The Greens are polling around 8%, but even at 5% could swing a couple key ridings away from the NDP.
This election, potential is limited, but I wouldn't discount the Greens forever. They're getting funding and the main parties are pissing people off.
We both agree that a major weakness of theirs is their wacko policies, but probably disagree on how many wacko policies they have.
Reform started out as something to be dismissed, but after sticking to their guns and fighting the good fight they had a huge impact on the Canadian political landscape -- they handed the Liberals unopposed power for over 10 years. Protest parties can make a difference.
If the Green Party put up a serious candidate here in St. John's East, I would be willing to consider voting for them.
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"The man who does not read good books has no advantage over the man who can't read these books." Mark Twain
looks like Jack Layton has been reading the political tea leaves
I don't think an election bodes well for the NDP.
Be careful of what you wish for Jackie boy.
He's toasted himself in my opinion. I don't think time will change that in this election period.
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I too have the sense that the NDP, which was starting to come up in the polls, will get sqeezed once again by those people not wanting either the Liberals or the Conservatives, but who feel that the NDP will not get elected in their riding. Still, it might bode well for the Green Party. We shall see.
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Dr.G.
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"The man who does not read good books has no advantage over the man who can't read these books." Mark Twain
Last election there were SO many seats that could have been won by NDPers, if people hadn't voted "strategically". As in, the NDPer was bound to win, then Paul Martin scares everyone, and they vote Liberal thinking that will save them from the Conservatives, split the vote and the Conservative gets in.
It just goes to show that strategic voting doesn't help! Vote for your issues. Remember, in a minority government, even if the conservatives are in power, they need to co-operate to get things done.
One issue I want to be raised is Free-Trade. The debate has never really stopped despite what the Liberals and Conservatives say. There was resistance to it when it was suggested, when it was planned, when it was undemocratically adopted, and continues to this day. Paul Martin's view on it is really offensive, as he sat inside a building while hundreds of thousands of people from the poorest countries of America showed up to peacefully say "free-trade doesn't work!"; he said that free-trade is the best way to solve poverty... what arrogance. I think this needs to be addressed. It's not working, and we need to have a debate which properly addresses the fact that no body has agreed on it since its inception.
Last election there were SO many seats that could have been won by NDPers, if people hadn't voted "strategically". As in, the NDPer was bound to win, then Paul Martin scares everyone, and they vote Liberal thinking that will save them from the Conservatives, split the vote and the Conservative gets in.
The NDP only have themselves to blame for that. They played the same scare tactic game, but it cost them. Maybe this time, Layton should say something nice about Harper.
Quote:
Originally Posted by ravijo
One issue I want to be raised is Free-Trade. The debate has never really stopped despite what the Liberals and Conservatives say. There was resistance to it when it was suggested, when it was planned, when it was undemocratically adopted, and continues to this day. Paul Martin's view on it is really offensive, as he sat inside a building while hundreds of thousands of people from the poorest countries of America showed up to peacefully say "free-trade doesn't work!"; he said that free-trade is the best way to solve poverty... what arrogance. I think this needs to be addressed. It's not working, and we need to have a debate which properly addresses the fact that no body has agreed on it since its inception.
How is it not working? Give me an example of where the alternative is working better. No system is perfect. But in the case of Canada, it is pretty much undisputed that free trade has been good for our country.
I agree with Martin, I think free trade is a good way to help with poverty. Look at the progress of China and India in the last 20 years, due to free trade policies. Now imagine 20 years into the future. These countries wouldn't be where they are without trade.
Poverty isn't going to be solved overnight and free trade in itself won't solve this problem either. But, it is a step in the right direction.
One issue I want to be raised is Free-Trade. The debate has never really stopped despite what the Liberals and Conservatives say. There was resistance to it when it was suggested, when it was planned, when it was undemocratically adopted, and continues to this day. Paul Martin's view on it is really offensive, as he sat inside a building while hundreds of thousands of people from the poorest countries of America showed up to peacefully say "free-trade doesn't work!"; he said that free-trade is the best way to solve poverty... what arrogance. I think this needs to be addressed. It's not working, and we need to have a debate which properly addresses the fact that no body has agreed on it since its inception.
Free trade was democratically adopted, unless you're talking about the less than 50% vote for Mulroney, in which case very little of what our governments do is 'democratic'...only those things will multi-party support.
Many very poor nations are pushing for free trade (agriculture and textiles specifically).
It is working, but selective information can always be found against it. The difference between it being perfect and it being far better than before. We owe a huge part of our economic and, by extension, fiscal success to it. It helped generate the wealth that is taxed to pay for our social safety net.
Chavez and some other latin American leaders consistently hold back and/or destroy their countries' economies. Them and the ubiquitous anti-globalisation protestors (not counting the hooligans, they aren't really protesting anything) aren't correct just because they're different.
I think Layton will be blamed and punished for triggering an election by everyone who doesn't want one. Those who are chomping for an election are not potential NDP voters, so, I think, the NDP is screwed if an election is called soon.
As for the Green Party - if you have traditionally voted centre, centre-left, left, it would be prudent to examine Green's policies closely before casting your ballot. They may surprise you.
To illustrate, a few days ago, Frank DeJong (the Ontario Green Party leader) had a letter in the Star advocating an incredibly regressive realty tax scheme - he advocated taxing property without regard to improvements, so the 600 square foot clapboard bungalows on my street would be taxed the same as the 3400 square foot houses next door to them, because the lots are identical.
My priorities are:
1. To have my cake;
2. To eat it too.
Seriously, it would be refreshing if any party advocating improving health care, education, etc. would have the balls to admit that these services cost money. The money has to come from somewhere, and it sure doesn't come from tax cuts.
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