Good News for Canada

[ed_rex]

A week ago last night, I found myself with a couple of friends, kosikova and vernski, enjoying conversation and a lovely spread, not to mention the alcoholic beverages requisite to such get-togethers.

Comments

[sooguy]

I concur. Good analysis and much more succinct than my own ramblings in my journal.

I like you tended to support the NDP in previous elections, but have seriously considering becoming a GREEN supporter, but now I may have a valid option in the Liberals again.

Future Considerations

[ed_rex]

My problem with the NDP is that my politics are frankly too radical for them. I want to see a complete re-structuring of our society, not some contradictory reforms.

Since that's not happening any time soon (unless we suffer some sudden, as opposed to gradual, environmental catastrophe - in which case all bets are off, except maybe for an equally-disastrous decent into some kind of reactionary fascism in the name of "order"), I may well opt for a competent Liberal government which will be capable of encouraging incremental improvements.

[colinmarshall]

My favorite recent exchange between two Canadian friends on LJ:

Non-Canadian LJ friend: So, is Dalton McGuinty a wanker?
Canadian friend #1: Sometimes, sometimes not. They've had worse.
Canadian friend #2: Now, don't be running down our Bobby. At least he isn't being looked at by Gomery!
Canadian friend #1: Yeah, that's what I want on my tombstone: "At least he wasn't under investigation in the Gomery inquiry."

I've come to find Canadian politics more and more entertaining with time.

Entertainers R Us

[ed_rex]

Canadian friend #1: Sometimes, sometimes not. They've had worse.

We've had much worse.

I suspect that one of the things that makes Canadian politics entertaining to you is that our spectrum of acceptable discourse is significantly broader than yours, on a left-right point of view. Further, the fact that we have officially and, largely, socially, accepted the added complexity of a French-speaking element to our society (which also includes a civil legal system based on the Napoleonic Code rather than on English Civil Law) also makes our politics more diverse and (I presume) more entertaining.

[shara]

Depending on what a Dion Liberal platform looks like, I'd consider going Liberal. I have always been too 'realistic' for my NDP copatriots - and I have ALWAYS voted NDP. But, my voting life has been dominated by the moronic Provincial Liberals and the Conservative Martin Liberals. Lefty Enviro-realistic Liberals were never offered to me. I find them attractive.

That said, I would probably still vote NDP - but not because I support the party. I live in Trinity-Spadina, and anyone who supports Tony Ianno over Olivia Chow is psychotic, regardless of party affiliation.

Member Versus Party

[ed_rex]

I live in Peggy Nash's riding and so I understand your desire to vote for the MP rather than the party. With a sitting NDP MP, I'll need to think long and hard before casting a ballot for the Liberals, no matter who their leader is - unless it looks like Nash is at the unlikely risk of losing to a "Tory".

[vernski]

You missed a gripping drama. When Kennedy went over to Dion it almost made me wish I lived in another riding. My only reservation is the possibility that canadians are incapable of voting for someone who has the animal magnetism of a chipmunk crossed with an otter. My usual assumption is that North Americans are impossibly addicted to the what-are-considered more glamorous carnivores.

It would be nice to be wrong again.

Underestimating the Politician and the People

[ed_rex]

I thought of inviting myself over to share the drama and, in retrospect, I'm sorry I didn't.

I heard Olivia Chow on The Current this morning before I went into the office and I was not impressed. Her "analysis" on Dion's win and what it might mean was pretty much limited to hacking at him for the Chretien government's "corruption" and a few soundbites from the official NDP reaction