tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20283843.post2842391899169935494..comments2023-10-19T06:24:41.808-04:00Comments on Joanne's Journey: Did you bother to vote Wednesday?Joanne (True Blue)http://www.blogger.com/profile/17445664997050698154noreply@blogger.comBlogger40125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20283843.post-8126545233764924612007-10-13T00:00:00.000-04:002007-10-13T00:00:00.000-04:00Why bother to vote when, under first past the post...Why bother to vote when, under first past the post, most votes don't count? But then most of the whiners on this post voted no to MMP. <BR/><BR/>"I did vote. Primarily to vote no to MMP." Not too swift. Deal with it, losers.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20283843.post-13827322365133308682007-10-12T20:52:00.000-04:002007-10-12T20:52:00.000-04:00My vote is completely useless since I live in a sa...<I>My vote is completely useless since I live in a safe riding for a party other than the one I support.</I><BR/><BR/>My riding, a supposedly safe Liberal riding, was "owned" by the PC's for many years. It was considered untouchable, until the Rae NDP took it. The Libs are losing votes in every election since, so there is some hope (more voted PC and NDP here than Lib, but the FPTP sytem negated that).Möbiushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11851148006420274055noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20283843.post-25277465608204560722007-10-12T20:48:00.000-04:002007-10-12T20:48:00.000-04:00conservatives" found "no one" to vote for. I'm sor...<I>conservatives" found "no one" to vote for. I'm sorry, but you're just not looking hard enough. If you don't like John Tory or Howard Hampton, maybe you'll find a candidate to support in the Family Coalition Party or the Greens. This "not right enough" excuse is pathetic.</I><BR/><BR/>Joanne, I suspect if you look at the numbers, the Libs gained nothing, or lost votes, the PC's the same, and the NDP and Green gained votes. Sounds like protest voting to me, just not the PC's.Möbiushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11851148006420274055noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20283843.post-7195828169599353342007-10-12T20:46:00.000-04:002007-10-12T20:46:00.000-04:00Conservative voters can freely stay home when they...<I>Conservative voters can freely stay home when they don't like what the Party is offering, because they know they will have a better chance in the future. Despite the doom and gloom seen here on this blog, they know deep down inside that come the next election, things will not be in some disastrous situation. We will still be a country.</I><BR/><BR/>The problem with your analogy is that we'll still be a country no matter which party wins. It's a question of whether we'll be a better, more self-reliant country, or more government reliant.<BR/><BR/>Why did JC keep free trade, the GST, etc., despite campaigning against them? Because they make the country stronger and more able to support our social programs.Möbiushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11851148006420274055noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20283843.post-48771422194618271072007-10-12T20:44:00.000-04:002007-10-12T20:44:00.000-04:00My point was spoiled ballots are not noticed but v...My point was spoiled ballots are not noticed but voter turnout is. The only problem is it is often assumed this is the voter's failure - maybe that will change someday.<BR/><BR/>As for myself I feel better not personally endorsing any of these candidates or their vote buying schemes.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20283843.post-61764380304522380552007-10-12T20:21:00.000-04:002007-10-12T20:21:00.000-04:00If anything it makes a bigger statement than spoil...<I>If anything it makes a bigger statement than spoiling your ballot. </I><BR/><BR/>What statement are you trying to make, Ray?Joanne (True Blue)https://www.blogger.com/profile/17445664997050698154noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20283843.post-86909229406975221482007-10-12T20:03:00.000-04:002007-10-12T20:03:00.000-04:00Why do so many assume not voting is because of apa...Why do so many assume not voting is because of apathy or laziness? If anything it makes a bigger statement than spoiling your ballot. (which one gets the headlines every election?)<BR/><BR/>As much as it might seem like it sometimes, politics isn't a team sport. The things you have to overlook to support your *team* are things that can still affect your life the next day. <BR/><BR/>If anything those who do vote have no right to complain - they participated and should accept the results.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20283843.post-84658398467651559052007-10-12T19:24:00.000-04:002007-10-12T19:24:00.000-04:00Least of all evils --- yeah, same as just about ev...Least of all evils --- yeah, same as just about everyone in this election, lol.Jacques Beau Verthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16450947780950412676noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20283843.post-82497097998163845432007-10-12T17:07:00.000-04:002007-10-12T17:07:00.000-04:00I held my nose, but if I had thought of it I might...<I>I held my nose, but if I had thought of it I might have refused the ballot. </I><BR/><BR/>I hear ya, Swift. I voted for who I thought was the least of all evils.Joanne (True Blue)https://www.blogger.com/profile/17445664997050698154noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20283843.post-20678891043406781082007-10-12T17:04:00.000-04:002007-10-12T17:04:00.000-04:00I held my nose, but if I had thought of it I might...I held my nose, but if I had thought of it I might have refused the ballot. It was a mental coin flip with the pencil hovering over the ballot.Swifthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17750638224960230614noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20283843.post-86891664053724600692007-10-12T16:16:00.000-04:002007-10-12T16:16:00.000-04:00So Swift. Did I miss something? You said you voted...So Swift. Did I miss something? You said you voted no to MMP (yay!), but did you finally pick someone for the election itself?Joanne (True Blue)https://www.blogger.com/profile/17445664997050698154noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20283843.post-19114578439118419702007-10-12T15:57:00.000-04:002007-10-12T15:57:00.000-04:00....And the decline of western civilisation contin.......And the decline of western civilisation continues...When I went to vote Wednesday, and I voted PC Swift, they were still the best place to mark your X, I felt like a teenager there: All around me, old folks with canes and white hair. Some had difficulty walking. So as these seniors keep declining in numbers, so will voter turnout I suspect. Scary times indeed.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20283843.post-82581038701644124952007-10-12T15:11:00.000-04:002007-10-12T15:11:00.000-04:00I also see her more of a hard right rather than a ...<I>I also see her more of a hard right rather than a small c conservative.</I><BR/><BR/>Fascinating, Torian - I wouldn't mind hearing about what you see as the difference between them.Jacques Beau Verthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16450947780950412676noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20283843.post-70655070447567559372007-10-12T15:09:00.000-04:002007-10-12T15:09:00.000-04:00Swift, I think of starting a new party all the tim...Swift, I think of starting a new party all the time myself - they all do bite, in their own way.Jacques Beau Verthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16450947780950412676noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20283843.post-37502663710317603682007-10-12T14:40:00.000-04:002007-10-12T14:40:00.000-04:00It looks like I stirred up a hornets nest. I did v...It looks like I stirred up a hornets nest. I did vote. Primarily to vote no to MMP. When I was at the polling booth I was faced with a choice. Liberal, NDP, Green, "Conservative", or Family Coalition, none of which I really wanted to vote for. As a conservative I'm not going to vote NDP or Liberal. <BR/><BR/> The Ontario Green Party platform is much less left wing than many other Green platforms, perhaps because of its large omissions in many areas. However what areas they do cover is mainly concerned with greenhouse gas reduction. I have spent a lot of time in the last six months investigating the AWG theory and have come to the conclusion that there is no scientific evidence to support any effort to limit CO2. What is worse is that the green movement is promoting the greatest mass extinction since the asteroid hit the Yucatan. Early each afternoon the Terra satellite passes over Brazil. You can see for yourself the large number of fires(the red squares) for yourself. http://rapidfire.sci.gsfc.nasa.gov click real-time and the most recent pictures are in the bottom right corner of the Terra satellite series. Many of these fires are burning the jungle to clear land for biofuels. Tropical rainforests and their huge biodiversity are being destroyed with the active encouragement of environmentalists. Green? No thanks.<BR/><BR/> Vote for the (sometimes but not now) Conservative Party? Only if I hold my nose while doing so. The FCP? They do have a conservative platform in many respects. There is one problem. I don't think I should force my religious beliefs on anyone, but they do. I have one very good reason for that stance. God didn't think it was right to force a particular religious belief on humanity. If it is not right for God, it's not right for me. Maybe I should start a new party.Swifthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17750638224960230614noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20283843.post-25943924518852574492007-10-12T13:52:00.000-04:002007-10-12T13:52:00.000-04:00Typos in last comment but you get the picture.Typos in last comment but you get the picture.Joanne (True Blue)https://www.blogger.com/profile/17445664997050698154noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20283843.post-28910946075675142762007-10-12T13:51:00.000-04:002007-10-12T13:51:00.000-04:00What about me, who voted in the advance poll....su...<I>What about me, who voted in the advance poll....supported the fb schools issue and then watched as Tory watered his stance down to a free vote...</I><BR/><BR/>That was indeed one of the problems voting in an advance poll this time. And on the other side, some conservative voters who were against FBF voted against Tory, and then regretted not voting for him after he announced the free vote.<BR/><BR/>The only thing I can say to you is what other leader else more closely supported faith-based funding?<BR/><BR/>At least you had a chance with Tory.Joanne (True Blue)https://www.blogger.com/profile/17445664997050698154noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20283843.post-9254104977677045592007-10-12T12:59:00.000-04:002007-10-12T12:59:00.000-04:00What about me, who voted in the advance poll....su...What about me, who voted in the advance poll....supported the fb schools issue and then watched as Tory watered his stance down to a free vote. <BR/><BR/>Was I used by the party and leader I supported?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20283843.post-31986160419859181552007-10-12T12:58:00.000-04:002007-10-12T12:58:00.000-04:00many riding associations are still bastions of old...many riding associations are still bastions of old boys clubs. When that changes count me in.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20283843.post-89218313912058261752007-10-12T12:42:00.000-04:002007-10-12T12:42:00.000-04:00I hope that every last self professed conservative...I hope that every last self professed conservative who refused to vote out of protest over Tory and his polices really enjoys the fruits of their indolence.<BR/><BR/>Maybe someone could explain to these sanctimonious fools that the way to influence and participate in who leads a party and what policies are is by joining the local riding association and being active in the party.<BR/><BR/>Every last one who did not do this should shut the hell up until they actually DO something.OMMAGhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05475151103850378778noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20283843.post-56087636905595236752007-10-12T12:38:00.000-04:002007-10-12T12:38:00.000-04:00What about those conservatives who support more sc...What about those conservatives who support more school choice including faith-based funding, who ended up with a candidate who have way through dictated publicly that the fb school idea was stupid. No one to vote for for THIS conservative. <BR/><BR/>I ended up parking my vote with a party that respects a parent's right to choose an education for their children. <BR/><BR/>Also, there are many in my riding who stayed home because they're really insulted that both Tory(and Eves before him) crapped all over the Harris CSR and so distanced themselves from the good Harris did for the province. He may have pissed off the unions and was one tough cookie, but for those who stood by him for two majorities their loyalties still remain to this very day. Neither Eves or Tory reconcilled with these folks, and any dummy knows that the Conservatives can never win again in Ontario without harnessing the Harrisites, and make the issues relate to the party core more than the backroom advisors.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20283843.post-39646970852535078032007-10-12T12:34:00.000-04:002007-10-12T12:34:00.000-04:00"Sorry if it disgusts you Dirk, but my vote must b..."Sorry if it disgusts you Dirk, but my vote must be earned, at least a little. Thus, I rejected my ballot and voted no to MMP."<BR/><BR/>If you rejected your ballot at the polling station, your rejection was recorded. You actually went out and expressed your sentiment. I don't think that's disgusting at all -- I think that's awesome.Dirkhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01250675582313975104noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20283843.post-69165537381943359282007-10-12T12:25:00.000-04:002007-10-12T12:25:00.000-04:00If a non-Ontarion may throw his opinion out (I jus...If a non-Ontarion may throw his opinion out (I just love referring to myself in the third person), if one finds the alternatives unpalatable, a voter always has the option of going to the polls and deliberately spoiling one's ballot. It's certainly what I intend to do in next Monday's Calgary civic election if I find that I can't vote for Mayor Bronconnier's chief challenger.Brian in Calgaryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11143445667558848000noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20283843.post-38919507917879726712007-10-12T12:24:00.000-04:002007-10-12T12:24:00.000-04:00For the record Dirk, I don't have a party of choic...For the record Dirk, I don't have a party of choice. My interest in politics is policy driven. I care what you will do, not what party you are with. I almost always vote Conservative because they are the party that most closely matches with my beliefs, but I would vote communist party if I believed they would support a platform I agree with (they wouldn't). This time out, frankly, I was having a hard time seeing anything to agre with anybody. <BR/><BR/>And the final nail in the coffin for me was my local candidate, between John Tory and Gerry Martiniuk I couldn't vote for these guys this time, and there sure as hell was nobody else speaking for (to?) me in this election. Sorry if it disgusts you Dirk, but my vote must be earned, at least a little. Thus, I rejected my ballot and voted no to MMP.Brianhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09652754859649150254noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20283843.post-51838485777644992612007-10-12T11:19:00.000-04:002007-10-12T11:19:00.000-04:00jason,remember, i'm speaking generally here :)calg...jason,<BR/><BR/>remember, i'm speaking generally here :)<BR/><BR/>calgary grit is another one. Olaf was one, too. Kate does "rah rah" for conservatives, but I also see her more of a hard right rather than a small c conservative.Torianhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12992414387201655110noreply@blogger.com