Five bucks to vote for President of Alberta

[BubberMiley]

When a province decides it really only needs one political party, shouldn't they reduce membership fees to $.01 so that everybody can vote?

[uOttawaMan]

No. Eliteists are awesome.

[Canadian Blue]

Elite???

I wouldn't call the current PC Leadership process elitism. I think it is much more democratic than lets say the Federal Liberal Leadership process.

Any Albertan can vote, all it costs is 5$ and your on your way. My parents voted, and all they had to do was go to the polls show some idea and pay 5$ each and they got to vote for Morton.

Gotta say, after hearing the arrogant attitudes the Liberal's displayed it made me hope Morton would become premier.

[geoffrey]

Like I said, my vote tomorrow in the PC race depends on who wins the Liberal race. I want to ski tomorrow afternoon now that we have some good weather, hopefully the Liberals pick a leader by Alberta lunchtime.

[BubberMiley]

What if you don't have a spare five bucks to vote for the leader of your government? I guess if you want to disenfranchise poor people, it's a good way to do it.

[geoffrey]

What if you don't have a spare five bucks to vote for the leader of your government? I guess if you want to disenfranchise poor people, it's a good way to do it.

They can vote in the general election.

I couldn't be a Liberal delegate, does that make me disenfranchished Federally?

[BubberMiley]

They can vote in the general election.

I couldn't be a Liberal delegate, does that make me disenfranchished Federally?

But haven't you noticed that Alberta effectively has a one-party system? You aren't disenfranchised federally because the Libs aren't even the government.

People can vote in the general election, but that's really just a mock election in your province, like Mexico used to have. It doesn't really count.

[geoffrey]

They can vote in the general election.

I couldn't be a Liberal delegate, does that make me disenfranchished Federally?

But haven't you noticed that Alberta effectively has a one-party system? You aren't disenfranchised federally because the Libs aren't even the government.

People can vote in the general election, but that's really just a mock election in your province, like Mexico used to have. It doesn't really count.

Sure it does. The opposition parties have no one to blame but themselves. It's not a one-party state. It's a one-party success. People will vote for alternatives if they are given them.

[BubberMiley]

Regardless of whose fault it is, don't you think the Conservative party should recognize that they are, in effect, electing a president of Alberta, and that every Albertan should have an equal opportunity to vote? Why create disincentives like charging people for something that is a basic democratic right?

[geoffrey]

Regardless of whose fault it is, don't you think the Conservative party should recognize that they are, in effect, electing a president of Alberta, and that every Albertan should have an equal opportunity to vote? Why create disincentives like charging people for something that is a basic democratic right?

No, that would be a move of the highest degree of arrogance. This is a leadership race, not an election.

[Jerry J. Fortin]

I would not want to particpate in petty partisan politics. I favour the independent candidate over one with partisan loyalty. Partisanship is the bane of democratic existance. Power should not be the issue within a democracy, representation should be. The majority of constituents need to be heard, people of all political stripes. Partisan politics limit the options for issues in debates because the party declares policies which must be adhered to.

[BubberMiley]

No, that would be a move of the highest degree of arrogance. This is a leadership race, not an election.

How would reducing the cost of party membership be arrogant? If they came right out and said, no one's going to defeat us in a general election in our lifetime, that would be arrogant (although probably true). But they don't have to say that. They just have to say they want the party to be open to all Albertans. Unless, of course, they don't.

[Canadian Blue]

I know 5$ is much too high a price to pay for a party membership.

Any Albertan can vote if they want to, all it costs is 5$ at he poll for a party membership. As for the "one party state", look at Alberta's history. The only time we get rid of a government is when it becomes old, tired, and/or corrupt. It's worked out allright so far, so why change. We might see change if the Liberal's change their policies, or if a new party is formed and gains momentum.

[geoffrey]

Exactly. $5 is significantly less than any other party membership. Everyone can afford $5... if you can't, you can beg for $5 pretty quick on a street corner.

[gc1765]

They can vote in the general election.

I couldn't be a Liberal delegate, does that make me disenfranchished Federally?

Yes. At least I am. I wish I could have voted for the liberal leader, but I don't have that much money to waste. It should be free. Come election time, which is the only time I can vote for free, I basically have a choice between only 3 people, none of which I particularly like. Sure, I could vote for a fringe party but then I'd basically be wasting my vote.

[geoffrey]

Run for yourself.

[BubberMiley]

I basically have a choice between only 3 people, none of which I particularly like. Sure, I could vote for a fringe party but then I'd basically be wasting my vote.

Isn't everybody but the PCs a fringe party in Alberta?

[Hydraboss]

I wanted to run as a candidate last federal election, but the Bloc refused me (but they did give me a nice "thanks, but no" letter!).

Just figured that Kwebek wants to seperate, and I want them to seperate, so it seemed like a natural fit. Funny thing is, the more people I talked to, the more that said they would probably vote for me (my area is strictly CPC).

As for provincial politics, if Morton doesn't win today there are going to be a hell of a lot of Albertans turning to the still-unproven Alberta Alliance. Nobody I know wants a Federal Liberal in charge (Dinning).

[geoffrey]

I would vote Alberta Alliance upon reflection of Harper's complete back-turning to his principles and the danagerous Liberal leader in either Dion or Iggy.

That's if Morton isn't elected.

[Topaz]

You may see changes to the province of Alberta, with more people moving there to get jobs. I know alot of Ontarians that have moved out there and they would probably vote Liberal or NDP.

[Canadian Blue]

No, don't you know Alberta brainwashes people to vote on the right once they move here.

[geoffrey]

Apparently a bunch of liberal types are coming out in record numbers for our leadership... Dinning is likely win because of this.

I figure I'll run for provincial Liberal leadership next go-around... and then we can get all the PC's to join the party and elect me!! It's fantastic. Then I'd just fold the party and go home.

Stay out of our party hooligan Liberals!!!!!! Just because you can't get your party elected doesn't mean that you can skew our leadership results.

[Hydraboss]

So does this mean that Dinning is a Liberal plant?

I have no problem believing that he is a plant, but a Liberal one?

[uOttawaMan]

"Well then I'll vote for a third party candidate."

"HAHAHA, go ahead, throw your vote away!"

[Hydraboss]

"Well then I'll vote for a third party candidate."

"HAHAHA, go ahead, throw your vote away!"

Are you referring to the AA as the "third party"?

Not that long ago, they wouldn't even have scored that high. Dion won the leadership, and if Dinning wins the leadership, the AA may just move into #2.