Election

[hells_half_acre]

Here, let the Winchester's sum up my feelings for me:




A sad day for Canada. I'm extremely disappointed in a lot of my countrymen...also our entire electoral process, which really needs to be fixed. Sadly, it's not going to be fixed by the party that most benefits from it being broken.

Anyway...here's to another four years of the poor getting poorer and the rich getting richer and our country being run by corrupt jackasses. 

Oh, and a fond fare-the-well to women's rights, gay rights, and arts and culture funding...ETA: a sad goodbye also to the environment, net neutrality, and fair copyright laws. 

Comments

[ria-oaks.livejournal.com]

I agree with the Winchesters and add this to the conversation:



Cas in not amused.

(and oh god, now I'm scared - do you think he'd try again to overturn same-sex marriage? *cracks knuckles* He better not. And ugh, practically all the arts funding is already gone... and we can say goodbye to the rest. ;_; Coming as I do from a family largely in the arts, that's scary.)

BOTH of my ridings are blue again. Woe. Well, they have been for the past 2 years, but... sigh.

[hells-half-acre.livejournal.com]

I know. My sister is an artist and makes her money in the arts as well - or at least tries to.

And arg...this is just horrible on so many levels. I'd like to think that they'd have a revolt on their hands if they tries to overturn same-sex marriage - but then, I thought there'd be no way Canada would elect someone who was FOUND IN CONTEMPT OF PARLIAMENT!

*infinite sadfaces today*

Sorry about your ridings too :( That super sucks.

[cordelia-gray.livejournal.com]

I BLAME ONTARIO.

Other bad things: terrible copyright and internet freedom legislation, and a complete lack of any environmental protection & action on climate change.

[hells-half-acre.livejournal.com]

I ALSO BLAME ONTARIO! AND OUR STUPID ELECTORAL SYSTEM!

And AAAHH! THE ENVIRONMENT AND THE INTERNET! I forgot about them! THEY ARE TWO OF MY FAVOURITE THINGS and they are going to be RUINED FOREVER! This is horrible - an absolutely horrible day in Canadian history.

[cordelia-gray.livejournal.com]

There's some good stuff - Elizabeth May won!

[hells-half-acre.livejournal.com]

True! That's another positive to focus on. It's not a complete loss, it just feels like one at the moment.

[mika-kun.livejournal.com]

Hey! Don't blame all of us, I'm horrified by the results as well.

[hells-half-acre.livejournal.com]

Ok, sorry, not all of you. Almost my entire family lives in Ontario after all - and they are all as horrified as I am too.

Sigh...maybe I should blame the 44% of people who didn't even bother to vote :(

[ratherastory.livejournal.com]

I am sad for Canada, but SO FUCKING PROUD OF MY PROVINCE I CAN'T EVEN. \o/

Go Québec for finally getting your heads out of your asses and voting for a legitimate federal alternative!

[hells-half-acre.livejournal.com]

That's true! If there is a silver-lining here, it's how absolutely awesome Quebec is!! Yay for you guys!! :)

I'm still gutted about the country as a whole, but yeah, Quebec totally kicked ass tonight. Congrats!

[cordelia-gray.livejournal.com]

Whoo-hoo! Go Quebec!

Ontario sucks :(

[jeymien.livejournal.com]

I am so with you. I find myself wondering if the Americans have a smarter system with 2 parties. 60% of Canada said no to the Conservatives. But the Conservatives got a majority government. Atleast the BQ is all but dead now. And Layton's NDP may just make a good opposition..

[hells-half-acre.livejournal.com]

I still think our multi-party system is better than the American's 2 party system, You have a slew of other problems with a 2 party system.

What's broken is our system of voting - it really guts me to think that when it was put to a vote last time, Canada was either uneducated on why it was better (or just shooting themselves in the foot) and voted the reform down. If we had that system in place, this wouldn't have happened.

Of course, the other problem is that the Conservatives have successfully convinced the media that "Coalition" is a bad thing. If the public hadn't been duped and had supported the idea of a Coalition, this wouldn't have happened and we'd actually have a government that represented us made up of Liberals and NDP. Something that's not possible anymore under a Conservative Majority.

I kind of feel like staging a massive revolt, quite frankly, but I'm well aware that my countrymen are far too apathetic for such things.

[jeymien.livejournal.com]

I kind of feel like staging a massive revolt, quite frankly, but I'm well aware that my countrymen are far too apathetic for such things.

I am so there with you. - numbers say that we have a 61.4% turnout for the election.. which is up 3% from 2008's 58% but man... that's 39% of the country's voters not caring about voting.. le sigh Canada.

Yeah. Considering there's been 2 Coalition governments in the past that have done just fine - heck our country was formed out of a colonial coalition parliament (The Great Coalition), then there's the Union Coalition during WW1. It shouldn't be a dirty word. The only reason we can't call the Conservatives a coalition is because they combined parties (Reform/Canadian Alliance and Progressive Conservatives) when the right lost badly after Mulroney. Maybe it's something the left should consider at this point.

I think I'm lost on the voting reform. I don't remember anything bout that.. I've been voting since 1996...

I'm actually with you on the revolt thing. But as you say.. apathetic countrymen. And I'm really not sure protesting would do anything. Atleast with the NDP as opposition, we may be able to see electoral reform, they do back proportional representation. I hate how just taking Ontario can give a party a majority government though. There's more to Canada than just Ontario (reason for Conservative majority and Quebec (reason for NDP Opposition!

[hells-half-acre.livejournal.com]

Maybe they voting reform wasn't federal...but I'm pretty sure it was. I was living in Ontario at the time. Anyway, there was a yes/no vote for proportional representation instead of first-past-the-post. Sadly, whoever voted voted it down. I think it was close, but I'm not sure people really understood at the time how flawed the system is.

I really do hope the NDP is able to accomplish something as opposition...especially if it's electoral reform. And yes, there's something really wrong with the country when Ontario can decide who governs all of us. Take it from someone who grew up in Ontario but has since lived in Quebec, Newfoundland, and British Columbia - Ontario SHOULD NOT BE IN CHARGE OF THE COUNTRY.

I'm thankful that Quebec went NDP though - they all get hugs from me. This is why they can't separate, we need them to help save our asses! :P

[jeymien.livejournal.com]

Sounds like something provincial, I know BC did a vote on that a few years ago.. I can't remember that decision federal.

Yep, I am grateful for the majority of Quebec seeing the light and not voting BQ. I haven't understood having that party still being around, I remember its formation, Bouchard et all showing their displeasure with the PCs and Liberals.. (DAMN YOU MEECH LAKE ACCORD!) But it never should've stayed after the referendum was defeated. And less people now want to secede than did at the time of the BQ's formation.

Thank goodness for a strong opposition now though, even if alot of the NDP MPs are new to parliament. The Liberals have had way too many problems. I just hope Layton will be able to do something since he's against a majority.

[hells-half-acre.livejournal.com]

It must have been provincial then. Shame. Still, if it had succeeded on the provincial level, there may have been a better chance of it succeeding on the federal level.

The BQ really should lose official party status. I mean, if Quebec really wants to separate, they'll find a way - I just don't think it's right that a federal party should be allowed to only exist and run in one province - I mean, quite frankly, that should have been one of the major clues that we desperately need electoral reform.

I really hope that the NDP aren't made too impotent under the Tory majority. It just really sucks, because the senate is also predominately Tory and so they basically have the mandate to do whatever the hell they want. Sigh...I suppose the silver-lining of them being allowed to fuck of our country is that it might get Canadians politically engaged again. But yeah, anyway...go NDP - they've got their work cut out for them.

[nwspaprtaxis.livejournal.com]

If this: numbers say that we have a 61.4% turnout for the election.. which is up 3% from 2008's 58% but man... that's 39% of the country's voters not caring about voting. happened in the US, I'd be giddy... I don't think our last election (2008) cleared the 60% mark. And it seriously depresses me about the US. So, yes, I feel your pain.

[hells-half-acre.livejournal.com]

Oh man, less than 60% :( that is super sad.

I really wish more people studied history - low voter turnout never leads to anything good. And if not studying history, they should at least take their cue from all the people around the world who are dying for the right to vote. Sigh...

Sometimes I think voting should be mandatory.

[nwspaprtaxis.livejournal.com]

I couldn't agree with you more. I had friends at college who flat-out refused to vote because "it doesn't make a difference" and I was all "it's not your vote dimwad, it's the PRINCIPLE of being able to vote..." and it's true. More people need to study history OR at least follow current politics and wake up to the fact that some people are still DYING for such a basic right.

As for voting to be mandatory -- I've always rather thought so. In the US, if you are male, on your 18th birthday you are required by US law to register with the US Army so if there is ever another draft, you are on their list. I always thought something similar should be done for voting. When you turn 18, regardless of gender, creed, disability, etc. You are required by law to register to vote.

[hells-half-acre.livejournal.com]

Indeed. I agree with everything you just said. We don't even have mandatory army registration here, but I still agree.

[nwspaprtaxis.livejournal.com]

The Army registration is only for men on their 18th birthday. Girls are exempt. I think the Army registration is stupid because there will never be another draft -- the US learned that from the Vietnam War but the registration for the Army still persists (my brother had to go when he turned 18). I wouldn't be surprised if they phased that out. But I always thought there should be something similar for voting (and a way to force people to vote), but then again, that'd be infringing on some core tenets of the US.

[hells-half-acre.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I don't think my brother had to do any of that here. Though, some of his friends had to go back to Spain/WhereverTheyCameFrom and do one year of military service when they were 18.

It's weird though, that even a potential draft isn't infringing on the core tenets of the US, but making people vote would be - if they really believe their vote is worth nothing, than what's the big deal if they are forced to take 3 hours paid-leave from work in order to "do nothing." Unless you guys don't get paid-leave to vote. We do. Most people vote and then go sit in a coffee shop for 2 hours and 45 minutes. :P

[nwspaprtaxis.livejournal.com]

We don't get paid leave at all on voting day. Our polls are open early -- like 8 am and close around 9 pm so people have to go either before or after work on their own time.

[hells-half-acre.livejournal.com]

Oh, that sucks. Our polls are open 8am to 8pm, but you can take anywhere from 1-3 hours off of work to go vote in the middle of the day and you'll still get paid for the time away.

[gryphenn.livejournal.com]

I did the early voting. There are some places open for the whole week before the official Election Day. My disabled Mom did the mail in voting. There are so many options on voting in the US that there shouldn't be any excuses not to, and so many ways that you can do it without having to take time off work.

My Dad fought in WWII and my Mom was a volunteer "freedom watcher" (she spent several hours a week in a fire watch tower watching for planes that didn't belong)to preserve my right to vote.

Some days I am so ashamed of my fellow Americans......

[hells-half-acre.livejournal.com]

As I am ashamed some days of my fellow Canadians some days...my Grandfather also fought in WWII - a war that was started by a fellow who made it into office, in part (small part), because voter turnout was so low in Germany.

[gryphenn.livejournal.com]

2 party has built in problems - the biggest one is when people vote "party" and don't look at the candidates platform and agenda.

I had a couple of co-workers that voted in the election who only voted for their party, even where the other guy had a platform they liked better. When I asked why they didn't vote for the guy they liked they only said "But he isn't Democrat!"

[hells-half-acre.livejournal.com]

Sigh...demons I get, people are crazy.

[mika-kun.livejournal.com]

I'm irritated by the Conservative majority and I feel bad for Ignatieff (not getting elected in his ridding after such a dismal election must be humiliating and I always feel bad when people are humiliated) I'm kinda excited to see what the NDP are going to be like as the Official Opposition. (And hells yes BQ going down!)

[hells-half-acre.livejournal.com]

I also feel bad for Ignatieff. (Oddly, I do not feel bad for Duceppe though). The NDP certainly have their work cut out for them trying to oppose all the bullshit the Cons now have the majority power to do.

Seriously horribly day for Canada over all. I think it'll be up to the general populace to protest a lot of the legislation that's going to come out of this - but I worry that Canadians have become too apathetic (or too trusting) when it comes to the government.

[nwspaprtaxis.livejournal.com]

This I worry that Canadians have become too apathetic (or too trusting) when it comes to the government. is my feeling about the US and the reason why so many people don't vote in the US.

[nwspaprtaxis.livejournal.com]

I'm sorry.... welcome to the US and broken politics and Conservative majority...

[hells-half-acre.livejournal.com]

Sigh...

I really hope it's only 4 years and that they don't f*ck up the country even more than they already have...or at least, they don't f*ck it up as much as they COULD.

[nwspaprtaxis.livejournal.com]

Welcome to my life for the entire Bush II Administration.... :(

[marlowe78.livejournal.com]

I find it fascinating, these reactions I can read here. I only stumbled over the newspaper-article, but I didn't read it - I certainly will do that now.

I'm really sorry for this outcome, especially if it means all what you said in your post. And I like your idea of starting a revolution: why not? Why say "man, the other's won't do it, so we won't win and therefore, why even start".
Because that's exactly the reason why so many people didn't vote: "it won't make a difference". And that's wrong. It does make a difference (even though I really have no clue about your voting-system, I assume that if more people make their crosses, there would've been a different outcome), so if you choose to start the Great Canadian Revolution, fighting for peace, arts and the right to marry who you love, I'll be sitting over here and wave a flag - and I'll damn well support you! (I might send cookies. I'm good at smuggling cookies!)

I just checked. We had a the lowest voting-participation in 2009 since 1949, but it was still 70% - *wipes sweat away* - I feared worse, actually. Still, I think it's really sad that so many people who HAVE the right to give some input into their country's politics refuse to do so, when all over the world other people fight to even are allowed to vote freely. It's not that we have to fear to get blown away! (well, not that much, anyway)

So, my best wishes to you and your Revolution. And all the best to you, let's hope your new "boss" isn't allowed to do too much damage...

[hells-half-acre.livejournal.com]

Thanks for the support! I think what I'll do is support the people who are already trying to start a revolution (Canadian style)...that way I don't have to do all the organization work myself. ;)

Thankfully, it's not like he can take away our right to vote in the next 4 years (I'd like to believe people wouldn't remain apathetic if he did that), so hopefully in four years time the other political parties will be strong enough to get into power and they can fix things.

I was really disappointed by the recent British referendum too, because they could have led the way with a better, more democratic, voting system, and they chose not to. Sigh...

Anyway, yeah, congrats on your 70% voting turnout! I hope it remains there or higher as the years go on. :)