My election dilemma continues.
I’ve been dutifully doing my research, trying to find a party, person or a platform to vote for. After a very informative conversation with Mike, Gary and Jonathan, in which Mike had me on the verge of never voting again (he made a loud noise to make a point which automatically sends me into stubborn “I will not agree with you on principle because you used a loud noise to make your case and I disapprove” mode) and then Gary, very persuasively pointed out that my chosen avenue of protest will go unnoticed and actually only make me appear retarded (spoiled ballots for political reasons are counted as spoiled ballots by inability to correctly fill out a form. Not much political weight there). So, bottom line is, that if I want to make my opinion heard I have to vote for the party that’s closest to my values, vote for a minority party to protest the big 3 or set myself on fire on parliament hill.
I don’t burn well, so it was down to option one or two. In my riding there are six options. The 3 major parties (Bulte for the Grits, Klufas for the Tories and Nash for the NPD) the Green Party (Spiegel), the Canadian Action Party (Hishon) and the Marxist Leninist Party (Gershuny). I crossed The Marxists, the NPD ,and the Grits off the list right away. I know what’s going on there and I don’t like it. Then I delved into the Web sites and media for the Canadian Action Party, which got a huge “Nay” when I discerned that they’re an anti-globalization party and while I was briefly charmed by the Greens and their “not left or right”, sustainable development spin, upon uncovering another layer, the anti-business sentiments were too much to forgive.
Total aside, if all the leftist parties were to unite, they might be able to make a run for it. There are two parties on the right (Bloc and Conservative) and one in the centre. There are 9 official parties according to Elections Canada and six of those nine fall to the left. Look at what uniting the right has done for this election. I’m just sayin… now back on topic.
And what am I left with? The Conservative Party of Canada. I can reclaim my membership at any time, but I still don’t know if I want to. Don’t get me wrong, Harper is saying a lot of the right things. Fiscally, I’m on the same page. I almost swooned when I read about his tax cuts for business, but only if they stopped taking government subsidies. Putting pressure on professional organizations recognizing the qualifications of the thousands of qualified immigrants we have in Canada; that’s huge on my list of things to be ticked off about.
He quelled my concerns about reproductive rights to a point, I’m just not totally sure I believe him. I get the impression that in order to court the moderate vote, the Conservatives will support a lot of the things that I thought would be left by the way side. I’ve been watching the party platform develop and I’m happy to say that it’s not going like I’d thought it would. I think they’ve seen that if they’re going to win the election, they have to play up the fiscal conservatism and leave the “family values” rhetoric behind.
So we’re 21 days out from the election and I have a choice to make. And I think it’s pretty clear what it’s going to be. I just wish I felt better about it and that I could defend my choices without doubt.
HRH
The Royal Word 
I’m so glad I’m not the only person in my demographic who is considering voting Conservative! 🙂 You & I should have coffee/latte/chai/whatever some time and talk politics & makeup, Chel. 🙂
By: Tara on June 7, 2004
at 10:51 pm
The Globe and Mail has helpfully put together a comparison chart of how the various parties are responding to the major election issues. It will be updated as the parties continue to lay out their planks and promises.
While not exactly thrilled with any of the major parties, the closest match so far seems to be the Tories. Couple that with the fact that Harper and Layton are the only party leaders who’ve been impressive in terms of leading, and it puts me where I was last federal election — tentatively supporting the political right.
Of course, last time around, it was about 10 or 15 days into the campaign when Stockwell did an about-face on his jetski and began talking mixing some serious conservative social values into the mix, quickly alienating his supporters in socially liberal Ontario who — you know — think Darwinist theory is a-ok.
Harper seems a bit more even keeled, and I’m not as much worried about him as some of the more outspoken social policy critics in his party. For now I’m willing to believe his statement that on issues of social policy he’ll allow free votes in the House, but that doesn’t do me much good if the Tory caucus is even more socially conservative than he is, does it?
Plenty of days to go. Hopefully this year’s debate will be a bit higher-brow than last time ’round, when Gilles Duceppe (!) came out as the only politician who was willing to discuss, not bicker about, the issues.
(And while I’ll easily cop to making a loud noise, you were totally dug in on the whole “spoil my ballot” thing before I did it)
By: Mike on June 8, 2004
at 2:04 pm
I did see the link to the handy Globe site on your side bar. Very useful. And you’re totally right about the problems with a conservative cacus and you were able to put into words what my free floating worries have been.
And yes, you were making the same point as Gary, I do concede, but the stomping really bothered me and got my back up. So yes, you were right. But bad Mike for making loud noises.:-)
By: Chelsea on June 8, 2004
at 2:53 pm
A gentleman doesn’t stomp, but a lady doesn’t spoil her ballot.
I think I’m in the same boat, though I’m leaning — well, I’m not sure where I’m leaning to, but away from voting Conservative because my dislike for social conservativism trumps my preference for fiscal conservativism. I will be a very frowny-faced shaver if we end up with more nonsense export subsidies for 4 years, to be sure, , but I quite possibly be will physically ill if either the right to an abortion or homosexual marriage go down in a free vote.
Am also nervous about exactly what the Conservatives mean by a “competitive intellectual property regime”; I suspect they mean “harmonization” with DMCA, CTEA and other over-broad, under-reasoned attacks on research, fair use and/or the public domain.
Also, I am a fan of what the NDP proposes with respect to requiring that stock options be fully expensed. I think I’m also behind indexing the minimum wage to inflation, though I’m quite familiar with the economic basis for abolishing it entirely — it just seems that if you’re going to have one, it’s only logical to index it.
— shaver
By: Anonymous on June 9, 2004
at 12:49 am
It’s the social conservatism that’s the source of my reservations. I can now, only hope to be the moderate, urban female that keeps the less savory and in many regards terrifying contingent of the party out of that which is none of their business.
All I want is a party that has the sense to keep its hands out of my wallet and its nose out of my business. Which means if I choose, I can decide what is right for my body, or if I choose I can marry someone of the same sex. Even should I wish to do so, allow me to choose my personal posion be it drink, dope or Starbucks.
I’m gonna have to make my own party some day and find someone awesome to lead it.
By: Chelsea on June 9, 2004
at 3:27 am
Someone awesome, eh? Hmm… I think you fit that qualification pretty nicely, Chel. 🙂
By: Tara on June 9, 2004
at 3:50 pm
Aw, you’re sweet Tara. But I think I’m far too sensitive for that kind of job and I’m not exactly a master of economic theory. My ideal leader would be much smarter than I am.
I really wouldn’t be good in that kind of position. I don’t know if I could make unpopular decisions. Sadly my lust for approval can supercede what’s right. I know that’s horrible. It’s something I toil will all the flippin’ time.
Also, leadership is not my forte. Spin doctoring and task implementation, now that I rock at.
By: Chelsea on June 9, 2004
at 4:18 pm
Forgive me for using your comments section as a soapbox, and please don’t anyone take this personally, but I find it absolutely appalling fact that smart, progressive people in their twenties such as yourselves are considering voting conservative. Do you care about the environment? Children? Old people? Social issues? BASIC HUMAN RIGHTS AND FREEDOMS? Even a little bit? Then for the love of Jehovah, vote ANYTHING but Conservative.
Sorry, I’m just angry – they have a shot at winning this things, and I don’t so much want to move to Europe to get off of a sinking ship.
By: Sofi on June 10, 2004
at 8:01 pm
Since this is my soapbox, I will respond like so:
I have to ask if you’ve actually read any of the conservative platform. Your comment suggests that you haven’t, since you’re ranting as though the entire party is rife with baby eaters. Read that platform and look at what it says before you make a comment on my blog like you just did.
People are entitled to their vote and should be able to make it without being vilified as monsters.
If you’ve got a problem with my politics and you really want to bring it to an argument, come with logical arguments, based on fact, policy and practice (like my good friend Shaver did above). I welcome and enjoy those.
Do not bring the shit that you just spewed above.
By: Chelsea on June 11, 2004
at 1:54 am
Sofi,
Please don’t take this personally, but I can’t understand how you spent four years at Queen’s University and came out of it without any critical thinking skills or capacity for reasonable argument.
Of course I care about old people, social issues, the environment, and basic human rights and freedoms. More than just a little bit. Your classic straw man argument serves little more purpose than to make you feel self-justified and righteous, and vilify me by association to a platform that I’ve never endorsed. And, for that matter, a platform that the Conservative Party of Canada has never endorsed.
Let’s just take a deep-dive into one of your accusations: I care about old people, and I care about our society’s ability to care for them. None of the party platforms currently address the issue that healthcare is not geared towards geriatric care despite a rapidly aging population — in fact, the Conservative Party of Canada’s platform on healthcare is almost indistinguishable from the Liberals. What is different is the support for the Caregiver’s Tax Credit offered to those caring for aging or infirm relatives: the Liberals support maintaining its current level of $5000/yr, the Conservatives wish to see it increased to $7000/yr. (source: Globe and Mail Decision 2004)
Perhaps you’d like to tell me why, precisely, you think that my voting Conservative means that I want a poorer standard of care for my osteoporotic, arthritic, home-bound grandmother? As I see things right now, the healthcare system is inadequate (the Home Care options are laughable) and my family shouldn’t be taxed on the money we spend on her live-in careperson.
By: Mike on June 11, 2004
at 11:38 am
Chelsea and Mike, thank you so much for your informed discussion on the parties currently running. Here I am on the west coast and am having the same debate. in fact, I was almost positive that i was going to vote conservative and this decision really surprised me.
I believe they have a strong platform when it comes to taxes and being new to the working world and looking at my pay check each week really brings home to me how little i feel i get these days for all the money i give.
But now i’m not sure who i want to vote for. Their environmental platform worries me. I understand that the kyoto accord is not going to save the world, but their decision to scrap it all together impresses upon me a fear of their disregard for all the green that i love. And their interest in closer ties with the US. How far would they be willing to go to make sure that our country is gaining political world power?
I’m also worried that the conservatives are trying to make themselves out to be more middle of the road than they truly are, and that if/when they get to power they will display their more aggressive nature.
I’m very new to politics. I hid from it for a long time and now feel overwhelmed. A month seems an incredibly short time to figure out what the parties and individuals in my riding really think.
So thank you for your comments and if you have any further insight, pass it my way please. hope you’re doing well.
By: zoë on June 11, 2004
at 7:46 pm