First, I love Canada. There is no other way to make it more clear than just saying it outright. I love my country and I am happy to be here.
I am happy and proud to have been born in a country where I have rights and privileges because I realize that many people in other places do not have those same rights and privileges. But with those rights also comes responsibilities, something many people forget.
Canada is a beautiful place with a lot to offer in so many ways. So, when we are unhappy with something, it is not our privilege but our right and responsibility to change whatever it is we are unhappy with.
Alberta politics are in an upheaval right now. Voters need to make decisions and hopefully, the masses are not apathetic.
It seems to me that our whole country needs change. Not only do the parties seem to be changing, but the strategies and the very foundations of their policies seem shaky at times. Rolling with the punches, right?
In an extremely simplified version, I feel like our 4 main parties now are NDP, Liberal, PC and Wildrose. I think there is some real concern from some about the NDP and Liberal side of the spectrum - some worry about things being too easy-going. There is some real support in that area when the country is concerned with the well-being of all, especially when they are unhappy with the current government. Do we want the NDP and the Liberals joining forces in order to put out the current PC government? Maybe. Will they be strong together? Yes.
Bringing in an extreme right party in one province opens the door to having similar parties everywhere. The current PC party here then seems to move closer to the left because they don't look as extreme anymore, and now they end up a little further centre, therefore closer to the Liberals.
If the Libs were to join another party in the hopes of gaining some footing and leadership, who better to join - the NDP or the PCs? The PCs are currently the bigger group, and if they moved away from the Wildrose at the right, therefore closer to the Liberals, that leaves the majority of voters falling dead centre - with the Liberal/PC group. A minority falls with the NDPs and another with the WR.
this:
NDP - Lib+PC - WR
not
NDP+Lib - PC - WR
not
NDP - Lib - PC - WR
and definitely not
NDP - Lib - PC+WR
And our political spectrum seems to be evened out again. Overall, the NDP will seem too 'light-handed', the Lib/PC mix (who will then need a newer name - the Liberal Conservatives?) is evened-out centre/a little-right, and then we have the right-wing WR, who seem too 'heavy-handed'.
I think our last elections showed the PCs that people are unhappy with being too right-wing, so the more 'liberal' PCs need to break away from the extremist group.
I don't know. Maybe I'm out to lunch and I have everything wrong. As I said, it's a simple version but it would even things out.
Initially, I was thinking that all of this makes me wary of the future of Canadian politics. I feel like things are going to get meaner and nastier.
But at the end of the day, I think all of this craziness, the arguing and fighting is fantastic because people are truly fighting for their beliefs. No group is elected in a landslide, no one is getting the job because people don't care enough to vote or because it is an expectation, so "Why bother trying to change?"
Maybe all forms of government working together for awhile would be a good thing - the collaboration might do us good. Maybe candidates would cross the floor if they see other parties in action. Maybe some people will follow the lead of others' in exhibiting better behaviour.
As public figures, candidates' lives will be combed through; the things they say or do will be scrutinized. So it goes. I'm not saying it is right, but any public figure knows that this is part of the game. Don't try to be a star if you don't want anyone to look at you.
And if you want to be a star, if you want to be the leader, you'd best have it together. You'd best be trustworthy. You'd best have our interests at heart. You'd best be real and keep your promises. You'd best listen to... hear... what your people are saying.
Make us want to follow you. Make us want to hold you up as our shining star, our symbol of Canadian democracy.
I am happy and proud to have been born in a country where I have rights and privileges because I realize that many people in other places do not have those same rights and privileges. But with those rights also comes responsibilities, something many people forget.
Canada is a beautiful place with a lot to offer in so many ways. So, when we are unhappy with something, it is not our privilege but our right and responsibility to change whatever it is we are unhappy with.
Alberta politics are in an upheaval right now. Voters need to make decisions and hopefully, the masses are not apathetic.
It seems to me that our whole country needs change. Not only do the parties seem to be changing, but the strategies and the very foundations of their policies seem shaky at times. Rolling with the punches, right?
In an extremely simplified version, I feel like our 4 main parties now are NDP, Liberal, PC and Wildrose. I think there is some real concern from some about the NDP and Liberal side of the spectrum - some worry about things being too easy-going. There is some real support in that area when the country is concerned with the well-being of all, especially when they are unhappy with the current government. Do we want the NDP and the Liberals joining forces in order to put out the current PC government? Maybe. Will they be strong together? Yes.
Bringing in an extreme right party in one province opens the door to having similar parties everywhere. The current PC party here then seems to move closer to the left because they don't look as extreme anymore, and now they end up a little further centre, therefore closer to the Liberals.
If the Libs were to join another party in the hopes of gaining some footing and leadership, who better to join - the NDP or the PCs? The PCs are currently the bigger group, and if they moved away from the Wildrose at the right, therefore closer to the Liberals, that leaves the majority of voters falling dead centre - with the Liberal/PC group. A minority falls with the NDPs and another with the WR.
this:
NDP - Lib+PC - WR
not
NDP+Lib - PC - WR
not
NDP - Lib - PC - WR
and definitely not
NDP - Lib - PC+WR
And our political spectrum seems to be evened out again. Overall, the NDP will seem too 'light-handed', the Lib/PC mix (who will then need a newer name - the Liberal Conservatives?) is evened-out centre/a little-right, and then we have the right-wing WR, who seem too 'heavy-handed'.
I think our last elections showed the PCs that people are unhappy with being too right-wing, so the more 'liberal' PCs need to break away from the extremist group.
I don't know. Maybe I'm out to lunch and I have everything wrong. As I said, it's a simple version but it would even things out.
Initially, I was thinking that all of this makes me wary of the future of Canadian politics. I feel like things are going to get meaner and nastier.
But at the end of the day, I think all of this craziness, the arguing and fighting is fantastic because people are truly fighting for their beliefs. No group is elected in a landslide, no one is getting the job because people don't care enough to vote or because it is an expectation, so "Why bother trying to change?"
Maybe all forms of government working together for awhile would be a good thing - the collaboration might do us good. Maybe candidates would cross the floor if they see other parties in action. Maybe some people will follow the lead of others' in exhibiting better behaviour.
As public figures, candidates' lives will be combed through; the things they say or do will be scrutinized. So it goes. I'm not saying it is right, but any public figure knows that this is part of the game. Don't try to be a star if you don't want anyone to look at you.
And if you want to be a star, if you want to be the leader, you'd best have it together. You'd best be trustworthy. You'd best have our interests at heart. You'd best be real and keep your promises. You'd best listen to... hear... what your people are saying.
Make us want to follow you. Make us want to hold you up as our shining star, our symbol of Canadian democracy.
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