Why Canada's election is boring

[JerrySeinfeld]

Is the election in the USA more interestign because it's actually a contest of ideas?

People in the USA aren't afraid to voice their conservatism, unlike here in Canada where, outside of ALberta you'll be verbally lynched for expressing views outside of the left wing doctrine.

All of this makes the electoral politics compelling in the USA, whereas in Canada it's a boring as watching paint dry.

Why?

I read a column basically saying this: Really, in Canada every party is peddling the same bullshit. Whereas in the USA there is a clear choice whereas in Canada, there is some eery "assumed" direction the country is already going (long ago decided upon by Trudeau and his ilk) - for example enviro-naziism, wealth transfer, universal health care etc., and it's a doctrine all the parties must bow to. So whether you're a liberal or a conseravtive or a NDP, you all tout your priority is to "preserve our universal health care system, fight to save the trees and vow to redistribute wealth so that all provinces are roughly equal, suck up to first nations people with more money, swallow Buzz Hargrove's bs etc."

That's why our election is bullshit and the american one is fun and interesting to watch. Because we've all long ago resigned ourselves to our fate as a socialist mecca ruled by Toronto and Montreal lawyers, professors and CBC reporters, whereas the states is a clear battle of ideological differnces where large chunks of the country refuse to be told what to do by ivory tower left wing cesspools (like harvard or columbia) and media know-it-alls.

Agree? Are you bored too? Will the real conservatives please stand up?

Edited September 23, 2008 by JerrySeinfeld

[guyser]

Is the election in the USA more interestign... Conservatives please stand up?

Sorry dude but that is another false premise .

And stop meeting with Buzz Hargrove.

[Moonbox]

The US election is bullshit and even worse bullshit than our own. If you think that American politics is somehow compelling than you should also check out:

The Hills

because it's all 100% drama put together by a bunch of suits campaigning to an electorate so dumb the rest of the world can't help but shake their heads.

Why would anyone care which presidential candidate is more devoutly religious? Why are the main campaign issues whether Barack Obama thinks himself smarter than everyone else or not, or Sarah Pellin's pregnant daughter? How dumb does a country have to be to make a big fuss because someone won't wear a freaking pin on their jacket?

The idealogical divide that you say makes US politics so interesting is nothing but political indoctrination to a degree that you see in VERY few other nations. There are a few 'swing' voters that do vote based on the issues and those are the ones campaigns are directed to, but 90% of the US electorate votes the exact same way every election because they grew up being told by daddy that democrats were evil socialists or republicans were run by evil corporations.

George Bush has been one of the most disastrous leaders of the Western World in modern history. His bungles internationally and domestically rival those of leaders like Chamberlain and yet it's VERY possible that the American people will re-elect the administration that ran his government. Why? Because when you grow being told what to do and what to think your talent for making excuses and refusing logic/reason becomes lengendary.

The majority of Canadians are pretty ignorant. The majority of Americans are so ignorant that you probably need to invent a new word to describe how ignorant they really are.

Watching the American elections makes me sick.

[Topaz]

I think THIS election is more exciting then the last . Canadians didn't know enough about the Conservative/Alliance merger and its leader and now after 2 years , we know EXACTLY how they think! Some people are not sure of Dion as leader and the NDP may take more votes from both and lastly, the Green party finally has a chance to go to the debates. The only thing wrong with the US is they only have TWO parties and the people should at least have a third so they can throw the other two out!

[capricorn]

I think THIS election is more exciting then the last .

I think so too. The Liberals are fighting for their survival.

[WIP]

Is the election in the USA more interestign because it's actually a contest of ideas?

Are you kidding? It didn't become a contest of ideas until the markets started to crash this week. Until now, it's been all pomp and pageantry, a contest of personalities, sordid personal histories, and odd personal beliefs.

But that must also make it much more interesting, since I joined this forum for the specific purpose of getting more involved in Canadian political issues, but I keep dozing off reading federal and political issues, even though these are the ones that affect me directly. I can't help but keep going back to the U.S. political debates to read something to catch my interest.

[M.Dancer]

I think so too. The Liberals are fighting for their survival.

Which is also entertaining. Even more comical will be after the Greens debate their planned rise in taxes and watching them get less of a percentage than last election.

[Moonbox]

Which is also entertaining. Even more comical will be after the Greens debate their planned rise in taxes and watching them get less of a percentage than last election.

It will be amusing to see public opinion drop for the Greens after they get a good look at Elizabeth May. This will probably be taken as hugely offensive and I don't mean it to be a judgement of character but I find it somewhat ironic to see someone leading an environmental crusade who clearly eats more than her fair share.

Eating too much food is also not good for the environment.

[searchingforaformerclearity]

That's kinda nit-picky don't you think? I mean, if you wanna be THAT critical is anybody truly one hundred percent consistant in every move they make in life?

I think, fat people can be leaders of environmental crusades just like masturbating males can be pastors, or even faithful husbands for that matter.

[August1991]

All of this makes the electoral politics compelling in the USA, whereas in Canada it's a boring as watching paint dry.

Jerry, you don't appreciate drama.

Have you ever seen one of those late night slow mystery movies that, at first seem boring, but then they draw you in and then you can't stop watching? Canadian politics are similar - a deep, civilized cauldron.

In politics, Americans usually put two rich, WASP, country club guys against each other. In Canada, we have a history of Catholics against Protestants, French against English. But we Canadians are civilized. To understand Canadian drama - and it's far more dramatic than US history, slavery and all - you have to be able to read between the lines. (Huh?)

Canadian conflict is dramatic to those who appreciate irony and subtlety. (Huh?) In Canada, we have Catholics and Protestants, and English-speakers and French-speakers. And Jerry, you claim to find the result boring.

Jerry, you don't appreciate or understand drama.

[bush_cheney2004]

From Ray's Place....another voice in the wilderness?

...In case you haven’t noted the problem already, here it is. We here in Canuckville never got the point, and have failed to understand the power of the television screen. We’re still trying to flog dry old men, selling responsibility and issues, when what we secretly crave is the media darling/gossip sandwich that feeds the U.S. voter. When’s the last time you saw Harper, Dion, or Layton on television and thought “Wow! Great image!”? Let’s face it, they are as dry as a Death Valley creek bed. And gossip? Try to find me anything, ever, that could even hint these three are hiding something interesting.

When the Americans had Nixon and JFK, we had John Diefenbaker and Pierre Trudeau, who became prime ministers not on issues, but on television personalities. Canada learned nothing from them and here we are again, so bored to death that even the senseless slime of American campaigns starts to look, if not good, at least entertaining.

It works out like this: Americans are stupid. We in Canada are just plain boring

http://raymacleod.blogspot.com/2008/09/it-...-elections.html

[Moonbox]

That's kinda nit-picky don't you think? I mean, if you wanna be THAT critical is anybody truly one hundred percent consistant in every move they make in life?

I think, fat people can be leaders of environmental crusades just like masturbating males can be pastors, or even faithful husbands for that matter.

I just think it is an interesting choice for leader of the party. Being fat is a lifestyle and the 'image' it exudes is the opposite of environmentalism, which is what the Greens are all about.

[Argus]

Is the election in the USA more interestign because it's actually a contest of ideas?

I think the election in the US is about the same ideas that all their elections since Nixon have been about; guns vs gun control, abortion rights vs pro life, anti-tax vs big-government. There's really nothing new there. Obama is further to the left than most democratic contenders - maybe all of them, but even his ideas are fairly moderate, and he has failed to articulate any clear-cut policy goals or agenda - as has McCain, btw. Both talk about 'change" without explaining what the change will be in any kind of detail. Obama is running because he's black. Absent that he would not have been the nominee. McCain has a foot in the grave, and from reports I've seen peole are actually coming to big halls to hear - his VP nominee speak, and then leaving after she's done. That doesn't speak well of what an electrifying vision the man is presenting to people.

The only real drama is how will Obama, who doesn't have a lot of political experience, or Palin, who has virtually none, should McCain keel over dead, perform in a real crisis as President?

People in the USA aren't afraid to voice their conservatism

I think there's more to conservatism than pro-life and pro-guns. I don't think the Republicans in the US are particularly conservative. If they were they wouldn't have run up huge debts while continuing to spend on unnecessary items and repeatedly cut taxes. Conservatism is about fiscal responsibilty and considering all ideas carefully with an eye to tradition and common sense before acting, not bible thumping and ranting about gay marriage and sex on tv and miniskirts.

[Moonbox]

There's fiscal conservatism and social conversatism and I think these are very different things.

Fiscal conservatism is low taxes and prudent spending. Social conservatism is what I like to consider stubborn ignorance and religous/moral indoctrination.

American Republicans right now are socially conservative but fiscally stupid.

Canadian Conservatives, whatever the individual people believe, are socially liberal and fiscally conservative.

[PoliticalCitizen]

Which is also entertaining. Even more comical will be after the Greens debate their planned rise in taxes and watching them get less of a percentage than last election.

I wouldn't bet on it

[PoliticalCitizen]

All of this makes the electoral politics compelling in the USA, whereas in Canada it's a boring as watching paint dry.

Huh?

US election is like 2 tribes of primates throwing feces one at another...

And the MOST boring part is that IT DOESN'T MATTER WHO WINS because both parties serve same corporate masters...

[ChristopherJ]

The reason the US election is far more 'exciting' is because it's a competition between two people to see who runs the most powerful country in the world. It's pretty simple.

But to say the US election is interesting because the parties are different in their ideas is pretty ridiculous considering how little difference there actually is. What republicans and democratic leaders preach (where there is actually a difference) and what they actually execute (where there's practically none) are two very different things.

Overall, you can call Canada's election boring -- but who cares? That isn't the point of an election. The American electoral system is the biggest sham in the free world... but at least it excites people!? Your logic doesn't make any sense.

[PoliticalCitizen]

The reason the US election is far more 'exciting' is because it's a competition between two people to see who runs the most powerful country in the world. It's pretty simple.

I agree with this point.

I don't think there is a country out there that would not have heard of and expressed some interest in the US elections.

[Oleg Bach]

The reason the US election is far more 'exciting' is because it's a competition between two people to see who runs the most powerful country in the world. It's pretty simple.

But to say the US election is interesting because the parties are different in their ideas is pretty ridiculous considering how little difference there actually is. What republicans and democratic leaders preach (where there is actually a difference) and what they actually execute (where there's practically none) are two very different things.

Overall, you can call Canada's election boring -- but who cares? That isn't the point of an election. The American electoral system is the biggest sham in the free world... but at least it excites people!? Your logic doesn't make any sense.

Feels like we have an election every 3 months! Maybe the reason for this is, that we are stating that we have no real leaders and we just shuffle a bureacracy about to befuddle the population...also the Americans get acting coaches to streamline their public performance - who are the handlers of our politicians? Perhaps a retired gay makeup artist from the CBC in tandum with a talentless vocal and acting coach that could not cut it as an artist in the private sector? The Americans hire better help...you can not get good help these days in Canada - ask Belinda Stronach. With her millions all she got was drunks and pardoned bullies as advisors.

[Moonbox]

I think you're wildly exaggerating the effects of makeup and scripting in the US. It happens everywhere in the world.

The only reason you think this is because the American elections are really just a 1.5 year pageant. It's a long, grueling pageant where the candidate who wins is generally the one who stirs up the most positive drama or at least less negative drama than the other candidate.

It's just a media frenzy where the candidate who looks the best, guards his words and mind the best and who can make himself look the most 'american' wins.

Sadly, Obama, being black, doesn't look 'American' enough for his fellow Americans. McCain and the Bush administration are likely to get another term in office just because the average American's capacity for ignorance and primitive thought is rivalled only by that of the zealots looking to destroy them.

[JerrySeinfeld]

The idealogical divide that you say makes US politics so interesting is nothing but political indoctrination to a degree that you see in VERY few other nations. There are a few 'swing' voters that do vote based on the issues and those are the ones campaigns are directed to, but 90% of the US electorate votes the exact same way every election because they grew up being told by daddy that democrats were evil socialists or republicans were run by evil corporations.

That's complete hogwash. You have no idea what you're talking about.

Check your facts before spouting off:

1980 Presidential Election

1984 Presidential Election

1988

1992

1996

Not only are you completely unequivocally wrong about the history of us electoral politics, but you have missed the entire point of this thread.

[JerrySeinfeld]

The American electoral system is the biggest sham in the free world...

Please explain yourself. I believe the American electoral system is far better than the joke parlaimentary system we took hand-me-down style from the Brits.

[ChristopherJ]

Please explain yourself. I believe the American electoral system is far better than the joke parlaimentary system we took hand-me-down style from the Brits.

Because it's this long, tediously drawn out process where the voters have only two options, and those two options are exactly the same -- both war-mongering government regulators.

[Moonbox]

Please explain yourself. I believe the American electoral system is far better than the joke parlaimentary system we took hand-me-down style from the Brits.

We can start with the fact that the President has far too much power in government. He cannot be voted out if he's doing a bad job.

The American electoral system is done under the system of Electoral Colleges, which is idiotic in and of itself.

The American electoral system can result in crippled governments unable to pass legislation (as in President opposed by Congress).

The primary system is stupid and exclusive.

I realize that I was vague and rhetorical and I'll explain further if i have to, but even the Americans think their system is broken.

[BC_chick]

Canada's having an election?!?

No, but seriously, here are a couple of reasons it's more "fun" to watch the Americans:

1) There's a woman AND a black-man.

2) The woman shoots moose and the black-man eats endive salads (I mean really, how often does either one happen?)

3) Both the black man and the woman are hot. Even the two old dudes were pretty hot... back in the day.

So there you have it. Apparently we all like our elections a little on the soapy side.

Maybe Dion or Harper can father a love child or something to spice things up?

Or maybe Trudeau Sr. will return and it turns out he's not dead after all, but he went into hiding right after his sex-change operation. He's actually been living on a remote island with Celine Dion's long-lost faternal twin.... and they now living as lesbian lovers.