Election 2008 - Débat des chefs en français

[yaiven]

The following are my impressions on last night's (Oct. 1st) Leaders Debate. This first debate was in French. The English one will be held tonight (Oct. 2nd) at 9:00pm.

Comments

[drkinfrno]

I felt much the same way about all of these things as you did -- in fact, I've been saying for a while that if I lived in Québec I might vote for M. Duceppe.

Part of what I feel has tarnished Canadian politics, but largely the Liberals and Conservatives (formerly PC -and- Reform), is the shadow of overly negative campaigns that avoid not only voter issues but fail to bring up any points for thought and discussion. Instead they mudsling at each other, it's frustrated me as a voter and a Canadian.

So, this was a bit of a change, and I can say I largely felt the way you did. When talking about leaders, I feel especially strong about Harper, who, from an economist's and a citizen's stance, is neither in touch with the needs of the people, nor of the country.

Part of my views as a voter align towards fiscal conservatism and social liberalism, and that's tended to draw me towards the Liberal party at many levels of government.

Oddly enough, this election I'll be voting for the seat as opposed to the party -- my riding isn't in enough conflict to force my hand in a certain way, and while I support the Liberal party more overall, I tend to vote for the person who will best represent my riding, and myself in Parliament.

While I may not agree with Layton on many things, and I feel he's not a strong leader, I feel that our incumbent candiate for the NDP in Ottawa Centre is not only strong, but can continue to do a good job in what, in my opinion, will be a Liberal - NDP coalition, if it doesn't end up a Conservative majority.

I'm hoping it doesn't end up the second way, because the ways in which Mr. Harper comports himself, even in a minority position, speak volumes to the way he'd act in a majority. I think it would be a serious blow to the economy, and to Canada's laudable social programs, were he to gain that majority.

[yaiven]

Like you, I'm also more fiscally conservative and socially liberal. In fact, if it weren't for the socially conservative aspect, in the past I may have voted for the Conservative party. They still have a chance to get my vote in the future too, but they would likely have to change their social policies to the point of alienating the religious right from whom a majority of the former Reform supporters come from.

It's such a shame that we have to be torn from ideology for the purposes of strategic voting. That's frustrated me since I became old enough to vote. I might post an entry later regarding different types of representative systems, but I think most people who understand it agree that FPTP is obsolete and doesn't add anything. The issues are just:

a) making people take a look at better options rather than being afraid of anything different

and

b) deciding how your vote(s) are represented in terms of the leader, the ideology, and the region in which you live.

As far as I can see it, there are a lot of options, it's just a matter of convincing people to change.