Election 2015 in Canada a win of sorts
Another political post. But, some times I need somewhere to vent.
It isn't over yet, but it looks pretty good for a Liberal majority. I'll be honest, that isn't what I was hoping for, especially not with the Conservatives as the official opposition.
Being fair to myself, it was one of the more viable outcomes of the ones I had hoped for and better than the alternative in my opinion. Which would have been either a majority or minority Conservative government.
I was really hoping for a minority Liberal government with an NDP opposition. I don't much agree with Mulcair or his party, but as the official opposition for the last few years he has done an admirable job. In fact, I think in that specific capacity, as the leader of the opposition party, I don't think there is a better candidate in recent memory. While Jack Layton was probably better for the party image and better in a PM role, I really can't picture him being fierce in the same way as Mulcair. When Mulcair tears into somebody, you feel sorry for them. And that is the kind of person who, if anyone does, has a chance of keeping others in line.
I didn't want a majority because, as cliché as it sounds (if you're in Canada this will make sense), I don't think that the Liberal party is ready for that. Time will tell. I don't bear any ill will towards Mr. Trudeau or think him unfit for the position. In fact, things he pushed for, even as the leader of the distant 3rd after the prior election were exactly the sorts of things I would have hoped for. But, going from 3rd to 1st AND with a majority could definitely go to some people's heads (no one particular implied).
If Trudeau and his party stick to who he was when he first became party leader then I think I may repeal my concerns.
So, how did we land here? Well, Harper's government has been terrible, and, he and his party clearly forgot the grounds on which they won the last election. Everyone ALREADY hated them, but they couldn't make their minds up on whether to vote Liberal or NDP.
I'm actually somewhat surprised that it looks like we won't have a repeat. The stage was well set. Media had pushed divisive topics like the Niqab to the forefront and no one suspected either the NDP or Liberals truly had a chance at a majority. The Conservatives actually played the people well. I don't think Harper or his party truly care about the Niqab (most of the nonsense he proposed would be shot down by the Supreme Court anyway).
But all of his opponents shared roughly the same view, so anyone who saw that as a critical topic would run the risk of being split on who to vote for. He went the unpopular path... but at least that meant that on this hugely media inflated topic he was the sole champion of one option. And to be fair, the people who care and vote... probably largely agree with Harper. I'm looking at you Quebec.
The other thing that I think made this possible and helped eliminate vote splitting was Mulcair basically refusing, vocally to form a coalition government. Not saying his stance was wrong. But I think it was a HUGE tactical error to be so vocal and hard lined about it. Again, people, I think, generally wanted the Conservatives out, and wanted them out LAST election. This time around, I think those who were voting with "Anyone but Harper" in mind found it easier to vote for the Liberals who came off as appearing both the next most viable and willing to work with other parties to form government making it much less likely that had they gotten a minority that we would end up with a wholly dysfunctional government and be back to the polls in a year.
In other words, the NDP painted themselves into a corner. I'm not going to complain though, I think it would have split the vote far more if the NDP had appeared more open to working with others, which easily could have made the difference between 1st or 2nd for the Conservatives.
If I wake up and it is still a Liberal majority, I'm looking to see how quickly Trudeau can undo the disgusting things Harper and his party did in their time in power. I'd love to see word "prorogue" recede back into obscurity, see MPs held accountable during question period and powers restored to the speaker. I'd love to see REAL transparency in the government (THAT was one of Harper's original campaign promises that got him elected PM by the way). I'd also love to see omnibus bills reigned in.
Also, would like to see some of their electoral reform destroyed. It sickens me that an elected group changed election funding rules in such a way they knew would benefit them and then staged an election intentionally in such a way to drag it out to make those added resources even more beneficial. I can't say emphatically enough how FUCKING great it is that they lost when they did everything in their power to rig the election process in their favor. If there is ANY doubt that the general populace loathes them, it is that even with MILLIONS more in funding spread out over the longest Canadian election ever they STILL couldn't buy their way back into power. And it wasn't for a lack of attack ads, I can tell you that.
Oh, and I'd also love to see it written into law that any PM found in contempt of parliament is forbidden from running again for some minimum amount of time at least. For those unaware... that prior election that gave the Conservatives a majority was triggered by Harper's government being found in contempt of parliament for failing to produce documents to justify their actions and then losing a confidence vote. AND HARPER WAS STILL ALLOWED TO RUN AGAIN AND WE REWARDED HIM WITH A MAJORITY!!!! ALL BUT ENSURING THE ASSHAT WOULDN'T BE SIMILARLY REMOVED A SECOND TIME AROUND!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!
Can you tell I'm pissed off?
The Conservative platform isn't generally all that terrible. But NO PARTY, under a single leader has done so much damage to our system of governance. One of their numbers ACTUALLY openly mocked the speaker of house for trying to compel them to actually answer questions... DURING FUCKING QUESTION PERIOD!!!!! The whole FUCKING PURPOSE OF QUESTION PERIOD is for the ruling party to ANSWER FUCKING QUESTIONS about how they are RUNNING THE FUCKING COUNTRY... and they just decided, "FUCK YOU CANADA, we'll do what we want, and if we decide to, we might tell you something about what we chose to do".
I've never cared much for politicians. But until the Harper government I never felt like politicians, generally, didn't actually give a shit about democracy or the people they govern.
So allow me to say "FUCK YEAH!". I may actually wake up somewhat proud to be Canadian again.
It isn't over yet, but it looks pretty good for a Liberal majority. I'll be honest, that isn't what I was hoping for, especially not with the Conservatives as the official opposition.
Being fair to myself, it was one of the more viable outcomes of the ones I had hoped for and better than the alternative in my opinion. Which would have been either a majority or minority Conservative government.
I was really hoping for a minority Liberal government with an NDP opposition. I don't much agree with Mulcair or his party, but as the official opposition for the last few years he has done an admirable job. In fact, I think in that specific capacity, as the leader of the opposition party, I don't think there is a better candidate in recent memory. While Jack Layton was probably better for the party image and better in a PM role, I really can't picture him being fierce in the same way as Mulcair. When Mulcair tears into somebody, you feel sorry for them. And that is the kind of person who, if anyone does, has a chance of keeping others in line.
I didn't want a majority because, as cliché as it sounds (if you're in Canada this will make sense), I don't think that the Liberal party is ready for that. Time will tell. I don't bear any ill will towards Mr. Trudeau or think him unfit for the position. In fact, things he pushed for, even as the leader of the distant 3rd after the prior election were exactly the sorts of things I would have hoped for. But, going from 3rd to 1st AND with a majority could definitely go to some people's heads (no one particular implied).
If Trudeau and his party stick to who he was when he first became party leader then I think I may repeal my concerns.
So, how did we land here? Well, Harper's government has been terrible, and, he and his party clearly forgot the grounds on which they won the last election. Everyone ALREADY hated them, but they couldn't make their minds up on whether to vote Liberal or NDP.
I'm actually somewhat surprised that it looks like we won't have a repeat. The stage was well set. Media had pushed divisive topics like the Niqab to the forefront and no one suspected either the NDP or Liberals truly had a chance at a majority. The Conservatives actually played the people well. I don't think Harper or his party truly care about the Niqab (most of the nonsense he proposed would be shot down by the Supreme Court anyway).
But all of his opponents shared roughly the same view, so anyone who saw that as a critical topic would run the risk of being split on who to vote for. He went the unpopular path... but at least that meant that on this hugely media inflated topic he was the sole champion of one option. And to be fair, the people who care and vote... probably largely agree with Harper. I'm looking at you Quebec.
The other thing that I think made this possible and helped eliminate vote splitting was Mulcair basically refusing, vocally to form a coalition government. Not saying his stance was wrong. But I think it was a HUGE tactical error to be so vocal and hard lined about it. Again, people, I think, generally wanted the Conservatives out, and wanted them out LAST election. This time around, I think those who were voting with "Anyone but Harper" in mind found it easier to vote for the Liberals who came off as appearing both the next most viable and willing to work with other parties to form government making it much less likely that had they gotten a minority that we would end up with a wholly dysfunctional government and be back to the polls in a year.
In other words, the NDP painted themselves into a corner. I'm not going to complain though, I think it would have split the vote far more if the NDP had appeared more open to working with others, which easily could have made the difference between 1st or 2nd for the Conservatives.
If I wake up and it is still a Liberal majority, I'm looking to see how quickly Trudeau can undo the disgusting things Harper and his party did in their time in power. I'd love to see word "prorogue" recede back into obscurity, see MPs held accountable during question period and powers restored to the speaker. I'd love to see REAL transparency in the government (THAT was one of Harper's original campaign promises that got him elected PM by the way). I'd also love to see omnibus bills reigned in.
Also, would like to see some of their electoral reform destroyed. It sickens me that an elected group changed election funding rules in such a way they knew would benefit them and then staged an election intentionally in such a way to drag it out to make those added resources even more beneficial. I can't say emphatically enough how FUCKING great it is that they lost when they did everything in their power to rig the election process in their favor. If there is ANY doubt that the general populace loathes them, it is that even with MILLIONS more in funding spread out over the longest Canadian election ever they STILL couldn't buy their way back into power. And it wasn't for a lack of attack ads, I can tell you that.
Oh, and I'd also love to see it written into law that any PM found in contempt of parliament is forbidden from running again for some minimum amount of time at least. For those unaware... that prior election that gave the Conservatives a majority was triggered by Harper's government being found in contempt of parliament for failing to produce documents to justify their actions and then losing a confidence vote. AND HARPER WAS STILL ALLOWED TO RUN AGAIN AND WE REWARDED HIM WITH A MAJORITY!!!! ALL BUT ENSURING THE ASSHAT WOULDN'T BE SIMILARLY REMOVED A SECOND TIME AROUND!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!
Can you tell I'm pissed off?
The Conservative platform isn't generally all that terrible. But NO PARTY, under a single leader has done so much damage to our system of governance. One of their numbers ACTUALLY openly mocked the speaker of house for trying to compel them to actually answer questions... DURING FUCKING QUESTION PERIOD!!!!! The whole FUCKING PURPOSE OF QUESTION PERIOD is for the ruling party to ANSWER FUCKING QUESTIONS about how they are RUNNING THE FUCKING COUNTRY... and they just decided, "FUCK YOU CANADA, we'll do what we want, and if we decide to, we might tell you something about what we chose to do".
I've never cared much for politicians. But until the Harper government I never felt like politicians, generally, didn't actually give a shit about democracy or the people they govern.
So allow me to say "FUCK YEAH!". I may actually wake up somewhat proud to be Canadian again.
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