MiddleClassCentrist

I started laughing. I know it completely takes what you said and twists it. But, this is all I could think about as I finished your post. "I would vote for a pedophile but, all I have is Hudak"

... Yes. Let's all make decisions based on the name of the politician. I'll change my last name BattleCat and run. Vote BattleCat for Premier!

If Harper keeps to his tune of being a moderate conservative, Hudak will walk to victory. People get tired of politicians, Dalton is near expiry (if not already there).

Social Conservatives want to ban gay marriage, and restrict abortion. The party did not campaign on this, and rightly so, because they knew it would lose votes of blue liberals or small c's. I don't see how that is different from what you said. They targetted what would get votes and ran with it.

Abortion becomes a grey area in Canada. Not making it legal but, not allowing it. Crime rate drops over time. Coincidence? Maybe. ---- Now I see it. The jails are prepping for the hidden Conservative push to ban abortion! (evil left wing conspiracy theory generated) I should go into sensationalist and biased journalism... My conservative inside wonders, if only I could make money doing it.

They all spend our money and take pride in doing so. Conservatives spend money on military, jails and can reduce taxes for the wealthy. NDs spend money on social programs, environment and can reduce taxes for the working class. Liberals spend money on a mix of the above.

I'd like to hear more about your daughters experience, if you are willing. In High School (Ontario) students are split into Academic(University), Applied(College), Workplace, Open (General) I had a friend when I was in High School whose parents begged to have their daughter held back to teach her a lesson (skipping, bad behaviour). The elementary school passed her anyways. She became a prostitute, the parents knew best and I agree with them. The system failed her. Parents should be able to make the executive decision as to whether their child is ready to move on.

You know... Something I don't understand is... Why are conservative supporters so eager to try and force to the NDP be open and transparent, when their party leader (and now our PM) is one of the least transparent politicians in Canadian history.

You mean... private schools that can deny access to behaviourally challenged students and academically weak students have higher standardized test results? This is astonishing! /sarcasm off.

I hear there's an early morning breakfast program for children at some schools. I bet the homeless would want in on that! Know what I'm saying? (stolen from the Daily Show, re: Wisconsin) You really have no idea what teaching actually entails. I suggest you become a teacher. I know enough teachers to understand what it is like. Try keeping track of 24 different cognitive areas for each student and the paperwork to back it up, as well as indepth analysis on what subjects and concepts they understand and specifically where their holes in understanding are. I'm grateful that I don't teach grade 3. It's chaotic and the paperwork kills you. BTW, those unemployed people can get into teaching if they have a professional designation that relates to a curriculum area (Manufacturing, Hairstyling, Hospitality and Tourism, Autobody, Programming, Contruction, Electronics, Health Care). Or a University degree to teach academic subjects. As long as they are wiling to take out a student loan like most teachers and complete a year of teacher's college.

Here is a private school listing: http://www.ourkids.net/school/school-search.php Under 10k is definately not the norm, especially for high school and speciality programs like robotics and engineering which is part of the the Ontario Curriculum. I suppose I do need to express my opinion further as it is being assumed that I believe the system is perfect, when I don't. Some positions a clearly out of line and it is not as though I don't believe that changes can be made within our current system. Just that our current system is pretty damned good. It was ranked #2 by OECD overall.

Didn't you hear? An ex-communist party member was elected as an NDP MP in the orange wave! *cue doomsday music*

Mr.C, do you support the Conservative legislation that would prevent any consumer from making a backup of digital media they own? If they try to back up content they own the rights to, they could face a fine of $5000.

It's already clear what the liberal party stands for... Good policies come from compromise that considers all points of view. If you vote Conservative, you get right wing policies. You vote NDP, you get left wing policies. Hard Left and Hard Right ideological people are the most difficult people to debate with. They don't budge on their opinion, EVER. Even after it is shown that a policy their ideology subscribes to has no, little or a negative effect in the current situation. This is because extreme ideologies are completely irrational. The Liberal Party is a centrist view that is open minded and adaptable to the situation. Not some ideology that may or may not be applicable, or even have a negative effect. They will consider all ideologies and make a policy decision based on the information at hand. If the people demand a more right wing approach, they shift right. If people demand a more left wing approach, they shift left. That is what they need to be marketing.

Again, you spread your misinformation and are trying to oversimplify a complex scenario. I never said that costs couldn't be cut. I just said your arguments are unfounded because they are based on conservative propaganda, not sound facts. I just hope that you stop and reflect on this discussion and realise how silly it is to spout off arguments without any support. Supporting your arguments to prove a point is something that is learned in high school. Maybe it is time to review. Here is an easy way to formulate proper arguments. Point - The Argument. "Education is actually cheap" Proof - The Evidence. "As seen in the budgeting costs at this link[link containing factual, scientific data], it only costs $8 per student or $42 per day." Comment - "This cost is much lower than a standard $50 a day to put a child in day care." If the private industry deems day care worth $90 a day in Toronto...... You are dreaming if the cost of education will drop with private industry. Instead of paying teachers reasonable wages for the 5 years of Post-Secondary and student debt they accrue, you have to pay shareholders. I'd rather pay to attract better people into the profession. Not only that but, I want people from industry teaching my kids. Why would anyone from industry leave to teach at the salary you are suggesting?

I never answer polls truthfully, I suggest that everyone else do the same. The Conservatives spend over 30 Million a year polling with your tax money! Ridiculous. http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/second-reading/blogolitics/610000-probe-into-grit-polling-dings-tories-instead/article802565/

I've only been here for a short while. But, It is clear that you ignore scientific information to support bad policy that ignores the reality of the situation. How ideological of you.

You are talking out of your behind, making unsubstantiated remarks based on ignorant assumptions. I remember a really conservative professor speaking out in favour of removing public education. He said that the only reason we still use public education is because it is cheap, and costs around $8/classroom hour. $8/hour!!!! [add more emphasis, I was dumbfounded that it was soooo cheap!] People pay me $50/hour to fix their computer. I guess computer repair is more important than the education of future generations, figures. He was a staunch conservative, loved private schools and said they are the future. Let's look at a real example, using facts instead of heresay. Ontario as an example: 19.1 Billion - Funds put into public education. 2 087 588 - Student enrollment in Elementary and Secondary. $9149.31/Student Let's see if my professor had the right number. 6 Classroom Hours Per Day * $8 * 194 in class days. $9312/student per school year. (Pretty close) Start looking for valid information, stop parroting the conservative elites talking points. Those talking points are tired, worn and based on misinformation to keep the middle and working class down. The information is out there, if you actually want to know the truth. Of course, you have to be willing to actually look for it. http://www.edu.gov.on.ca/eng/educationFacts.html

Quick lesson on economics: Everyone pays everyone elses wage. That is how the economy works. Your post represents a typical right wing misunderstanding on how the economy actually works, popularized by the elite to keep the money flowing into their pockets instead of the average worker. Public schools provide the service for cheaper than private schools. Public health care is cheaper than private health care. Of course, that is because they are there to provide a service. Notably, this is NOT to deliver profit to shareholders (added unnecessary cost to essential services).

Yes... because there is systematic bias in the question: "If an election were held tomorrow, who would you vote for?" Remember, the polls are trying to prove they are the best at analysing data and getting the result of the election correct. I guess since the media now favours conservatives, the con party faithful need a new left wing boogey man. The most polls can do is manipulate the time of day they send calls out. To get a Conservative bias, make the majority of polls during the day when retirees are more likely to answer the phone. Maybe conservative voters are less likely to pick up the phone? The only intentional bias I noticed as a for sure thing during this election was the shift in editorials to blatantly support Harper and his candidates with puff pieces. The didn't hide it either. My local paper endorsed the Conservative candidate giving him credit for funds that came to my riding during his time as MP but, he technically had very little to do with.

I hope that he doesn't use the misguided Public Private Partnerships that Conservatives love. Another ideological policy that fails. The public ends up paying more and getting less... Just look at the Brampton Hospital Fiasco. Public Private Partnerships http://www.theglobeandmail.com/life/in-this-ppp-taxpayers-are-the-ones-who-paid/article970191/

I just enjoy hearing people cry afoul about a left leaning opinion article when it is clear that the majority of such articles lean conservative now. At least as reported by G&M (Globe and Mail)

No. Conservatives were always teetering in the range they end up getting. If you looked at the EKOS second choice, the Cons had very little room for growth but, they ended up capitalizing on that growth in a last minute appeal to centre-right Liberals. The NDP did not capitalize on their second choice growth potential(which was much higher than the conservatives)

Actually, the polls were mostly right. The only thing not accounted for in the polls was a 5% shift in Ontario toward conservative after Harper may an appeal to centre-right liberals on the Sunday before the election to stop the possibility of an NDP government. Ontario, being scared of NDP, switched just enough over night before the election. This wouldn't have been seen in the polls. This 5% shift is what really granted Stephen his majority. EKOS also takes into account second choices. Second choices does not favour conservatives because fewer people are likely to switch to them. Something you don't take into account, is how Pollsters are just fine tuning their ability to process data during an election. They often do it for much less than they would for a private business.

First off, we should be able to enforce smoothing and keeping services running when we run deficit for a period assuming that our situation will come back. The reality is that the hard right does increase taxes or costs to citizens. They either hide it by taking out debt, or cut funding increasing the costs to everything as it is privatized. As soon as you privatize something, immediately add 20% cost the the service because they'll be trying to make money instead of serving the public. A centrist approach is what is needed, or at least a flipping back and forth between ideologies. Some things make sense to be provided (public education). Some things do not (convenience stores). Ff you keep giving money services get fat and bloated. Then we need to strip them of some funding to create efficiencies. The cycle works fairly well...