Politics Class is Hard!

[c9]

Conservatives: Very specific about being honest and incorruptible, but no actual government experience to prove this. Policies include repealing equal marriage, more tax cuts, less Kyoto support, more business-friendly decisions, and less social-welfare-friendly decisions. I disagree with the platform in numerous ways. Very likely to form government soon.

New Democrats: Very specific about being honest and incorruptible, but no actual government experience to prove this. Policies include abolishing the Senate, less tax cuts, more Kyoto support, less business-friendly decisions, and more social-welfare-friendly decisions. I agree with their platform in some ways, and disagree in some other ways. Not likely to form government any time soon.

Liberals: Demonstrably corrupt. Making bad decisions on the unity file. But generally speaking, their policy ideals are pretty reasonable. I agree with their platform in numerous ways. Very likely to form government soon. (The Liberal election machine can get out of any jam.)

It's very hard to support the government when their apparatus dearly requires a lesson. But it's also hard to support a party that I think has bad ideas, or a party that has only some bad ideas but will not actually get anywhere*.

In essence, this is the story of a large chunk of the Canadian populace, for those curious about how Canadian politics works.

* Full disclosure: I am a member of the NDP at the moment, but more as a way of trying to nudge federal policies to the left, not because I actually think they'd do well as (or should form) the next government.

Comments

[c9.livejournal.com]

Exactly. Joe, Belinda, and Scott were quite the progressive component. With them all out? They got nothin'.

[bartok.livejournal.com]

basically Canada really started shifting to the right after the late 90s. Now what's interesting is that were the country to take up the MMP system I could see Quebec independence rearing its ugly head again. With the drop in representation that would entail federally they'd be worse off (and probably start whining again).

[c9.livejournal.com]

Interesting thought. Worse off because they'd have less BQ representatives? Or worse off because no one could pander in times of separatist storm? Hmmm.

The idealist in me wants to think that MMP would mean more progress on mainstream issues, but I know that mainstream for Canada and mainstream for Quebec are two different things on several files. Double hmmm.

[bartok.livejournal.com]

they'd have less representation. The purpose of MMP is to have the % within parliament match the % of the vote. So it creates "List" MPs to top up the other parties. Last election the BQ had 12% , which means they'd have only 12% of seats. the NDP had 16%, with I think the Cons at 20% and Libs at 36%. So the Libs/NDP could have gone into coalition for over 50%.

What I'm thinking though, is that with such a reduced presence in parliament, Quebec would go back to Independence rumblings in order to get what it wants...

[c9.livejournal.com]

I suppose. I am familiar with proportional representation, and you're right that there would be a lot of "we have no power" concern. I wonder if that could evolve into "we have just as many MPs as before." Though many would be angered by any coalitions, so never mind that idea. :)

Hmmm.

[bartok.livejournal.com]

so in conclusion, democracy just doesn't work.

[c9.livejournal.com]

Yeah. Maybe we really do need to let Brad be in charge.

[c9.livejournal.com]

LOL! No. A friend of mine from university, who lives in Halifax. He is quite certain that the world would be a better place if we let him be in charge, as benevolent dictator. He often offers cabinet positions to us.

[skeezix1000.livejournal.com]

Pure proportional representation would be a nightmare. And I don't think it would be more democratic, because it would place more power in the hands of the party leaderships (as MPs would be elected via party lists determined by the leaders).

I suspect, though, if it were implemented, that provinces would retain their #s of MPs. PEI would maintain its 4 (I believe) MPs, except that based on the popular vote, they might not all be Liberals for a change.

[c9.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I don't like the party lists part of PR. The dual option proposed in BC sounded interesting, as it created groups of people running in larger areas. But the complexity may be doomed in this MTV world.