Keepitsimple Posted March 29, 2011 Report Posted March 29, 2011 Results of the last 4 Federal Elections have shown a steady increase in Conservative support right across the country. The Liberal Party's self destruction certainly comes into play, as does the efficiency of the Conservative Party. But what other factors are at play? For example, New Canadians tend to come from cultures that could be viewed as more rooted in Conservatism. First generation Canadians who arrived under the Liberal regime and were made to feel beholding to Big Red now have the confidence to exercise their vote as they see fit. Perhaps people are starting to accept that we have enough social programs - especially with our Healthcare system buckling at the knees....so the term "progressive" has lost it's meaning. Is Law & Order and the safety and security of family more of an issue than the MSM reports? Open for debate - is it the Conservatives, or is it Conservatism? 2000 - 78 seats (Alliance + PC) 2004 - 99 2006 - 124 2008 - 143 2011 - ??? Quote Back to Basics
Jack Weber Posted March 29, 2011 Report Posted March 29, 2011 A couple of things... The demographic of the baby boomer generation cannot be discounted.They are the largest demographic and have become increasingly pro tax cut as opposed to improved social programs,even if it is at times at thier own economic peril... As that generation they seem to lean slightly to the right economically,even if they may not be predisposed to completely agree with all things on the democratic right.Many of thee folks are not really partisan in any way,but I think that's the driver of conservative incrementalism...And that's not just Canada,by the way... Of course,there will be a wall the Conservative party will hit and this demographic will go no further.On top of that,once the wall is hit,those that oppose this shift to the right will inexorably pull things back to the Centre... Quote The beatings will continue until morale improves!!!
Shakeyhands Posted March 29, 2011 Report Posted March 29, 2011 Results of the last 4 Federal Elections have shown a steady increase in Conservative support right across the country. The Liberal Party's self destruction certainly comes into play, as does the efficiency of the Conservative Party. But what other factors are at play? For example, New Canadians tend to come from cultures that could be viewed as more rooted in Conservatism. First generation Canadians who arrived under the Liberal regime and were made to feel beholding to Big Red now have the confidence to exercise their vote as they see fit. Perhaps people are starting to accept that we have enough social programs - especially with our Healthcare system buckling at the knees....so the term "progressive" has lost it's meaning. Is Law & Order and the safety and security of family more of an issue than the MSM reports? Open for debate - is it the Conservatives, or is it Conservatism? 2000 - 78 seats (Alliance + PC) 2004 - 99 2006 - 124 2008 - 143 2011 - ??? It was a combination of things, the Sponsership scandal and the constant muzzling of the MP's by Harper. Quote "They muddy the water, to make it seem deep." - Friedrich Nietzsche
bloodyminded Posted March 29, 2011 Report Posted March 29, 2011 (edited) Results of the last 4 Federal Elections have shown a steady increase in Conservative support right across the country. The Liberal Party's self destruction certainly comes into play, as does the efficiency of the Conservative Party. But what other factors are at play? For example, New Canadians tend to come from cultures that could be viewed as more rooted in Conservatism. First generation Canadians who arrived under the Liberal regime and were made to feel beholding to Big Red now have the confidence to exercise their vote as they see fit. Perhaps people are starting to accept that we have enough social programs - especially with our Healthcare system buckling at the knees....so the term "progressive" has lost it's meaning. Is Law & Order and the safety and security of family more of an issue than the MSM reports? Open for debate - is it the Conservatives, or is it Conservatism? 2000 - 78 seats (Alliance + PC) 2004 - 99 2006 - 124 2008 - 143 2011 - ??? We'd have to define what we mean by "conservatism," certainly. So there's never going to be a straight line--"conservative" or "progressive"--and even genuine tendencies either way take quite some time to perceive, and then are available mostly in retrospect. For example, i personally perceive Canada as moving in a more leftish direction overall; but I don't think it's true on every issue you could name, and I'm perfectly willing to admit I could be quite wrong anyway. But to give some idea of what I mean: 1. According to a MacLean's poll (not exactly science, I agree, but certainly not a leftist publication), 70% of Canadians support same sex marriage. Now, sure, "support" is not even that simple a concept...but at the least, it suggests (if the poll is even close to correct) that a very, very clear majority of Canadians have no real problem with what was, five years ago, a profoundly contentious and almost exclusively "progressive" issue. 2. The numbers of people living together, rather than getting married, has skyrocketed in the past twenty years, to the point where it's no longer an issue. At all. And it's not a "progressive" matter precisely because the social conservatives completely lost out on this. In fact, they've utterly lost on sexual matters generally, and their loss has been almost total. 3. Economically, it becomes a lot more complex, I admit. And there are, if anything, fewer people willing to embrace "too much" socialism. On the other hand, almost nobody is completely opposed to all socialist amelioratives of the gaps in the capitalist system. With a radically tiny minority as the exception, Canadians do believe in some socialist properties as rightfully belonging to our society. And the hatred for the corporations and the financial institutions remains as strong, or stronger, than ever. If I were to listen to our Conservative friends on this thread, I might be tempted to think of such distrust as a lefty phenomenon; but it isn't. Most people don't trust the mega-money entities, at all. A few fringe types will always defend them; but no one else. As neoliberalism is thoroughly mainstream, you might argue that the conservatives (small 'c') have more or less won the economic debate. To some extent, that's true. But anyone who thinks Canadians are opposed in principle to any and all bits of "socialism" is deluding him or herself, so the old leftist influence remains, and will remain for the foreseeable future. 4. I'm not seeing law and order" and fears of crime as a terribly important issue; if anything, I think the msm is overreporting it. I don't think Canadians generally are holding to a profoundly different view than they did a generation or two ago. In other words, I'm seeing a rise in progressivism, where you're seeing a rise in conservatism. But again...I'm not claiming for sure that I'm correct. Either way, it becomes at least partially impressionistic. Edited March 29, 2011 by bloodyminded Quote As scarce as truth is, the supply has always been in excess of the demand. --Josh Billings
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