Canadian Election: It's On

[Ben Kenobi]

No Canadian would ever wonder "What did Trudeau and Lougheed mean when they wrote the Charter?

That should read:

No Canadian Liberal would ever wonder.

Conservatives find this a big deal.

[Ben Kenobi]

PEI is already a "rotten borough".

I'm sure they'll appreciate THAT comment.

Again, we go back to the principles of Confederation. The Maritimes have provided a substantial contribution to Canada, throughout our history. Even though they are a minority in numbers, they still ought to be properly represented in parliament.

By the way, the votes of PEI are not for sale. The real rotton boroughs sold their seats to allow rich folks to enter the House of Commons in Britain. They did not have 40K electors.

[Kuciwalker]

Originally posted by KrazyHorse
a) This whole political dualism thing runs right down to your core, doesn't it. "Both sides" my ass. There are a billion sides to any issue.

Multiple sides, then, OK?

b) My original point was that this cut down dramatically on the influence of third parties. It seems we've agreed that it does (since any legislation in a fragmented legislature is going to require the agreement of at least some in the other major party).

Only assuming a situation like we have in the US, in which each party has pretty close to half the votes. With two major parties and several not-insignificant minor parties, you can get it through without the support of some members in the other major party.

i) this disincentivises voting for 3rd parties (they'd be better off not splitting the vote at the polls)

That's always the case with representation by district - proportional representation solves that.

iii) voter apathy and the lack of an effective voice for minority opinions

Why? How is voter apathy in the US necessarily due to the two-party system?

[Kuciwalker]

Originally posted by Tingkai
First off, the Forces must be equipped to meet our defensive needs, not the UN.

What defensive needs?

[Ben Kenobi]

What defensive needs?

I thought Americans wanted us to protect ourselves.

[Kuciwalker]

Originally posted by Tingkai
In the US Senate, 26 of the smallest states with 18% of the US population holds a majority of senate seats.

So even if 80% of Americans wanted a law, this tiny minority could block it.

Do you know the probabilites of all that minority being united? It includes not only the midwest, but Hawaii, Alaska, and a few northeastern states...

And the minority abuse their power. If you want a law passed, you need their support and that's going to cost money.

Using their power at all is an abuse of it?

After 9-11, the US federal government gave money to state governments to create terrorism response programmes. Wyoming got more money per capita ($38.31) than New York State ($5.47) and 48 states received more federal funding per capita than New York State, even though New York was ranked as most likely to be hit by a terrorist attack.

Perhaps because needed terrorism funding doesn't really have ANYTHING to do with the number of people in the state? It has to do with the facilities that need to be secured.

The 18% minority also controls Senate appointments to the US Supreme Court.

See above wrt unity.

With the first past the post system, the minority who are actually in control is even smaller than 18%. Effectively, 10% of the American population can control which laws are made and the composition of the US supreme court.

Assuming a massive conspiracy amongst this 10% to specifically live in these states with just enough to elect the candidate of their choice to office... put on your tinfoil hat.

Can we say Tyrrany of the Minority.

No. Apparently we can't spell it either.

And like KH said, other minorities get screwed. In the nine states with a majority of the American populations, Blacks and Hispanics make up 30% of the population. In the 26 states that control the senate, Blacks and Hispanics make up 11% of the population.

Minority rights are EASILY defended in the Constitution. The problems this combats cannot be.

[Kuciwalker]

Originally posted by Ben Kenobi
I thought Americans wanted us to protect ourselves.

From what? Moose?

[Ben Kenobi]

From what? Moose?

You folks are the ones who keep complaining about Canada's lack of participation in your wars.

[Kuciwalker]

That's not defense. It seems obvious that the only use of your military is as support for US forces (or maybe the UN).

[Ben Kenobi]

It seems obvious that the only use of your military is as support for US forces

Maybe we just don't trust the Yanks, eh?

Lulling us into a false sense of security.

[notyoueither]

Originally posted by Kucinich
That's not defense. It seems obvious that the only use of your military is as support for US forces (or maybe the UN).

Or disaster relief, or to meet NATO commitments (you know, the allies that are not the US). Honestly, skywalker, if you want to debate in this thread, feel free, just don't be stupid about it.

[St Leo]

Originally posted by notyoueither
Right. What do you think of the Greens?

6% and climbing.

Today, I saw ten+ Green signs and zero NDP ones. I'll probably end up voting Green. Their policies please me and they need my vote.

[St Leo]

Originally posted by notyoueither
101 reasons to vote Green.

1. Trees, they are a fine idea.
2. Uhmmm

Oh, for ****'s sake.

[General Ludd]

Originally posted by Kucinich


From what? Moose?

From terriers.

[notyoueither]

Originally posted by St Leo

Originally posted by notyoueither
101 reasons to vote Green.

1. Trees, they are a fine idea.
2. Uhmmm

Oh, for ****'s sake.

I was kind of hoping people would start filling in other reasons.

Cinch and I have ours. We aren't sure what to make of the apparent jerrymandering that has gone into trying to give Anne a safe seat, but if we are in haystack country we might as well help the new guys out. And like I said, trees are a good idea. Even Preston wishes them [the Greens] well.