out.
Friday September 19, 2008
Latest polls suggest that the Conservatives and Liberals are losing some ground to the NDP and Greens. Don't figure, maybe people are starting to tire of the bull from these 2 parties?
Whats more interesting is the that only 36% of voters would choose the Conservatives if the election was held today.
Liberals 27%
NDP 16%
Green 11%
Doesn't any one find it disturbing that less than half of Canadians would vote for a party and they would still win? Hardly reflects the views of the majority of Canadians does it? Its 1/3 folks!
Should we not start considering more representational government of such an eclectic society?
Tuesday September 16, 2008
Very Interesting facts from from Stats Canada
Monday September 15, 2008
Quote of the Day (by Prime Minister Harper)
“My own belief is if we were gong to have some kind of big crash or recession, we probably would have had it by now,” Harper told reporters
Interesting poll today in the Star and Macleans (nearly identical question)
Do you agree with Stephen Harper that Stéphane Dion's Green Shift plan will threaten national unity?
Yes - 38%
No - 62%
The results for both were amazingly similar which begs the question: What really is at the root of the low perception that many have of Dion? Maybe its the Liberal party in question that is responsible for the current poll results.
I am sure that I am not the only person that keeps on questioning the status of the Liberal party that is suppose to have changed and learned from previous mistakes. However, do people like Bob Rae or Michael Ignatieff leave you with that impression?
Sunday September 14, 2008
Hearing a lot about how Harper is such a great leader. The question I have is what has he done during the past tenure in parliament to be given this title? Pleas all you Harper supporters, tell me. Gloria?
I am reading a book right now about the British Empire and India (basically Churchill VS Gandhi) and even if I did do not agree with everything they did and believe, my God were they both what I would label great leaders (at polar opposites I might add)
Polls
Have always had mixed feelings about polls before an election. The company that I own, a portion of our business comes from Market Research. Quite frankly anyone that wants to initiate a poll typically has desired results in mind. What I am trying to say is that the questions from many polls/surveys are bias and skewed towards the desired results.
What concerns me even more is that the general public will take the results has gospel.
For example 2 important polls during the past few days stated the following:
- Conservatives clear majority
- NDP could be opposition
These polls who are most likely funded (might be indirectly) by the 2 parties that have the exposure so to speak. And that is serious because many regular Canadians can be influenced by the results of the polls.
Saturday September 13, 2008
Latest poll commissioned by the Star suggest that Layton is almost tied with Dion
Conservatives 39%
Liberals 23%
NDP 18%
Greens ?????
If you add it up its only 80% does that mean that 20% would vote Green?????????????
Doesn't anyone find it ironic that after all the posturing the Star did in the past 2 days about letting May in to the TV debates they don't include the Greens in this poll? Just goes to show you that they are only in the business of selling papers.
Tuesday September 9, 2008
Conservatives: still getting junk mail even though I asked both the Federal party and the local to stop sending me stuff. Got a real doozy today, its a so called hand written letter from Gloria Kovach (even though its a form letter, like we cannot figure that out)
Its a weird letter, it starts out very personal and then talks about her main values which are supposedly crime control (because we all know how rough it is in sleepy Guelph), product safety (ummm lets see - freed trade with places that don't have quality control, well didn't the Conservatives bring in free trade?) and the last is how much money we will save under a Conservative government.
NDP: Wow! what a day for Jack Layton. His mouth has finally caught up to him. He is getting pounded by the media and more importantly NDP supporters for refusing to allow the Greens in the National TV debates. You have to feel sorry for Tom King, since he has been earning kudos despite Mr. Layton.
Liberals: Kudos to Dion, he is not stooping to the level of Mr. Harper and is taken the high road. However, I am sure some of his colleagues would love to launch a counter- attack. What I find kind of interesting, is that Dion seems to be an anomaly in the Liberal party. The downfall is that he still has the same old cronies. A second kudo goes to Frank Valeriote who came out even before Dion to object that the Greens will not be in the debate.
Greens: If yesterday was a bad day, today quite frankly was bittersweet. Yes the Greens are getting more support via a backlash from the pompous and arrogant decisions of the current elite. BUT, it seems that supporting the Liberals during the last election will be a thorn for quite some time. Also not sure that Elizabeth is correct in saying that part of the decision was because she is a woman. On the upside, 54% of Canadians (according to Angus Reid Poll) think she should be in the debates.
Monday September 8, 2008
Wow! Judging by the reaction to today's events, there is life after the existing systems! I have never seen so many comments online at the Star or Globe and Mail about the exclusion of the Green party.
And the fun begins!
GREENS have been barred from the National TV Debates!
Wow, can you believe that in a so called democracy like Canada that 3 major parties have stonewalled a new and emerging party?
Why would the TV consortium ask the other parties if the Greens should participate?
Well lets see, money, um influence and lobbying are only a few things I can think of :-)
Anyone else care to comment?
Curious poll today:
Do election campaigns influence your vote?
An overwhelming 78% say no
Don't you find the results interesting? Maybe even questionable?
Conservatives: Harper's strategy is clearly 2fold
1. Attack Dion's character
2. Highlight is track record
Sunday September 7, 2008
Its Official - Election on October 14!
First Poll (source - The Toronto Star)
Conservatives 35%
Liberals 34%
NDP 11%
Greens 10%
Undecided 11%
Cost of Waste: Yesterday I inquired about what it will cost us if the bi-elections are canceled and it turns out to be $3.5 million dollars!!!!!
September 5th, 2008
The Prime Minister's Office has released Stephen Harper's weekend itinerary.
It reads as follows:
Prime Minister Stephen Harper on Sunday September 7 at 8:05 am will leave 24 Sussex en route to Rideau Hall to meet with Governor Michaelle Jean to ask her to dissolve the 39th Parliament for an election call October 14 2008.
September 4, 2008
Well its almost a forgone conclusion that we will have yet another election this fall. Since none of the current elected MPs can seem to work together to get anything done. Which begs the question: Why would we re-elect any of them?
Another interesting observation: How much money would be wasted if the bi-elections are canceled? and Why are people so complacent about it? There has been more of an uproar and media frenzy about political sign vandalism. Heck the Mercury even had a poll over it!
Political Mailings: I have never received so much quite frankly junk mail from one political party. I don't like getting junk mail in general and the reason why I call political party mail junk is because there is never any real substance to what they print. Its all marketing with soundbites in the form of bullet points. You know the stuff! Vote for me because of these 3 reasons etc.
In this particular case I am talking about the Conservatives (sorry Gloria) but I have been receiving mail almost daily from the Harper Clan. I even emailed Gloria and the marketing department for the Conservatives and didn't even get a response. Do the parties actually think this kind of stuff works? If it wasn't so annoying it would be hilarious! I guess this means we will probably be getting a lot more junk mail over the next few weeks. If any of the parties read this - It doesn't work, mass mailers are very ineffective and cost intensive.
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