I don’t talk about politics very much here because it’s my journal, and politics annoy me because they’re not what they ought to be.
But after watching highlights of the French leadership debate, overhearing bits of the English debate (notably the crack of “Where’s your platform, under the sweater?” which I heard clearly all the way in the bedroom), and reading about the various statements that leaders have made while on tour, I have this to say:
I represent Stephen Harper’s worst nightmare. I am an educated woman with a post-graduate degree. I am an artist, one of those people who drive a significant portion of the economy. I happen to practice an alternative religion, think that the environment needs a hell of a lot more attention than it’s getting, and think that the long-term effects of policy are more important than short-term effects. I read policy (when platforms have actually been released) and make my own decisions, factoring in track records regarding how planned policy is carried out.
And I’m now registered to vote in my riding. Nice try, switching my husband’s riding but conveniently not switching mine. But I’m not taking it personally, even though it’s happened every single federal election since I’ve been married/earned that post-grad degree/stood up to be counted as someone practicing an alternative religion. I’m sure it was just an oversight.
You can be damn sure I’m not going to vote for someone who has repeatedly insulted my intelligence, that of the majority of my friends, and that of the entire country. And this isn’t limited to the current party in power.
I decided as an interesting test, to call around to the local candidate offices with a question and see how long it took them to get back to me.
The NDP gave me the information right away, double checking points that they weren’t sure of and were polite and keen.
The Liberals still haven’t called me back though I left a clear message.
I didn’t call the Conservatives, as they wouldn’t be getting my vote anyway.
Didn’t call the green party either, because I ran out of time, but I intend to.
Given that I seem to be in a riding where the Liberals could run a sock puppet and still win, I’m somewhat unsurprised by their silence, but chagrined. If you won’t even bother to court my vote by answering a simple question, can I really expect you to lobby on my behalf once in parliament?
Oct 14th is spin the bottle day. Ugh. Based off what they preach or do the three with the best chance all have something to offer me and a whole whack of things that piss me the hell off. I’m pretty sure Lasalle is Liberal sock puppet territory too. Bleargh.
LaSalle nearly went Bloc last election. It was Paul Martin’s riding and well …n’uff said.
HRH.
That is an interesting test, Ceri. Do call the Greens; I wonder what they’ll say.
Blade, you’ve summed up the problem neatly. The three major parties all have something to offer, and a whack of stuff that pisses me off. Makes me want to vote Green to give them support, even if it won’t end up a deciding factor in who governs. Everyone has to start somewhere, and if people keep thinking that they can’t vote for minor parties because it would split the vote they end up supporting the same kind of crap we’re all trying to get rid of.
Ceri wrote: “can I really expect you to lobby on my behalf once in parliament”.
Ah. Is that what they’re supposed to do? Look after our interests, not the party’s…
I don’t think I’ve got a single leaflet from any of the candidates in my postbox; let alone a phone call or a visit. Sigh.
On Friday the candidates for the Laval riding were at my school for a Voters In Training schtick. For the most part, the candidates knew their audience was 12 and adjusted their speaking to be appropriate to the children who, on a Friday, have the attention span of tics. But not the Conservative guy. Nope! The Conservative guy went all out blasting the Bloc (who actually had the best speaker, yes in English), saying that the Bloc had to “stop BITCHING AND COMPLAINING”. No, really. And THEN the idiot told the students to look at the handy-dandy Conservative pamphlets his handler had passed out at the door. Um. They’re 12. It’s Friday. Those lovely pamphlets you handed out have been a) made into paper airplanes and shot down the row, b) been crumpled up and shot down the row c) been folded into a ninja star and shot down the row, c) been so scribbled on the words and pictures are now stuck under a thick layer of black ink. …. turn to the pamphlets indeed! When I talked to the students in the library afterwards, most of them said if they were allowed to vote, they’d be voting Green “because the environment, it’s important Miss!”
I have received ZERO literature. No calls. No fliers. Nothing. Not even a “remember Oct 14 is election day.”
Lu: Oh my gods. Way to tailor your delivery to your audience, Conservative candidate. *headdesk*