Election 2008

[blueblood]

Interviews are on CTV right now and so far Harper and Layton are raring to go. Dion has to come up yet.

Two themes, the tory theme of don't rock the boat, and the NDP theme of change.

This will be an interesting campaign of ideologies.

[Jerry J. Fortin]

Three things should be debated for this election.

1) Our military

2) Our economy

3) Our government

The reason we need to talk about our military is that we have folks giving their lives in our names, in an effort being administered by politicians.

The reason we need to talk about our economy is because we are watching thousands of jobs disappear in Ontario and Quebec, and the government is handing money to corporate efforts. While there is some logic in attempting to partner up with business to create jobs, its another thing entirely when tax dollars are being tossed around without any net benefit to the public.

The reason we need to talk about our government is that we seem to being passing legislation that we don't intend to follow.

[DanInOttawa]

Interviews are on CTV right now and so far Harper and Layton are raring to go. Dion has to come up yet.

Two themes, the tory theme of don't rock the boat, and the NDP theme of change.

This will be an interesting campaign of ideologies.

The interviews were only interesting with Harper and Layton.

[blueblood]

Three things should be debated for this election.

1) Our military

2) Our economy

3) Our government

The reason we need to talk about our military is that we have folks giving their lives in our names, in an effort being administered by politicians.

The reason we need to talk about our economy is because we are watching thousands of jobs disappear in Ontario and Quebec, and the government is handing money to corporate efforts. While there is some logic in attempting to partner up with business to create jobs, its another thing entirely when tax dollars are being tossed around without any net benefit to the public.

The reason we need to talk about our government is that we seem to being passing legislation that we don't intend to follow.

As for the economy Saskatchewan is open for business, as for the disappearing manufacturing jobs, we have jobs in Uranium and potash mines, canola crushing plants, and the oil patch. Just because Ontario and Quebec have anti-business philosophies doesn't mean the Canadian economy is in trouble.

[Ontario Loyalist]

Three things should be debated for this election.

1) Our military

2) Our economy

3) Our government

4) Harper's wardrobe...

It would be nice if they could stick to the issues, but let's be serious here: it ain't gonna happen...

[cybercoma]

It never ceases to amaze me how one party can run on a "don't rock the boat" campaign (CPC) and another party will run on a "time for change" campaign (NDP). One of them has to be completely out of touch with the electorate. I guess time will tell which one that is.

[Ontario Loyalist]

As for the economy Saskatchewan is open for business, as for the disappearing manufacturing jobs, we have jobs in Uranium and potash mines, canola crushing plants, and the oil patch. Just because Ontario and Quebec have anti-business philosophies doesn't mean the Canadian economy is in trouble.

Too bad Saskatchewan is in the middle of nowhere. The heart of Canada will always be Ontario and Quebec because of it's proximity to the US northeast.

[Ontario Loyalist]

It never ceases to amaze me how one party can run on a "don't rock the boat" campaign (CPC) and another party will run on a "time for change" campaign (NDP). One of them has to be completely out of touch with the electorate. I guess time will tell which one that is.

Well, traditionally that would be the NDP, and to be quite frank I think the Greens are going to be the end of the NDP. Layton thinks that this is between him and Harper? Now, that's funny.

[cybercoma]

The NDP probably should focus on keeping people from going to the Greens, but votes being split is a problem with our system as a whole. Typically, the governing party will pull in less than 50% of the voting public's votes. It's nearly impossible for them to say they speak for the interests of Canadians with those kinds of numbers, especially when you consider how low voter turnout is.

[blueblood]

Too bad Saskatchewan is in the middle of nowhere. The heart of Canada will always be Ontario and Quebec because of it's proximity to the US northeast.

In the words of Ford trucks, Heartbeat my ass. Ever hear of pipelines? If that's how leftists view western Canada no wonder they are in trouble this election Saying Ontario is more Canadian than anywhere else has got to be the dumbest thing i've heard today.

[jdobbin]

Layton wouldn't answer any question in regards to the Greens being invited to the leaders debate. CTV asked the question about four times and he refused to answer. He just stared blankly at the screen.

Afraid the answer to the question is yes or no not "I am going to debate Harper."

By the way, that is a new strategy as well. To try to act like the Liberals are not in the election. First time they have tried that.

[blueblood]

Layton wouldn't answer any question in regards to the Greens being invited to the leaders debate. CTV asked the question about four times and he refused to answer. He just stared blankly at the screen.

Afraid the answer to the question is yes or no not "I am going to debate Harper."

By the way, that is a new strategy as well. To try to act like the Liberals are not in the election. First time they have tried that.

Are the greens invited? What are the odds Layton is toast after this election?

[jdobbin]

Are the greens invited? What are the odds Layton is toast after this election?

The question is did he support the idea of an invitation to the Greens to join the leader's debate.

Layton did that annoying thing he often did when trying to talk over Paul Martin although this time he was doing to the interviewer. And he adamantly refused to answer the question. The interviewer should have simply filled in the answer for Layton and said "the answer seems to be no."

Edited September 7, 2008 by jdobbin

[Ontario Loyalist]

In the words of Ford trucks, Heartbeat my ass. Ever hear of pipelines?

Heart, not heartbeat. That's just the way it is, though. No need to get worked up about it.

If that's how leftists view western Canada no wonder they are in trouble this election

I'm a leftist? No wonder Harper gets elected if people like you can't tell the difference betwen left and right...

Saying Ontario is more Canadian than anywhere else has got to be the dumbest thing i've heard today.

I never said it was "more Canadian".

[Ontario Loyalist]

Layton wouldn't answer any question in regards to the Greens being invited to the leaders debate. CTV asked the question about four times and he refused to answer. He just stared blankly at the screen.

Afraid the answer to the question is yes or no not "I am going to debate Harper."

By the way, that is a new strategy as well. To try to act like the Liberals are not in the election. First time they have tried that.

I'm sorry I missed that. Hope I catch it later if it's replayed.

It won't work. The NDP has a legacy of socialism that doesn't sit with most. The Greens are a party that draws from both the right and left, is more centrist. The only people who consider it a "leftist" party are hard right ideologes.

[jdobbin]

I'm sorry I missed that. Hope I catch it later if it's replayed.

It won't work. The NDP has a legacy of socialism that doesn't sit with most. The Greens are a party that draws from both the right and left, is more centrist. The only people who consider it a "leftist" party are hard right ideologes.

It might be on tonight if it isn't being repeated constantly on CTV News.

They asked the same thing on CBC as well.

Edited September 7, 2008 by jdobbin

[blueblood]

Heart, not heartbeat. That's just the way it is, though. No need to get worked up about it.

I'm a leftist? No wonder Harper gets elected if people like you can't tell the difference betwen left and right...

I never said it was "more Canadian".

That's not the way it is, the Liberals have found that out the hard way. Saying Ontario is the heart of this country and dismissing Saskatchewan as the middle of nowhere is why we have national unity problems in the first place. As for being a leftist, carbon tax to support social programs anyone??? Saskatchewan is booming, if manufacturing workers want work either elect a more business friendly gov't or move west.

[Jerry J. Fortin]

My God isn't whats happening to the stubble jumpers great! Its about time they got a break. Even so what happens in the economic heartland of central Canada will be the determining factor in this and every other election. That is where the votes are.

[White Doors]

It's on!!

[eyeball]

The NDP probably should focus on keeping people from going to the Greens, but votes being split is a problem with our system as a whole. Typically, the governing party will pull in less than 50% of the voting public's votes. It's nearly impossible for them to say they speak for the interests of Canadians with those kinds of numbers, especially when you consider how low voter turnout is.

The deficiencies of our first-past-the-post system have never seemed more apparent have they? If the representatives of the 60% or more of us who consistently do not want the Conservatives to govern this country they would get over their slight differences and form a single party.

I think I'll just spoil my ballot, take a photo of it and mail a copy to Dion, Layton, May and Duceppe. Perhaps if a few million of us do that they'll think about it.

[blueblood]

The deficiencies of our first-past-the-post system have never seemed more apparent have they? If the representatives of the 60% or more of us who consistently do not want the Conservatives to govern this country they would get over their slight differences and form a single party.

I think I'll just spoil my ballot, take a photo of it and mail a copy to Dion, Layton, May and Duceppe. Perhaps if a few million of us do that they'll think about it.

Just like the 85% of Canadians don't like socialism being rammed down their throats by the ndp?

[eyeball]

The obvious solution to governments ramming their policies down our throats is to put a lot more issues to referenda.

[Smallc]

The obvious solution to governments ramming their policies down our throats is to put a lot more issues to referenda.

People don't have the time to become educated on every issue and make an informed decision. That's why we have government.

[whowhere]

That's not the way it is, the Liberals have found that out the hard way. Saying Ontario is the heart of this country and dismissing Saskatchewan as the middle of nowhere is why we have national unity problems in the first place. As for being a leftist, carbon tax to support social programs anyone??? Saskatchewan is booming, if manufacturing workers want work either elect a more business friendly gov't or move west.

I find it odd when the economies tank and people are thrown out of well paying employment the tune is to reward those very same companies with tax cuts. I believe the government should adopt a robin hood approach and tax these companies more while at the same time offering tax credits/Incentives for employing people in the middle income tax schedule. This is the approach to ensure these greedy corporations receive no benefit in their greedy exploitation and cost cutting tactics. Economies tank and mortgage/debt defaults is because of these companies. Companies should not be rewarded for ruining the economy with lower taxes.

The fact is the conservatives don't have Canada's back and are an untrustworthy lot when it comes to managing the economy. They have no concept of business and their tactics. They do more to wreck the economy then to bolster it. Their style is to reward the rich at the expense of everyone else.

A government should approach business and people from a tax point of view. There is little or no value to people working at minimum wage. They pay very little in the form of Income taxes. However, these same companies who pay minimum wage may be immensly prosporous because of the volume of business they are doing. What this means is huge profits for the company. Companies get away with paying low wages because these workers have been socially conditioned to believe that is what they should get for that work. If the employee made no money and pays little taxes and the company pays less taxes how does that benefit Government revenues? All lower business taxes will do is create more incentive to throw more people out of work or pay less to capture larger profits. Economies crumble becuase of corrupt corporations/businesses and their greed.

In tough economic times, the government needs to get out its stick and inflict as much pain on as many corporations and businesses as possible. In a further move the government has to recognize a bad economy is also because of bad social attitudes in general that wreck the economy and disrupt peoples lives. The only way to get even with those pricks is in times of economic uncertainty is to double and tripple consumption taxes such as the gst and pst while at the same time giving this money back in the form of rebate cheques to those of need.

Only a Robin Hood attitude will ultimately stabalize and bring about the right attitude to grow and prosper a country. Call it economic fascism if you want but the government needs to focus on its objectives of tax revenues and growth. Any companies and people that get in the way of that objective needs to be dealt with accordingly.

[eyeball]

People don't have the time to become educated on every issue and make an informed decision. That's why we have government.

I didn't say every issue, I just said a lot more. You think two or three major issues every four years or so would be too much for Canadians to handle?

Edited September 8, 2008 by eyeball