(no subject)
It strikes me that I haven't yet written anything about the election! People keep asking me for advice and guidance, like I'm supposed to be some sort of expert. I know I have 7/8ths of a political science degree and all, but it's hardly so! The truth is that I've had unusually little to say about the whole affair. I'm mostly pretty ambivalent, unless you threaten to vote for the Conservatives. In which case, expect to be chewed out.
Do you remember the Vote By Issue quiz from way back in 2004? Leaving aside all the critiques about it being incomplete or jargonistic or whatever, it's ultimately pretty accurate and I thought it might get the ball rolling. So I did it again
YOU AGREE WITH
Stephen Harper on 3 issues
Farming, Relations with the provinces, Parliamentary Reform
Jack Layton on 8 issues
Healthcare Funding, Farming, Child Care, Economic Growth, Employment Insurance, Foreign Aid, Taxes, Parliamentary Reform
Paul Martin on 2 issues
Healthcare Funding, Child Care
Gilles Duceppe on 11 issues
Defence Spending, Healthcare Funding, Farming, Child Care, Gun Control, Economic Growth, Relations with the provinces, National Security, Employment Insurance, Foreign Aid, Taxes
YOU DISAGREE WITH
Stephen Harper on 8 issues
Defence Spending, Healthcare Funding, Child Care, Economic Growth, National Security, Employment Insurance, Foreign Aid, Taxes
Jack Layton on 1 issues
Defence Spending
Paul Martin on 5 issues
Defence Spending, Farming, Economic Growth, National Security, Taxes
Gilles Duceppe on 0 issues
YOU CHOSE NOT TO AGREE OR DISAGREE WITH
Stephen Harper on 1 issues
Gun Control
Jack Layton on 3 issues
Gun Control, Relations with the provinces, National Security
Paul Martin on 5 issues
Gun Control, Relations with the provinces, Employment Insurance, Foreign Aid, Parliamentary Reform
Gilles Duceppe on 1 issues
Parliamentary Reform
Let's also do a little party-by-party commentary,
Liberals
It's impossible to be impassioned about them either way (except when it comes to their nomination of their boy / my arch nemesis Michael Ignatieff in Etobicoke). Every time they come out with a new policy proposal it's like they take a great idea and water it down so much that it's almost not even worth bothering. It's a formula for radical mediocrity. Do I support giving a minute increase in money earmarked for foreign aid? Sure, but I'd rather support a huge increase. Do I support modest improvements in health care? Yeah sure, but why not actual improvements while you're at it?
Conservatives
As much as I understand and can respect(fully completely disagree with) fiscal conservatism, I cannot possibly conceive how anyone could EVER prioritize beliefs about economic policy over say, respect for human rights? You think your "right" to pay 2% less tax when you buy a pair of jeans trumps my right to get an abortion if I want one? Or marry a girl if I for some reason decided I wanted to? Or not be at a disadvantage when applying for a job because of my race, gender, ability, language...? Or have access to the same standard of health care as anyone else, when I get sick? Fuck you. If you vote for them, don't play it off as "oh, well I support fiscal responsibility...". You're voting just as much for social irresponsibility. Own up.
Also, I don't buy the (false) outrage over Gomery for a second. Come on, dudes. You know they were just as corrupt when they were in power.
Greens
Speaking of totally corrupt! Okay, but seriously. I think the Greens are misleading and mostly completely wrong about... almost everything. I think they assume that we won't be wise to their creepy neoconservative ways, and the fact that their proposals for saving the environment are mostly bunk (voluntary limits for corporations? Switching to hybrid vehicles? Guys, I only took one semester of Environmental Politics, but even I know that stuff won't do anything!). That said, if you are one of the "red Tories" discussed above who supports fiscal conservatism, you really have no excuse not to vote for them in the stead of their much more hateful counterparts.
Bloc
What's to be said? Gilles is the by far the best looking party leader, and I can't think of anything I disagree with them on. Bless them, fighting the good fight for decentralization.
NDP
Obviously we know where my loyalties lie, but I'm honestly more than a little disillusioned with my party. There are at least three major issues perpetually looming over my shoulder these days:
1. Tolerance of homophobia / bigotry from MPs and candidates. ie. Bev Desjarlais and Ed Schreyer. I don't care how much you love unions or support universal health care, if you think homosexuality is an "affliction" or vote against equal marriage rights for same-sex couples, you should be kicked the fuck out of the party.
2. Nonsense anti-decentralization and "national unity" rhetoric. This is annoying as hell, not to mention incredibly alienating for party supporters who tend to eschew the inherent paternalism and hierarchy of state-centred socialisms, and are inclined instead toward radical decentralization / libertarianism / anarchism. I also happen to think that a pretty important part of respecting people's rights is respecting their right to leave a union they decide they aren't happy in it.
3. "All talk no action" on women's representation. During the debates, Jack was asked a question about improving decorum in the House of Commons. "Oh, just elect more women, and you can do that by voting for us with our 38% female representation among nominated candidates". Dear Jack: Gender essentialism, even when done "nicely", stinks. Also, 38% isn't exactly worthy of commendation in my books, especially given that the NDP is just as bad as any other party when it comes to only nominating women in no-chance ridings- hence the paltry 26% actual representation of women in your caucus. You are in no position to boast, friend.
People keep coming to me with this, "I really don't like Jack, so I don't know if I can support him..." stuff. Ironic obsession aside, he's hardly my favourite political figure either. But here's the thing about living in a parliamentary democracy: unless you live in Toronto-Danforth, you aren't being asked to vote for him, even if you wanted to. You're voting for a party of which he is one small component. All said, I am still a member in good standing, I will still be voting for them without hesitation, and I will be committing myself fully to Paul Dewar's campaign upon my return to Ottawa. And I will also continue to strongly encourage others to do the same.
Outside of Quebec, the NDP is the best we've got, and I don't buy for a second that abstention is a viable alternative. Right now, there is a great opportunity for Canadians to elect a ton of Bloc and NDP MPs to the next parliament, a parliament that will almost certainly be a minority in which smaller parties hold the balance of power. Now, I'm the last person to advocate that electoral politics is the be-all and end-all of "politics". But I do think that politics is about making the best of political moments as they present themselves. 308 representatives are going to be chosen next month, whether you participate or not. And regardless of how much power you think they should have, the truth is that they have a hell of a lot of say (that is to say, almost all of it) over our domestic and international actions. In this moment, expending your political energy to fight the good fight in winnable ridings with good candidates is one of the most effective things you can be doing. So read up on jargony platforms, listen to the debates, and read the mass mailings they stuff in your mailbox. Most importantly, get your ass out to vote, or I'm coming to your house to piggyback you to the polls.
Come to think of it, we've all been rather quiet about the election. I want to know, what have you all been thinking?
Do you remember the Vote By Issue quiz from way back in 2004? Leaving aside all the critiques about it being incomplete or jargonistic or whatever, it's ultimately pretty accurate and I thought it might get the ball rolling. So I did it again
YOU AGREE WITH
Stephen Harper on 3 issues
Farming, Relations with the provinces, Parliamentary Reform
Jack Layton on 8 issues
Healthcare Funding, Farming, Child Care, Economic Growth, Employment Insurance, Foreign Aid, Taxes, Parliamentary Reform
Paul Martin on 2 issues
Healthcare Funding, Child Care
Gilles Duceppe on 11 issues
Defence Spending, Healthcare Funding, Farming, Child Care, Gun Control, Economic Growth, Relations with the provinces, National Security, Employment Insurance, Foreign Aid, Taxes
YOU DISAGREE WITH
Stephen Harper on 8 issues
Defence Spending, Healthcare Funding, Child Care, Economic Growth, National Security, Employment Insurance, Foreign Aid, Taxes
Jack Layton on 1 issues
Defence Spending
Paul Martin on 5 issues
Defence Spending, Farming, Economic Growth, National Security, Taxes
Gilles Duceppe on 0 issues
YOU CHOSE NOT TO AGREE OR DISAGREE WITH
Stephen Harper on 1 issues
Gun Control
Jack Layton on 3 issues
Gun Control, Relations with the provinces, National Security
Paul Martin on 5 issues
Gun Control, Relations with the provinces, Employment Insurance, Foreign Aid, Parliamentary Reform
Gilles Duceppe on 1 issues
Parliamentary Reform
Let's also do a little party-by-party commentary,
Liberals
It's impossible to be impassioned about them either way (except when it comes to their nomination of their boy / my arch nemesis Michael Ignatieff in Etobicoke). Every time they come out with a new policy proposal it's like they take a great idea and water it down so much that it's almost not even worth bothering. It's a formula for radical mediocrity. Do I support giving a minute increase in money earmarked for foreign aid? Sure, but I'd rather support a huge increase. Do I support modest improvements in health care? Yeah sure, but why not actual improvements while you're at it?
Conservatives
As much as I understand and can respect(fully completely disagree with) fiscal conservatism, I cannot possibly conceive how anyone could EVER prioritize beliefs about economic policy over say, respect for human rights? You think your "right" to pay 2% less tax when you buy a pair of jeans trumps my right to get an abortion if I want one? Or marry a girl if I for some reason decided I wanted to? Or not be at a disadvantage when applying for a job because of my race, gender, ability, language...? Or have access to the same standard of health care as anyone else, when I get sick? Fuck you. If you vote for them, don't play it off as "oh, well I support fiscal responsibility...". You're voting just as much for social irresponsibility. Own up.
Also, I don't buy the (false) outrage over Gomery for a second. Come on, dudes. You know they were just as corrupt when they were in power.
Greens
Speaking of totally corrupt! Okay, but seriously. I think the Greens are misleading and mostly completely wrong about... almost everything. I think they assume that we won't be wise to their creepy neoconservative ways, and the fact that their proposals for saving the environment are mostly bunk (voluntary limits for corporations? Switching to hybrid vehicles? Guys, I only took one semester of Environmental Politics, but even I know that stuff won't do anything!). That said, if you are one of the "red Tories" discussed above who supports fiscal conservatism, you really have no excuse not to vote for them in the stead of their much more hateful counterparts.
Bloc
What's to be said? Gilles is the by far the best looking party leader, and I can't think of anything I disagree with them on. Bless them, fighting the good fight for decentralization.
NDP
Obviously we know where my loyalties lie, but I'm honestly more than a little disillusioned with my party. There are at least three major issues perpetually looming over my shoulder these days:
1. Tolerance of homophobia / bigotry from MPs and candidates. ie. Bev Desjarlais and Ed Schreyer. I don't care how much you love unions or support universal health care, if you think homosexuality is an "affliction" or vote against equal marriage rights for same-sex couples, you should be kicked the fuck out of the party.
2. Nonsense anti-decentralization and "national unity" rhetoric. This is annoying as hell, not to mention incredibly alienating for party supporters who tend to eschew the inherent paternalism and hierarchy of state-centred socialisms, and are inclined instead toward radical decentralization / libertarianism / anarchism. I also happen to think that a pretty important part of respecting people's rights is respecting their right to leave a union they decide they aren't happy in it.
3. "All talk no action" on women's representation. During the debates, Jack was asked a question about improving decorum in the House of Commons. "Oh, just elect more women, and you can do that by voting for us with our 38% female representation among nominated candidates". Dear Jack: Gender essentialism, even when done "nicely", stinks. Also, 38% isn't exactly worthy of commendation in my books, especially given that the NDP is just as bad as any other party when it comes to only nominating women in no-chance ridings- hence the paltry 26% actual representation of women in your caucus. You are in no position to boast, friend.
People keep coming to me with this, "I really don't like Jack, so I don't know if I can support him..." stuff. Ironic obsession aside, he's hardly my favourite political figure either. But here's the thing about living in a parliamentary democracy: unless you live in Toronto-Danforth, you aren't being asked to vote for him, even if you wanted to. You're voting for a party of which he is one small component. All said, I am still a member in good standing, I will still be voting for them without hesitation, and I will be committing myself fully to Paul Dewar's campaign upon my return to Ottawa. And I will also continue to strongly encourage others to do the same.
Outside of Quebec, the NDP is the best we've got, and I don't buy for a second that abstention is a viable alternative. Right now, there is a great opportunity for Canadians to elect a ton of Bloc and NDP MPs to the next parliament, a parliament that will almost certainly be a minority in which smaller parties hold the balance of power. Now, I'm the last person to advocate that electoral politics is the be-all and end-all of "politics". But I do think that politics is about making the best of political moments as they present themselves. 308 representatives are going to be chosen next month, whether you participate or not. And regardless of how much power you think they should have, the truth is that they have a hell of a lot of say (that is to say, almost all of it) over our domestic and international actions. In this moment, expending your political energy to fight the good fight in winnable ridings with good candidates is one of the most effective things you can be doing. So read up on jargony platforms, listen to the debates, and read the mass mailings they stuff in your mailbox. Most importantly, get your ass out to vote, or I'm coming to your house to piggyback you to the polls.
Come to think of it, we've all been rather quiet about the election. I want to know, what have you all been thinking?