Want to stop Harper from getting his majorty government?

[shift]

http://www.voteforenvironment.ca/

Put in your postal code and this site will tell you what candidate in your riding has the best chance of beating the Conservatives.

[NinjaBoy]

Voting simply to counter another party is pretty much the least informed way of voting possible. You might as well flip a coin.

Congrats, you're one step closer to thinking like an American when you vote. It's only a shame we don't use a busted two party Republic system!

I'm never one to piddle away my vote on someone who's views I don't support. But if you want to, good job.

[shift]

In this election the most important thing to me is that Harper doesn't get the majority. If he does he'll have the power to do whatever he wants, and that would be very bad for Canada. Also, speaking of US politics, this is a guy who has already implemented US policies on a wide variety of issues, and plans to do much more. How's that for thinking like an American?

[NinjaBoy]

Originally Posted by shift

In this election the most important thing to me is that Harper doesn't get the majority. If he does he'll have the power to do whatever he wants, and that would be very bad for Canada. Also, speaking of US politics, this is a guy who has already implemented US policies on a wide variety of issues, and plans to do much more. How's that for thinking like an American?

What policies in particular? And please don't quote from some random web page, I want to see if you know what you are talking about.

[ebbomega]

Bill C-61 is a good example of an attempt to emulate the DMCA.

He passed through a motion for fixed election dates as well (oh hey look, good job on following through on that one there Harper).

[shift]

Well, most recently he had proposed to prosecute minors involved in more serious crimes as adults with jail sentences served in adult correctional facilities. Proposed intensity targets instead of hard caps to combat carbon emissions (the same thing Bush is trying to pull), and has fought to keep Canada out of the global effort against climate change in the past. Harper has been quoted numerous times saying he favours the American model of health care (although recently he has claimed to support Canada's Health Act.. not sure what to believe there) . Afganistan was a US lead initiative. Large corporate tax cuts, funding cuts for the arts ect.

Are you a Harper fan Ninjaboy?

[ebbomega]

Point of Order, Martin got us into Afghanistan, not Harper.

[NinjaBoy]

Originally Posted by shift

Well, most recently he had proposed to prosecute minors involved in more serious crimes as adults with jail sentences served in adult correctional facilities. Proposed intensity targets instead of hard caps to combat carbon emissions (the same thing Bush is trying to pull), and has fought to keep Canada out of the global effort against climate change in the past. Harper has been quoted numerous times saying he favours the American model of health care (although recently he has claimed to support Canada's Health Act.. not sure what to believe there) . Afganistan was a US lead initiative. Large corporate tax cuts, funding cuts for the arts ect.

Are you a Harper fan Ninjaboy?

I actually vote NDP. I just believe that you should be an informed voter and not let a web page decide your vote via software.

Keep in mind there is a difference between Bush's politics, and right wing politics. You could say that any political party that is based on the right favors policies similar to Bush's. However this would be grossly over simplifying it.

Conservative political parties almost always favor tougher criminal sentencing, big business, corporate tax cuts etc...

And as for the environment issue (I PRAY your big concern is the environment since you are linking to a site that is calculating what's best strictly for the environment), I have no problem with Canada pulling out of Kyoto.

[rustybob]

Originally Posted by shift

Well, most recently he had proposed to prosecute minors involved in more serious crimes as adults with jail sentences served in adult correctional facilities.

Wait, you see this as a problem?!

[ebbomega]

Originally Posted by rustybob

Wait, you see this as a problem?!

Yeah, because 16 year old kids caught with weed on them should really serve 3 years in prison. That won't fuck 'em up for the rest of their lives or anything.

[NinjaBoy]

I believe the bill related to violent crimes only though...

[rawb]

voting anything other than who you think will serve the country best is fucking stupid

[shift]

^Yeah, it's definitely more serious crimes. The problem IMO isn't being tried as adults (judges have the power to do that already) but that 14 year old kids will be thrown in jail with hardend adult criminals. How is that going to result in anything positive?

I totally agree about being an informed voter, but in this particular case I think that strategic voting is the only way we stand a chance at keeping Harper from a majority. That is far more important to me than whether the runner up is NDP or Liberal. I posted the link as a tool for others who feel the same way.

[miss.myra]

Originally Posted by ebbomega

Point of Order, Martin got us into Afghanistan, not Harper.

Point of order, Martin also defied Bush into denying Canada's participation in Iraq. You know why? When Afghanistan happened, September 11 was really fresh in people's heads. This was a truly unprecedented attack (in the western world) and I think that leaders of nations that are generally more left leaning (Canada, UK, other European nations that are part of NATO) thought they were helping by going into Afghanistan. They thought it was the right thing to do at the time because I think they were very affected by the terrorist attacks. What's worse, a politician who knows something is unsuccessful and wrong and continues to do it, or makes an error of judgement and later changes their stance to what they know is right in their minds and stands firm in it? I was an extremely proud Canadian when Mr. Martin told Bush we won't go to Iraq and didn't succumb to US pressure. I think that is an important point to keep in mind. To me, that is far more refreshing than a soulless (and eyebrowless) prime minister who can't wait to take it up the ass from the Neo Cons. neighbours to the south.

And to comment on the original post, Harper knows he's not going to get a majority, but he will maintain his position as Prime Minister. To me, it's not as important to avoid having a cons majority as it is to avoid having a complete neo cons douchebag representing our country.

[ebbomega]

Originally Posted by miss.myra

Point of order, Martin also defied Bush into denying Canada's participation in Iraq. You know why? When Afghanistan happened, September 11 was really fresh in people's heads. This was a truly unprecedented attack (in the western world) and I think that leaders of nations that are generally more left leaning (Canada, UK, other European nations that are part of NATO) thought they were helping by going into Afghanistan. They thought it was the right thing to do at the time because I think they were very affected by the terrorist attacks. What's worse, a politician who knows something is unsuccessful and wrong and continues to do it, or makes an error of judgement and later changes their stance to what they know is right in their minds and stands firm in it? I was an extremely proud Canadian when Mr. Martin told Bush we won't go to Iraq and didn't succumb to US pressure. I think that is an important point to keep in mind. To me, that is far more refreshing than a soulless (and eyebrowless) prime minister who can't wait to take it up the ass from the Neo Cons. neighbours to the south.

Okay.

What that has to do with Harper not being the one responsible for us ending up in Afghanistan is beyond me.

[miss.myra]

Originally Posted by ebbomega

Okay.

What that has to do with Harper not being the one responsible for us ending up in Afghanistan is beyond me.

nothing at all, actually.

you'd have to admit, i had a point.

[Courtney]

I don't believe in strategic voting
I may as well not vote if I'm going to do that,personally

[Courtney]

Ndp Babay

[-evil-duerr-]

ima fuck up harpers shit with my vote, that'll teach em to cross the renegades

[brit]

Strategic voting in Canada, today, is a-ok in my books. Thanks for the site, I think it's great.


I'll be sending out an email with this information to my friends and family, and i'd urge anyone who likes this idea to do the same.

[starbright]

Originally Posted by rawb

voting anything other than who you think will serve the country best is fucking stupid

I disagree.

From where I stand, Harper is a serious threat to our country on numerous fronts... I don't agree with the work he has done over his term and I would rather see any other party's leader in power over him.

Unfortunately, the Canadian electoral system is shitty. After an election, the party with the most elected representatives usually becomes the governing party... not the party with the most votes. This is why it's so critical the seats are going to other parties. So yah, strategic voting takes some brains and uh, strategy. The site helps & I'm thankful for it.
I previously mentioned it in this thread.

Harper's only strong quality is his confidence and experience with media and in the public eye. I'm sure that any other candidate can pick this up with a little bit of support and experience.

Embrace CHANGE!

[miss.myra]

Originally Posted by rawb

voting anything other than who you think will serve the country best is fucking stupid

lulz, tell this to everyone in Quebec who vote bloc year in and year out. Why a political party who only represents one group of people inside one province's special interests can run at a federal level is totally fucked.

I know, opening a can of worms here, but still.

[ebbomega]

Originally Posted by miss.myra

lulz, tell this to everyone in Quebec who vote bloc year in and year out. Why a political party who only represents one group of people inside one province's special interests can run at a federal level is totally fucked.

I know, opening a can of worms here, but still.

It's going to pave the way for North American balkanization, that's for sure.

The question is who will crumble first: Canada or US?

Right now my money's on the states, but it's not that long ago that the odds were against us.

[decypher]

There's also an anti-harper vote swap facebook page:
Login | Facebook


As for strategic voting, I think it's fine as long as it gets people out to vote and I think it's inevitable in multi-party systems.

[wishbone]

I think strategic voting is fine for this go around. not a lot of people feel strong ties to any specific party, but do hold a lot of resentment to the conservatives. those who'd be apathetic feel like they can make a difference, I think it's a good idea!