RM> The problem with not voting or 'potest' voting for some
RM> no-name party is that, perhaps the party you voted for before
RM> has peeved you some but do you want to see the next runner-up
RM> in power instead? You really should be voting for the one
RM> you want in there the most, or at least the one you Hate the
RM> least, because someone else getting in may do you more damage
RM> in the long run.

MG>You do make good points.  That's the Catch 22 of the situation.

MG>Consider the results from yesterday: the Green Party managed to increase thei
  >share of the vote to the point where they now qualify for funding via the
  >system.  I did not vote Green, but those who did probably were largely people
  >who saw value in making a statement with their vote.

True.. as long as a party they REALLY didn't want in didn't get
in by a hair in their riding.

MG>They did not know the Green Party was going to do as well
  >as it did.  The net effect is there is now another small
  >party for the big guys to think about.

They won't think about it much though. Only a decent number of
seats gives any party leverage. They can now moan about things
being passed that they don't like (the green party can) but
with no fprce behind it they will be ignored much like the
NDP has been in the past 11 years.

MG>What did you think of the minority result for the Liberal party?
  >What did you think of the increase in NDP ranks?  Do you think the message wa
  >Canadians weren't happy with the status quo, and considered the alternatives
  >still to be a bit unpalatable?

The result was probably the least harmful alternative. The Greens and
the NDP were, I think, either protest votes against the Liberals
or people who believe everything they hear being bribed by
promisses of great things without explanation of how those things
would get paid for.

I don't really vote Party, I vote Policy. I find most people who
are loyal to a single Party have blinders on and their party
can do no wrong. One staunch Conservative I was talking with
was complaining about the Trudeau years of high spending...
In his first 3 terms (11 years) no question he did put us in
debt by an extra $44 Billion... But this person didn't even
seem to notice Mulroney (Conservative) who increased our national
debt by $300 Billion in just 9 years.

MG>If I were Paul Martin, right now I would be doing some thinking about how I
  >was going to win the NEXT election in 2008 or 2009 (assuming they survive
  >non-confidence votes until then).  I think the message should be clear:
  >Canadians want responsible government.

No question people want to see better handling of the coffers..
That's what this 'near loss' was all about... However, I'd think
if Martin ran Tomorrow he might pick up enough votes to form a
majority because a LOT of people in Quebec would, I think, dearly
love to change their vote from the P.Q., now that their true
colours are showing, and Quebec only votes P.Q or Liberal.

MG>I'm no expert at politics.  I'm a victim of apathy, but I'm
  >trying to change.

I'd say I'm about the same. There have been a lot of times when
I looked at party policies and I didn't care WHO got in since
they would all do about the same amount of good/harm..

That's only a viable 'choice' though if you KNOW what everyone
is planning to do to/for you once they get in...

---
 * SLMR Rob  * Sometimes I wake up grumpy; other times I let her sleep *
 * PDQWK 2.52 #17


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