Apathy in Ontario

[John]

Is anyone else bummed out about the choices we have in the next provincial election?

As a candidate with the potential to win, let's just right Howard off right now.

That leaves John and Dalton...they may as well be clones!

One responds to the challenge of improving our lives by turning a little bit to the left...the other by turning a bit to the right -- with no REAL change in the end.

Neither are going to do anything...they just manage things in slightly different ways. BORING!!!

Where's the vision???

[Charles Anthony]

"One responds to the challenge of improving our lives by turning a little bit to the left...the other by turning a bit to the right -- with no REAL change in the end."

From a game theory perspective, it is not surprising. The two competitors are vying for the same audience. Gradually, they end up offering the same AVERAGE product.

As soon as one major competitor offers a slightly different product, he takes the risk of losing consumers. Thus, in the long run, it is safer for the two to effectively offer the same platform.

What would you do if you were the leader of the provincial Liberals or Conservatives? Would YOU take the risk of offering a different platform? Remember: your first interest is to get (and stay) elected!

"Where's the vision???"

What exactly is "vision"? I really do not understand that question.

People always talk about "vision" in a politician and I do not think that I want or care about having a politician with any sense of "social engineering" or change.

I just expect a government to enter office with the intention of governing -- rather than a sense of change or vision or values or anything else. Mind you, what I expect a government to do is very minimalist. I understand some people expect more from their government than I do.

[ClearWest]

I recommend Sam Apelbaum if he's running again. You may not have a representative from his party in your riding--but it still wouldn't hurt to learn about his policies.

[John]

"What would you do if you were the leader of the provincial Liberals or Conservatives? Would YOU take the risk of offering a different platform? Remember: your first interest is to get (and stay) elected!

Not really. I wouldn't want to get elected on false premise.

What would I do? I'd steal a couple of pages from the Freedom Party of Ontario's playbook and lower/eliminate a whole bunch of taxes to start things off. Privatize the utilities. Sell the LCBO.