Monday, April 23, 2012

Alberta Provincial Election Today

       Today Albertans vote for 89 Members of the Legislature (MLA) who will serve for the next four years. As far as I know there are five parties organized for this election. There could be one or two more that are very small and running only a few candidates. 


       Albertans tend to keep the same party in power for long periods of time and then change them abruptly. The Social Credit Party was in power from 1935 to 1971. Today only one or two Social Credit candidates ran for election so the party is basically just an organization. The Progressive Conservatives (PC) have been in power from 1971 to 2012. During all these years the opposition was very small for most terms so the ruling party had a huge majority. The last few years a split in the PC party has been taking place. A party called the Wild Rose, which was organized about three years, ago is challenging the PC party for the majority. So this election campaign has been hot and heavy with the two conservative right wing parties fighting it out.  For a change the results of the election are not a foregone conclusion and it will be a close race. 


      Albertans seem to always want to vote for a winner no matter what the party may be. They seem to size up who may win and everybody votes for that party. 


     I have never got on the band wagon. I usually vote New Democrat (ND). I like to vote for policy rather than candidates. The Nds are a social democrat party that puts people issues first . That means that their emphasis is on health, education, seniors, children. They also have a business tax schedule that has lower tax rate for small business and a higher tax rate for large business. Some people may accuse the party of being a socialist group which is not so. It can be described as left of center. Now this party may not be perfect but I'm sure others suffer the same judgement. 


     These days parties tend to bash each other rather than present their policies. Worse than that, parties try to promote wedge issues which enable them to get a majority easier. Sometimes parties misrepresent their policies or misrepresent other party's policies to the point of lying.


    So this evening will be interesting as we await the counting of the ballots to see if the old party is thrown out  and how many seats the other parties get.


     

24 comments:

  1. I get less and less enthused with all the politics. I enjoyed the variety of parties that you have.

    Thanks for stopping in it is nice to hear a new voice.

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    1. I know what you mean by losing some interest. there are so many games played to win that they lose sight of what's best for people or that they even serve people.

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  2. I hope the results of this election please you. Good luck.

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    1. I can accept the decision of the people. I may want another party but the people are right.

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  3. I know my vote counts, but it's usually on the losing side. But it is always there!!!

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    1. I know the feeling! We had five parties to chose from so less chance to be with the winners.

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  4. I wish I could believe that the people are right where our elections in the US are concerned. Unfortunately, people here tend to vote for the words rather than the man...not realizing that a lot of what is promised cannot be done. I hope your elections put the best people in office.

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    1. Your right wing seems to get the press. They have some pretty scary ideas. (MY opinion) I have to believe that the people put the best people in even if they're not my candidate.

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  5. Red I too am an avid NDP voter, I love what the party stands for. Please keep us posted who wins this one k? I can only imagine it's going to be PC but ya never know.

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    1. Surprise , surprise! PC 61 ; WRP 17; Lib 4 ; NDP 4. It was a big ssurprise as the WRP was expected to do much better.

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  6. You are absolutely right on "PEOPLE ISSUES FIRST!!!!! . That means that the emphasis is on health, education, seniors, children. Also have a business tax schedule that has lower tax rate for small business and a higher tax rate for large business." Also, these days parties tend to bash each other rather than present their policies. Worse than that, parties try to promote wedge issues which enable them to get a majority easier. Sometimes parties misrepresent their policies or misrepresent other party's policies to the point of lying." Thanks Red - this about sums up politics. If all voters put their emphasis on "The People First", instead of listenting to the bull slinging, maybe us Poor people would be better off. There is no middle class anymore - You're either rich or poor. If every poor bugger got out and voted, maybe things would be different?? Thanks

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    1. "If every poor bugger got out and voted, maybe things would be different??"
      Sure it would.
      The rich buggers run our political system with the tacit consent of the schmucks who can't be bothered to vote. This was our most hotly contested election in decades yet only half of Alberta's electorate turned out.
      A very wise person once said that in a democracy the people get the government they deserve. Lazy people get lazy governments.

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    2. Yes, we deserve what we get. I didn't work on a campaign this year. I don't have an excuse. Candidates need all the support they can have.

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    3. The ever-decreasing turnout at elections is really getting to me. I wonder if people should be forced to vote, as in Australia? But I'm not sure that's the answer. I've travelled to countries where people have died for the right to vote. It appalls me that so many here take that right for granted.

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  7. You've riled me up on another topic. The high income people have become absolutely obscene. I cannot believe that someone is worth $10000000 to run a company. Globalization is bring about changes that are extremely slanted. Enjoyed your comment.

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  8. I was pretty surprised that the Wild Rose party didn't win, after all that polling hype! Surprised and relieved. Not that I'd ever vote Conservative!!! The people I vote for never seem to get elected either. :)

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  9. For compulsive voters like us it's hard to understand why others should not vote.
    I was really worried about Wild Rose. However , having worked on elections a time or two, at the door it seems like people will support your candidate but when the election comes they vote PC. I think that's what happened here. They just voted like they always voted.
    The candidate who boo booed on gays and lesbians and the guy who commented on whites being superior didn't help WRP. Smith didn't help here self when she said climate science wasn't definite.

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  10. Interesting that you have all those different parties. I try and stay out of politics..most of the time it just makes me angry:)

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  11. With a number of parties we can sometimes get a minority. Now minorities can work very well so they're not all bad. We have to ditch the anger and just get in there and hammer on the issues...the things we need.

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  12. I was hoping for a change and I think it's coming but not quite yet. I try and stay out of politics though except to cast my vote.

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  13. I think we have to participate more in the organization of political parties. I think that all those who run for election not only need our vote but our support in forming what they do for us. The public yelling is a pain in the butt but to work with most of them is positive.

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  14. I too try to stay out of politics. I do find I'm interested but I have lost some good friends because of politics so I try to stay out of them except to vote.

    Linda
    http://coloradofarmlife.wordpress.com

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  15. Politics and politicians have become very corrupt and it is a sad state :( :( May be we should just vote for the party we think best. Cheers, Ruby

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  16. Yes there's a tremendous amount of corruption, but we have to throw the corrupt bums out. You had a protester in India last year who made a strong statement on corruption . we need more brave men and women like that.

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