free as a dove, conceived in love
Oct. 17th, 2008 07:31 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
jawnbcWell we had our election, and while I'm not thrilled with the result (a larger Tory minority), it could have been worse and the Grits will soon be rid of Dion. Always liked and respected him, but not a good Prime Minister. Of the major parties, only one--the nascent Greens--increased their raw number of votes: everyone else was down...but turnout was the lowest in Canadian history.
Still, tells you something, eh? 4 federal elections in 8 years. 3 minority governments in a row. Our electoral system is in dire need of change.
Some surprising results though:
+Right wing Alberta is sending an NDP (social democrat) MP for only the 2nd time ever
+Newfoundland is sending its first NDP MP ever elected during a general election (they won a by-election once previously, only to lose the seat subsequently)
+Liberals tanked here in BC, holding only 5 seats--one of which is a recount and was considered safe
+Conservatives were down in Québec Newfoundland, but up in Atlantic Canada, BC, and Ontario
But really Harper's days are numbers, if if the number is a large one. He ran against an unpopular or uninspiring opponent who campaigned on a new approach to taxes that was easy to demonize as a tax increase (it wasn't: the green shift cuts existing ones while introducing a carbon tax)...yet he still couldn't get a majority. We can assume the Liberals will soon choose a proper leader, drop the green shift (sadly), and quickly bounce back.
As for people--Liberals mostly, but some Dippers as well--who bitch and moan about "vote splitting" on the left between the Grits, NDP and Greens, shuh uh-up! No party is entitled to anyone's vote: they have to earn them. There's a reason a lot of progressive voters shun the Liberals or NDP. The Grits campaign from the left and govern from the centre; the NDP's environmental programme is still held hostage by the industrial trade unions (I voted NDP, btw).
Not exciting times politically, but somewhat interesting at least.
Still, tells you something, eh? 4 federal elections in 8 years. 3 minority governments in a row. Our electoral system is in dire need of change.
Some surprising results though:
+Right wing Alberta is sending an NDP (social democrat) MP for only the 2nd time ever
+Newfoundland is sending its first NDP MP ever elected during a general election (they won a by-election once previously, only to lose the seat subsequently)
+Liberals tanked here in BC, holding only 5 seats--one of which is a recount and was considered safe
+Conservatives were down in Québec Newfoundland, but up in Atlantic Canada, BC, and Ontario
But really Harper's days are numbers, if if the number is a large one. He ran against an unpopular or uninspiring opponent who campaigned on a new approach to taxes that was easy to demonize as a tax increase (it wasn't: the green shift cuts existing ones while introducing a carbon tax)...yet he still couldn't get a majority. We can assume the Liberals will soon choose a proper leader, drop the green shift (sadly), and quickly bounce back.
As for people--Liberals mostly, but some Dippers as well--who bitch and moan about "vote splitting" on the left between the Grits, NDP and Greens, shuh uh-up! No party is entitled to anyone's vote: they have to earn them. There's a reason a lot of progressive voters shun the Liberals or NDP. The Grits campaign from the left and govern from the centre; the NDP's environmental programme is still held hostage by the industrial trade unions (I voted NDP, btw).
Not exciting times politically, but somewhat interesting at least.
