Canadian Politics

[ironphoenix]

In (faint?) hopes of getting a bit of discussion...

What's up with the Canadian non-Conservatives? Is there any hope of the parties putting their differences aside enough to work together in any significant way, or will they spend next election taking potshots at and stealing votes from each other? If they were to work together, how could they do so?

Comments

[metawidget]

I have to hope that the Cons will be beaten back to their base and lose to whichever non-Con party winds up ahead. Otherwise, the best way for them to work together would probably be for the NDP to win and pull off a Single Transferable Vote or preferential voting system — the Cons are likely the third or fourth (or later) choice for both their voters, so it amounts to collaboration without anyone having to admit it :)

[peristaltor.livejournal.com]

The Conservatives have most of the economic cards, as long as there is a strong market for the Alberta tar goo. Which leaves any party left free to say that the very real boon to the economy those sand pits represents should be marginalized.

Which leaves very little in the way of discussion, sadly.

As to more liberal elements in general, let's face it; the more liberal we are, the more likely we are to accept dissenting views. Which means all political gatherings turn into circular firing squads. By contrast, a conservative is more interested in "what's right" politically rather than "what's right" absolutely. This gives them the freedom to ignore their conscious on some issues in the interest in keeping control over other issues.

Then again, I get most of my Canadian political information from Rick Mercer and Jesse Brown, so disregard if need be. ;-)

[dagibbs.livejournal.com]

Sadly, probably not much hope.

If they could work together -- strategically choosing certain ridings in which to not compete with each other by not running a candidate against the Cons would be one way that might just work.

[jackspryte.livejournal.com]

You've asked exactly what I've thought a hundred times. I'll never understand it.

[nuria-asha.livejournal.com]

My new approach to politics is to just vote for the environmentalist party and scrap the "main contenders". Even if that makes my "vote not count" for now, if enough people take this approach over time, it'll make a difference. I feel better about it, in any event. Always feels good to put my dollars and votes where my heart is.