[Guest]

<br /> <br /> <br /> addendum.<br /> <br /> The only *wild card* in this event, is that Conservatives tend to really shine under adversity. Whereas Liberals work alright when everything is hand delivered to them...Conservatives can make their own way.<br /> <br /> Here's hoping that Harper can make something of this term and not allow himself to get tied with with the geo-politics of Canada.<br /> <br />

[Jesse]

Personally, I think the last minority government accomplished far more than a majority would have. Not only did the NDP manage to force some issues that mattered to their voters (19% of the popular vote is nothing to scoff at), but we hopefully managed to clean out some of the corruption in the government!<br /> <br /> We'll see how well this new minority government does; at least it won't waste too much time repealing everything that the previous minority pushed through. I would love to see our government move on to more pressing issues than gay marriage.

[Reverend Blair]

I don't think much will get done during Harper's reign, Jesse. He has a reputation for being autocratic and his base is at odds with so much that the three other parties stand for or, in the case of the Liberals, pretend to stand for.<br /> <br /> I think the NDP will likely get parts of their political reform package added onto Harper's, and I think the worst of the damage that Harper can do will be minimized, but I think we'll be seeing another election very soon...likely within a year. <br /> <br /> We might make two years due to the last couple of elections eating up so much cash for the parties, but the Conservatives are so far to the right that I can't see somebody, perhaps everybody, not having to take a stand at some point. <br /> <br /> I doubt it will be on a money bill. I think we will be looking at a specific motion of non-confidence on an opposition day again, this time because of socially regressive motions put forth by Conservatives. The Conservatives will then lose the election. <br /> <br /> I only hope that it won't lead to a Liberal majority. <br /> <br />

[Guest]

[QUOTE BY= jesse] Personally, I think the last minority government accomplished far more than a majority would have. Not only did the NDP manage to force some issues that mattered to their voters (19% of the popular vote is nothing to scoff at), but we hopefully managed to clean out some of the corruption in the government!<br /> <br /> We'll see how well this new minority government does; at least it won't waste too much time repealing everything that the previous minority pushed through. I would love to see our government move on to more pressing issues than gay marriage.[/QUOTE]<br /> <br /> Gay Marriage?<br /> <br /> What about fucking healthcare? Crime? Government Corruption?<br /> <br /> What's the fucking kick dude? Gay Marriage is a BOTTOM LIST issue. I rank it down there with legalizing Marijuana and women being allowed to go topless for crissakes. It shouldn't even be a Federal issue, a Provincial issue at best.<br /> <br /> I'd rather have whatever government we have debating/legislating shit like a more accountable government, less wait times in hospitals and a genuine crackdown on rising gun violence.<br /> <br /> ALL of those issues are paramount over Gay Marriage.<br /> <br /> You've got your priorities ALL FUCKED UP Jesse.<br /> <br /> But then again: WHAT'S NEW?<br /> <br />

[Guest]

Layton's a shameless whore. He'd side with the Bloc Quebecquois if it meant getting his bullshit pushed through.<br /> <br /> The positives of this election are:<br /> <br /> 1) Martin is gone. That means the old guard of the old Liberals are now over. A new face will have to step in and that means it'll take awhile for the public to assess this new leader of the Grits. Gomery #2 will only make the public even more thankful they didn't re-elect a Liberal government.<br /> <br /> 2) Tory gains in Quebec. All said and done, the Bloc lost a shitload of popular vote support. Ducepped wanted 50+ of popular votes and instead he got 42 percent. The Bloc is sliding and Harper made it happen.<br /> <br /> Why? Because beyond Quebecquers growing sick of the Grits, they liked the fact that Liberal Jean Charest is Liberal in name only...Charest is Harper's trump card. Also, Harper was the only politician that actually made the most sense of Federalism, in that Harper's not a big fan of government entitlements/croneyism.<br /> <br /> I can only foresee more Conservative gains in Quebec as time goes on. Let the Grits/NDP fight it out on Ontario for scrap votes.<br /> <br /> 3) Even if Harper doesn't get anything done (I picture the Grits/NDP shamelessly voting against everything Harper pushes for, even if the legislation is bulletproof in the public, the Grits/NDP will find something to hedge their bets on) Harper will be able to hopefully repair ties with the U.S.<br /> <br /> Chances are better you will see a genuine resolution to the softwood dispute with a Harper government than with a Liberal anti-Bush government.<br /> <br /> And yeah, I'm glad the GREEN PARTY basically is the new 'Natural Law' party of Canada. When you have a party solely designed for activism and nothing else...you relegate yourself to the graveyard of political anonymity.<br /> <br /> [QUOTE BY= Reverend Blair] I don't think much will get done during Harper's reign, Jesse. He has a reputation for being autocratic and his base is at odds with so much that the three other parties stand for or, in the case of the Liberals, pretend to stand for.<br /> <br /> I think the NDP will likely get parts of their political reform package added onto Harper's, and I think the worst of the damage that Harper can do will be minimized, but I think we'll be seeing another election very soon...likely within a year. <br /> <br /> We might make two years due to the last couple of elections eating up so much cash for the parties, but the Conservatives are so far to the right that I can't see somebody, perhaps everybody, not having to take a stand at some point. <br /> <br /> I doubt it will be on a money bill. I think we will be looking at a specific motion of non-confidence on an opposition day again, this time because of socially regressive motions put forth by Conservatives. The Conservatives will then lose the election. <br /> <br /> I only hope that it won't lead to a Liberal majority. <br /> <br /> [/QUOTE]

[Reverend Blair]

Good luck with that, Rabblewatch. <img align=absmiddle src='images/smilies/biggrin.gif' alt='Big Grin'>

[Guest]

[QUOTE BY= Reverend Blair] Good luck with that, Rabblewatch. [/QUOTE]<br /> <br /> Gay Marriage is one of the most stupid things to be debating. It's a collosal waste of time. <br /> <br /> Anyone who says that Gay Marriage is a priority topic over people waiting 1-2 years for a surgery as basic as hip repair or rising gang-related gun violence...seriously needs to get their 'head and ass wired together'<br /> <br /> If "Jesse" believes that Gay Marriage is going to be the panacea for all our society's problems...then all the best to him.<br /> <br /> Until then, he's basically made an ass of himself.<br /> <br />

[badsector]

Sooo... If Harper had a majority, he would turn Canada into a Third World hell hole, like Mulroney did. During the election he managed to portray himself as a "moderate." If he governs like a moderate (like a Liberal), he can stay for a while, like a year or even two but will piss off his gun toting drinking buddies in what's the name of that ridiculous province in the prairie, with lots of oil. If he governs like an Albertan, he will fall before he can move his furniture in Sussex Drive.<br /> <br /> I am holding on to my (NDP) election sign, cause I might need it soon. I can save their volunteers a trip this summer, or fall, or maybe next winter.

[Jesse]

[QUOTE BY= Rabblewatch] [QUOTE BY= jesse] <br /> We'll see how well this new minority government does; at least it won't waste too much time repealing everything that the previous minority pushed through. I would love to see our government move on to more pressing issues than gay marriage.[/QUOTE]<br /> <br /> Gay Marriage?<br /> <br /> What about fucking healthcare? Crime? Government Corruption?<br /> [/QUOTE]<br /> <br /> If you actually read and comprehended what I said, it was "more pressing issues THAN gay marriage", not "more pressing issues LIKE gay marriage". Seriously, slow down, take a deep breath, and re-read things before posting knee-jerk reactions that make an ass of yourself. I believe you owe me an apology.

[Reverend Blair]

[QUOTE]Gay Marriage is one of the most stupid things to be debating. It's a collosal waste of time. [/QUOTE]<br /> <br /> Good, then let's just start calling it marriage (without the qualifier) and move on. Oh wait, Harper wants to bring it up again. <br /> <br /> Just like so many in his party would like to take away a woman's right to choose that it will end up in a private members bill if they think for a second that they have the numbers. It wasn't the leader of the Liberals, NDP or Bloc that were making speeches at anti-choice rallies last spring. It was Harper and his clan that showed up to do that when they were supposed to be inside earning the money that we pay them.<br /> <br /> [QUOTE]If he governs like a moderate (like a Liberal), he can stay for a while, like a year or even two but will piss off his gun toting drinking buddies in what's the name of that ridiculous province in the prairie, with lots of oil. If he governs like an Albertan, he will fall before he can move his furniture in Sussex Drive.[/QUOTE]<br /> <br /> I wouldn't be at all surprised if the Conservatives split again over this. Harper, if he wants to remain in power, now has to do what's best for the majority. Like it or not, that means catering to Ontario and, to a lesser extent, Quebec. That's not going to make Calgary happy. Neither is the spectacle of Harper having to go the Liberals, NDP, and Bloc looking for a deal every time he wants to pass legislation.<br /> <br /> <br />

[CamTheCat]

I wonder if the parties have enough money to fund another election so soon. We may not see an election for two to three years.<br /> <br /> The Libs, NDP & Bloc could stand together to push issues through over the Cons.<br /> <br /> The Greens are a real option for Canadian voters, and their support did rise this election. Have you seen their platform? It covers all issues.<br /> <br /> The last minority government would have been able to do more if the MP's and their parties were better at working together. That said, they did get a lot done, and did have to compromise to get what they wanted.<br /> <br /> Our FPTP electoral system ripped a lot of Canadians off, and if we can get a proportional system in place, the government will better reflect the views of Canadians, reducing the disillusionment that I share in regards to the current state of politics.<br /> <br />

[Innes]

If we had proportional representation we would have narrower margins and another party represented but what would that mean for the direction of government? How would this system deal with a large vote for independent candidates?<br /> <br /> My problem with most forms of proportional representation is that they gave political parties even more power. I realize that any system needs parties in order to create some cohesion and get things done but do we really want to make them more powerful?

[badsector]

How does proportinal representation work? Is it a) we send every Canadian to parliament as MP (which will be great for the construction industry), or b) we get a group of people to elect a representative.<br /> <br /> Oh wait a minute... we already have "b".

[Bryan of StA]

[QUOTE BY= Innes] My problem with most forms of proportional representation is that they gave political parties even more power. I realize that any system needs parties in order to create some cohesion and get things done but do we really want to make them more powerful?[/QUOTE]<br /> <br /> I'm curious as to how it gives parties more power. The parties still have a set number of seats to contend over, it is just that those seats are better spread to represent the popular vote instead of regional votes and a 50%+1 form of representation.<br /> <br /> Cohesion that comes from a political system that ignores a portion of the vote allows for the tyrany of the majority.

[Guest]

[QUOTE BY= jesse] [QUOTE BY= Rabblewatch] [QUOTE BY= jesse] <br /> We'll see how well this new minority government does; at least it won't waste too much time repealing everything that the previous minority pushed through. I would love to see our government move on to more pressing issues than gay marriage.[/QUOTE]<br /> <br /> Gay Marriage?<br /> <br /> What about fucking healthcare? Crime? Government Corruption?<br /> [/QUOTE]<br /> <br /> If you actually read and comprehended what I said, it was "more pressing issues THAN gay marriage", not "more pressing issues LIKE gay marriage". Seriously, slow down, take a deep breath, and re-read things before posting knee-jerk reactions that make an ass of yourself. I believe you owe me an apology.[/QUOTE]<br /> <br /> And where do you stand on Gay Marriage? You don't believe it's an important issue? A lot of people did.<br /> <br /> I sense homophobia.<br /> <br />