Thursday, May 7, 2015

We Threw the Bums Out

     On Tuesday , May 5 the province of Alberta , Canada had a provincial election.

     We have four major parties that come into play during an election and three fringe parties. The four major parties are Progressive Conservative(PC),  Liberal, Wild Rose and NDP.

      The Progressive Conservatives were the incumbents. They had been in government for forty-four years. They also had 73 out of 87 seats when the election was called. They looked too powerful to put out of office.

    However, there were issues that made the voters very unhappy with the PCs
. The party seemed to think that they had the right to govern. As a result there were advantages taken of taxpayer money. Government airplanes were used for party business. 

    Alberta is an oil rich province . We have the ugly tar sands. We have all kinds of revenue from oil resources. However, the keep taxes down lobby has influenced the government. Resource revenues have been used for yearly operations. Taxes have been kept low. So when resource revenues dry up we don't have money to pay for operating the government.

   Alberta has a cycle of boom and busts. These are deep lows and very high ups. These are frustrating patterns for taxpayers and businesses. So as a result, for the present year we have a deficit of 7 billion dollars. 

    So on Tuesday the wildest thing happened. The PCs with 73 seats were reduced to ten seats and the NDP which had 4 sets was elected with 53 seats. 

    I was happy to see the bums thrown out. People were unhappy with the bums and voted with their anger.

   I know that this is a local story and that people who do not live in Canada will not be able to understand some of the issues.

    But I just had to tell somebody. When we're unhappy with politicians we can do something about it.


46 comments:

  1. I'm one of those not from Canada and don't quite understand but I'm happy for you. I hope some bums get thrown out over here with the next election! :)

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    1. Our guys had been in 44 straight years and thought everything was theirs

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  2. wow! way to go with a show from the people!

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    1. It was interesting. People were angry.

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  3. It pays to vote and encourage others to vote also! You have every right to be excited! Thanks for sharing:)

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    1. Many people who don't ordinarily vote voted.

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  4. There is not much chance of an upset here as we have so few credible MPs and fewer still in opposition.

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    1. We had four options. You have four options too. Elect somebody different.

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  5. I'm all for throwing out politicians we don't like. We've got a bunch, but we can't seem to get rid of them.

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    1. We have more options than you do so it's easier to make a choice.

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  6. That's great Red. The voter in action.

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    1. We did have more people vote this time.

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  7. Lots of issue around length of terms. Do they do any good in the long run or keep failing?

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    1. I think there have to be some changes from time to time. the voters control whether there's change or not.

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  8. Glad you are happy Red. Never ever thought the NDP could win an election in Alberta.

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    1. Not very many people thought the NDP would win here either. the other guys got hated so badly that they made it easy for the NDP.

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  9. Local story but also a global story. Not so true in England I see. Your booms and busts are reflected everywhere and money is always power and power leads to greed and corruption. I am glad you are returning to democracy.

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    1. Ours is kind of a local boom and bust because of the heavy reliance on oil revenues.

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  10. I can understand your joy with the results. Always good to live in a country you can vote for better issues.

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    1. It took us a long time to change our minds.

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  11. People way over on our side of the country have had enough of the lavish ways the government spends our money on themselves, with their freebies and loot. Mike Duffy is on trial (haha) and I wish he would spill the beans, but he probably already has been given promises to "take the blame" and will later be or already has been from the greasy hands of the bank of Stephen Harper.....with the tax payers money. Congrats Red, on your side of the country where people just got tired of all the BS and booted em out.

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    1. harper's got to go. He's the most corrupt politician we've ever had. Laws aren't for him.

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  12. Replies
    1. I do get emotionally involved with politics!

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  13. A MAJOR milestone for Alberta. These bums were taught a lesson.

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    1. Now we have to do the same thing with harper.

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  14. Yay for the NDP! I hope they form a good government for Alberta. Thanks for the kind comments you leave on my blog. I always look forward to them, and to your posts. :-)

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    1. They will be good but far from perfect. Once they lose it they should be voted out.
      I enjoy making comments.

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    1. From a neighbor like you , you probably know our situation.

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  16. I said it to a friend in a way that she could relate to- it's as if Texas elected an anti-gun Democrat for governor.

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  17. I saw this on CNN, and thought: Once again Canada leads the way.

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    1. Well, don't get too carried away with the compliments. We're not that good!

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  18. I mentioned elsewhere that Ralph Klein must have been rolling in his grave.

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  19. This sure made the news. What a shock it must have been. This reliance on the one industry is scary to me. There are so many out west who weren't born there. That must have done it!

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    1. Watch Notley . She's a very smart cooky. She has close to half the caucus women. There is also one first nations woman.

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  20. I hope the change leads to more responsible governing.

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  21. I heard this news on TV and I was so happy for Alberta. I think your voters are better educated than our voters here in the US who constantly vote against their interests – but vote for the lobbyists’ interest! Way to go neighbor!

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  22. It took awhile, but something must have happened to finally open enough people's eyes. Hooray for democracy!

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  23. You're right, I don't fully grasp the issue but with the last paragraph which explains it shortly, I think then it is great that Canada is abke to do that. Congratulations!

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  24. And I'm totally elated we finally did something about this!

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