So,
I’m finding this website very interesting.
Basically an Anyone But Conservative site it attempts to advocate for strategic voting, under the guise of promoting environmental issues, in ridings where the race is close enough that Conservative candidates can be defeated.
Quickly plugging in my postal code revealed that my riding is evidently a lock for our NDP candidate and therefore I’m encouraged to ‘vote with my heart’.
All of which raises some very interesting questions.
How many people currently vote with their hearts and how many already vote strategically? If you’re a dyed in the wool NDP supporter, but feel you have a chance at stopping a Conservative candidate from being elected by voting Liberal, do you do so?
How flexible is your political ideology?
I wonder if this site also has the unintended side effect of discouraging voting. If I see that the NDP is almost guaranteed to win my riding, why vote at all? If I’m against the NDP clearly my vote won’t make much of a difference and if I’m pro-NDP I don’t need to worry because, apparently, we already have this one in the bag. There may be better ways to spend my time on election night, like going home and reading my new comic book purchases.
You should vote in support of something you whole heartedly believe, as opposed to voting out of fear and making deals with the devil.
But, lets be honest here, political ideology changes. There are four national parties that are politically left of centre to one degree or another (yes I’m including the Greens and Bloc here) and only one party that has staked out a claim to the right of the centre. Which means, between these four parties, there is clearly some sort of common ideological ground that voters might be able to relate to. It could mean holding your nose when you mark the X on your ballot. But, to you, a little principled slippage may be a small price to pay for keeping the Conservatives in check.
Since my riding is considered to be locked these aren’t really questions that I have to seriously ask myself. I have the luxury of voting how I want...secure in the knowledge that unless I'm voting NDP it may not be worth a damn. But what about those living in swing ridings, what’s going through their minds?
Friday, October 3, 2008
Thursday, October 2, 2008
Canadian Leadership Debate
FFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFF%ck yah!
Now this is a leaders debate!!!
Stephen Harper is getting dog piled from all sides. He's holding his own, getting in the little knife twists and rib digs where he can, but essentially he's letting all the other party leaders talk over each other and drown out his responses in a babble of noise.
It's great to see Elizabeth May at this debate, of the five of them she's the only leader with an effortless gift of gab. She's smart, witty, great with a sound bite and she knows how to make the most of the time she being given.
Dion is doing all right. His English is still spotty and unfortunately some of his points are getting lost in translation. But he's avoided the wrath of the group as a whole and he's had a couple oppurtunities to make some solid points on the national stage.
Jack Layton. Solid, effective debater. Attacks Harper more than he sells his party. Needs to push the NDP a little more.
Duceppe. Strangely enough he's doing a really good job at offering Canadian solutions and identifying universal Canadian issues. In the English language debate he's doing the smart thing of not making regional based arguements. If I didn't disagree with the entire basis of this man's party I'd be impressed at how he's handling himself.
In my mind. May and Layton have done the best at this debate. All the rest have held their own.
Now this is a leaders debate!!!
Stephen Harper is getting dog piled from all sides. He's holding his own, getting in the little knife twists and rib digs where he can, but essentially he's letting all the other party leaders talk over each other and drown out his responses in a babble of noise.
It's great to see Elizabeth May at this debate, of the five of them she's the only leader with an effortless gift of gab. She's smart, witty, great with a sound bite and she knows how to make the most of the time she being given.
Dion is doing all right. His English is still spotty and unfortunately some of his points are getting lost in translation. But he's avoided the wrath of the group as a whole and he's had a couple oppurtunities to make some solid points on the national stage.
Jack Layton. Solid, effective debater. Attacks Harper more than he sells his party. Needs to push the NDP a little more.
Duceppe. Strangely enough he's doing a really good job at offering Canadian solutions and identifying universal Canadian issues. In the English language debate he's doing the smart thing of not making regional based arguements. If I didn't disagree with the entire basis of this man's party I'd be impressed at how he's handling himself.
In my mind. May and Layton have done the best at this debate. All the rest have held their own.
This just in...
Ok. Newsflash.
Two things about Australia that should strike fear in the heart of anyone thinking of making a trip to the land down under.
Giant spiders
Sharks
(AKA Chris and S repellent.)
If I see a giant spider, or S a shark of any size, expect hysteria in mass quantities. I’ve got my eye on you Australia.
In other trip developments my vay-cay time has (narrowly) been approved, the tickets have been purchased, we’ve got someone lined up to look after the cat, made touch with our B.C. relations during our brief stopover and begun to hammer out the deets of what we’re actually going to do when we’re out there…including lots of Outback experiences and annoying the locals by re-enacting ‘that scene’ from the Simpsons.
Coffee?
Beer?
Co-ffee?
Be-er?
C. O…
B. E…
And so it begins.
Two things about Australia that should strike fear in the heart of anyone thinking of making a trip to the land down under.
Giant spiders
Sharks
(AKA Chris and S repellent.)
If I see a giant spider, or S a shark of any size, expect hysteria in mass quantities. I’ve got my eye on you Australia.
In other trip developments my vay-cay time has (narrowly) been approved, the tickets have been purchased, we’ve got someone lined up to look after the cat, made touch with our B.C. relations during our brief stopover and begun to hammer out the deets of what we’re actually going to do when we’re out there…including lots of Outback experiences and annoying the locals by re-enacting ‘that scene’ from the Simpsons.
Coffee?
Beer?
Co-ffee?
Be-er?
C. O…
B. E…
And so it begins.
Wednesday, October 1, 2008
Pull List: 1 October 2008
Batman #680
Doktor Sleepless #9
No Hero #1
Invincible #25
Justice League of America #25
Trinity #18
Doktor Sleepless #9
No Hero #1
Invincible #25
Justice League of America #25
Trinity #18
Heavy spending months
With the arrival of October we’re officially into my heavy spending months. From September until January, this is the time of year where I have to work a little harder at scrounging the cash to cover expenses.
Over the last three years, during this time period, I’ve had to contend with…
Three birthdays
Tuition
Anniversary (First date)
Film Festival
Christmas
It comes across as a mighty short list, but tuition, the film fest and Christmas alone are usually enough to reduce my wallet into leathery tatters.
This year I have the added economic hangover of…
Wedding
Honeymoon
Pending Australia trip.
But strangely enough, if you discount the recent free fall in the marketplace, my finances look pretty good. (In the sense that I’ve managed to keep my credit card zeroed and don’t have any massive debt) I guess fiscal prudence has finally paid off.
In fact, things look so good, I’m finally going to tackle my outstanding student debt. With only $2500 left to go and so many other expenses to worry about it hardly seemed worth the effort to set aside the cash to polish this baby off. But the recent worldwide financial turmoil has convinced me that I’d be better crossing this off my ‘To Do’ list. It may not be a lot of money but in case of unexpected financial emergencies I don’t want to have to worry about covering this nut.
Thus I have developed a system to help be achieve my goal of student debt elimination.
1. After all monthly bills, RRSP deposits and ongoing investments have been take care of I will…
2. Divide all outstanding monies in my bank account three ways.
a. 1/3 to credit card payments (whenever applicable, when credit card balance is at zero, outstanding monies will be divided in half.)
b. 1/3 to student debt repayment
c. 1/3 roll over into next month.
That 1/3 rollover into the next month may be extravagant, but that is the cash I’ll be using to pay for all those birthday’s and such.
I’ve been using this system for a month and so far its been working out really well. So well that my Christmas gift to myself may be being debt free by Jan 1st, 2009.
Over the last three years, during this time period, I’ve had to contend with…
Three birthdays
Tuition
Anniversary (First date)
Film Festival
Christmas
It comes across as a mighty short list, but tuition, the film fest and Christmas alone are usually enough to reduce my wallet into leathery tatters.
This year I have the added economic hangover of…
Wedding
Honeymoon
Pending Australia trip.
But strangely enough, if you discount the recent free fall in the marketplace, my finances look pretty good. (In the sense that I’ve managed to keep my credit card zeroed and don’t have any massive debt) I guess fiscal prudence has finally paid off.
In fact, things look so good, I’m finally going to tackle my outstanding student debt. With only $2500 left to go and so many other expenses to worry about it hardly seemed worth the effort to set aside the cash to polish this baby off. But the recent worldwide financial turmoil has convinced me that I’d be better crossing this off my ‘To Do’ list. It may not be a lot of money but in case of unexpected financial emergencies I don’t want to have to worry about covering this nut.
Thus I have developed a system to help be achieve my goal of student debt elimination.
1. After all monthly bills, RRSP deposits and ongoing investments have been take care of I will…
2. Divide all outstanding monies in my bank account three ways.
a. 1/3 to credit card payments (whenever applicable, when credit card balance is at zero, outstanding monies will be divided in half.)
b. 1/3 to student debt repayment
c. 1/3 roll over into next month.
That 1/3 rollover into the next month may be extravagant, but that is the cash I’ll be using to pay for all those birthday’s and such.
I’ve been using this system for a month and so far its been working out really well. So well that my Christmas gift to myself may be being debt free by Jan 1st, 2009.
Tuesday, September 30, 2008
A land down under.
So.
The economy is in the crapper. My 'savings' account actually laughed at me this morning when I peered into its dark and dingy hole to see if I had any money left.
Short answer? No.
Sounds like the perfect time for a vacation right? What, three months after taking two weeks to explore the Italian countryside?
Yep, we're going to Oz. We got tickets on the cheap, friends to stay with and, more importantly, if we don't do it RIGHT NOW chances are we never will.
So when you put it like that, what's 20 hours plus in a plane? (Answer: Terrifying)
The economy is in the crapper. My 'savings' account actually laughed at me this morning when I peered into its dark and dingy hole to see if I had any money left.
Short answer? No.
Sounds like the perfect time for a vacation right? What, three months after taking two weeks to explore the Italian countryside?
Yep, we're going to Oz. We got tickets on the cheap, friends to stay with and, more importantly, if we don't do it RIGHT NOW chances are we never will.
So when you put it like that, what's 20 hours plus in a plane? (Answer: Terrifying)
Monday, September 29, 2008
Poli-ticky
There are a handful of people in this world that I can talk politics with, and on a really good day that number includes my wife. Which isn’t to say she’s not interested and informed in politics, she is, it’s just that given an opportunity to talk politics I’m likely to dominate the conversation with it until a) I get hungry or b) sleepy.
So, unless a particular issue is really sticking in her craw she’s liable to leave that topic of conversation alone, to preserve her sanity if nothing else.
But I tell you, with what passes for informed discourse these days I’m becoming more and more disgusted with the whole process.
It’s a point of pride with me that no one knows how I vote. Although my father likes to take the piss out of me by pretending that I’m some hard core left wing socialist I’ve never told anyone, ever, how I’ve voted in any given election. Part of that is because I don’t want to be pigeon holed as some sort of one party sycophant. Once someone identifies you politically in their mind, that’s who you’ll be to them forever more, despite how your political needs and opinions might change over time.
But I’ve wandered off topic here.
What spurred this post was my growing annoyance with the Toronto Star’s recent decision to allow comments on all their online new stories. Now every time a political story is run the comments section heats up almost instantaneously with idiots hiding under the guise of electronic anonymity, blasting writers and political parties simply for being ideologically different than they are.
Even the most objective information is blasted with partisan vitriol and hostility.
What the hell happened to mature debate? I’m old enough and mature enough to look at all the political parties out there and see something in each platform that appeals to me.
Green Party – Environmentalism
NDP – Urban Issues
Conservatives – Smaller Government
Liberal Party – Um. Environmentalism
I can respect a different point of a view from own, as long as it’s presented to me in a mature and grown up manner. It’s called life. Someone is always going to disagree with you, that doesn’t automatically make them the anti-christ.
And yet the bashing continues as if anyone who thinks differently is a criminal of the worst sort. If you identify online with one political party, then a free for all dog pile of hate, scorn and public shaming begins. It’s impossible for anyone to engage you like a human being. It’s not just the anonymous yahoos either. Or political leaders, our so-called role models, routinely bash each other or any special interest group they deem unlikely to support them.
Take a look at the sustained Conservative attack on Ontario. Feeling unlikely to win many seats in the province the Tories feel like its open season on our politicians, our policies and our province. The only way they can make themselves look big is by knocking around someone else who can’t compete with them at the same level.
I’m not naïve. I know that politics is a blood sport, built more around political parties staying in power, as opposed to a nobler calling. It takes a strong stomach to wade into the mess and separate the wheat from the chaff, finding parties and policies that work for you, rather then just picking one party and sticking with it – cause, you know, it’s easier to do that than put any real thought into what’s happening around you.
I just can’t help but feel like this sustained e-bashing is designed to make the whole experience even more exclusionary, driving the moderates and the mature into the shadows, unwilling to take on the ravenous partisan appetites of those who troll the internet looking to make a point. And that’s a shame, because democracy is about hearing from all voices, espeically the ones you don’t like.
So, unless a particular issue is really sticking in her craw she’s liable to leave that topic of conversation alone, to preserve her sanity if nothing else.
But I tell you, with what passes for informed discourse these days I’m becoming more and more disgusted with the whole process.
It’s a point of pride with me that no one knows how I vote. Although my father likes to take the piss out of me by pretending that I’m some hard core left wing socialist I’ve never told anyone, ever, how I’ve voted in any given election. Part of that is because I don’t want to be pigeon holed as some sort of one party sycophant. Once someone identifies you politically in their mind, that’s who you’ll be to them forever more, despite how your political needs and opinions might change over time.
But I’ve wandered off topic here.
What spurred this post was my growing annoyance with the Toronto Star’s recent decision to allow comments on all their online new stories. Now every time a political story is run the comments section heats up almost instantaneously with idiots hiding under the guise of electronic anonymity, blasting writers and political parties simply for being ideologically different than they are.
Even the most objective information is blasted with partisan vitriol and hostility.
What the hell happened to mature debate? I’m old enough and mature enough to look at all the political parties out there and see something in each platform that appeals to me.
Green Party – Environmentalism
NDP – Urban Issues
Conservatives – Smaller Government
Liberal Party – Um. Environmentalism
I can respect a different point of a view from own, as long as it’s presented to me in a mature and grown up manner. It’s called life. Someone is always going to disagree with you, that doesn’t automatically make them the anti-christ.
And yet the bashing continues as if anyone who thinks differently is a criminal of the worst sort. If you identify online with one political party, then a free for all dog pile of hate, scorn and public shaming begins. It’s impossible for anyone to engage you like a human being. It’s not just the anonymous yahoos either. Or political leaders, our so-called role models, routinely bash each other or any special interest group they deem unlikely to support them.
Take a look at the sustained Conservative attack on Ontario. Feeling unlikely to win many seats in the province the Tories feel like its open season on our politicians, our policies and our province. The only way they can make themselves look big is by knocking around someone else who can’t compete with them at the same level.
I’m not naïve. I know that politics is a blood sport, built more around political parties staying in power, as opposed to a nobler calling. It takes a strong stomach to wade into the mess and separate the wheat from the chaff, finding parties and policies that work for you, rather then just picking one party and sticking with it – cause, you know, it’s easier to do that than put any real thought into what’s happening around you.
I just can’t help but feel like this sustained e-bashing is designed to make the whole experience even more exclusionary, driving the moderates and the mature into the shadows, unwilling to take on the ravenous partisan appetites of those who troll the internet looking to make a point. And that’s a shame, because democracy is about hearing from all voices, espeically the ones you don’t like.
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