Well, I can't speak for other voters...but I can tell you this...
I voted PC. When the election wasn't quite "official", I had been waffling, as I don't like Stelmach...and I'd been debating about voting Wild Rose.
What changed my mind?
My PC candidate. He knocked on my door, answered my questions and concerns, and made me feel that my voice was important. I went to a few meetings that he was at, and observed how he addressed peoples concerns, and how he was very focused on the community in which he would be elected. I also learned that in 28 days, he spent ALL 28 days knocking on doors and talking to people in his riding. For 10-12 hours a day.
I was impressed. He honestly seems to care, and he's VERY focused on "community-first".
The WA candidate? The only contact I had from him (other than a brochure) was a telephone call asking "if we can count on your support". No, they couldn't. Partly due to the above info, and partly due to the fact that the phone call originated from Ontario. So Chris Jukes was using an out-of-province company to do his polling. That REALLY unimpressed me.
...and voting Liberal just ain't gonna happen... unless something big changes there. :)
You do have choices other then "right wing" and "farther right wing". However, if you're conservative because that's just the way you think things should be, then knock yourself out. I just find that too many people in this province don't think beyond "I have to vote conservative because I have to vote conservative".
A vastly weakened opposition can't do it's one job - hold the party in power accountable. I'm sure you can agree with that sentiment regardless of your political leanings.
Totally agree there. I'm just saying that I'm an INFORMED voter...and I vote where I think the vote will do the most good. Yes, I lean towards right-wing, but that doesn't mean I don't investigate the platforms of all involved.
This time around, I didn't so much vote PARTY, as I voted PERSON. I still don't like Stelmach, and I don't like that I have to vote for a leader I don't like, in order to elect the candidate I *DO* like.
I guess I'm simply trying to say that not everyone who votes PC is a sheep, as your original message indicates.
What I'm saying is that a 41% turn out combined with 73 seats for one party indicates some ovinity on the part of Alberta voters. However I am aware of people who vote PC for their own reasons.
But honestly, I can't say all that and go with my pithy quip now can I? It's like starting out an ethnic joke by prefacing it with "but not everyone who's X is really like this".
Me? I voted Liberal because I felt that, as the incumbent (Harry Chase, Calgary Varsity) he had a better chance then the NDP candidate. And honestly, looking at the numbers I'm glad I did. If there was no Wild Rose Alliance candidate in my riding, the PC guy might have squeaked by.
"I also learned that in 28 days, he spent ALL 28 days knocking on doors and talking to people in his riding. For 10-12 hours a day."
Honestly, all that says to me is that he's privileged enough to be able to not work for an entire month at the drop of a hat. Our system is so skewed towards people with money...
The Tories are so well financed that they can actually pay their candidates to run, whereas the rest of us have to work during the day and campaign at night since we actually volunteer to run.
And in the Tory's case, the funds to run the campaign are not expected to come out of the candidate's pocket which seems to be the case in a lot of the smaller parties where the cash isn't flowing like manna from heaven.
It is disappointing to live in a province where $$ = electoral clout. Look at our most recent Mayoral race - we had many names on the ballot, but only two real candidates... those with a cool $1M to throw at the race.
No offense, but I happen to know that the the Tory candidate in my riding took a leave of absence from his job. I also know he is far from independently wealthy. Sure, he makes a good living, but he isn't a millionaire. He also spent a great deal of time away from his family. His campaign was run responsibly, and was kept in the black by his team... (and I've been around a few election offices...he had a great group of volunteers.)
If all the finances are provided by the Tory party, why were fundraisers and donations needed? I know the Tory in my riding held several fundraisers to help with their campaign.
So, he took leave from his job, sacrificed a great deal of time with his family, raised money through fundraisers and such to help with the campaign, and made PERSONAL contact with 12,000 houses in his constituency, and this is BAD???
I'll be the first to admit that it takes money to get elected. However, I think you are making some rather large assumptions without first-hand info.
That all said, we can probably sit here and try to convince each other all week... :) It just frustrates me when people assume that all major-party candidates are wealthy and have all the time (and money) in the world to spend...when many of them actually don't.
In the end, politics is politics.... and yeah... most folks in that line of work are pretty darned shady.
I'm simply saying that my ridings MLA came across responsible, caring and worthy of a vote.
Well, you have to have a decent amount of cash to take a leave of absence for a month. Most of the people I know that have been candidates can't afford that.
Not saying they necessarily have all the money, but it still takes more than a lot of people have.
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momijizukamori
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no subject
Date: 2008-03-04 05:36 pm (UTC)I voted PC. When the election wasn't quite "official", I had been waffling, as I don't like Stelmach...and I'd been debating about voting Wild Rose.
What changed my mind?
My PC candidate. He knocked on my door, answered my questions and concerns, and made me feel that my voice was important. I went to a few meetings that he was at, and observed how he addressed peoples concerns, and how he was very focused on the community in which he would be elected. I also learned that in 28 days, he spent ALL 28 days knocking on doors and talking to people in his riding. For 10-12 hours a day.
I was impressed. He honestly seems to care, and he's VERY focused on "community-first".
The WA candidate? The only contact I had from him (other than a brochure) was a telephone call asking "if we can count on your support". No, they couldn't. Partly due to the above info, and partly due to the fact that the phone call originated from Ontario. So Chris Jukes was using an out-of-province company to do his polling. That REALLY unimpressed me.
...and voting Liberal just ain't gonna happen... unless something big changes there. :)
no subject
Date: 2008-03-04 06:01 pm (UTC)A vastly weakened opposition can't do it's one job - hold the party in power accountable. I'm sure you can agree with that sentiment regardless of your political leanings.
no subject
Date: 2008-03-04 06:11 pm (UTC)This time around, I didn't so much vote PARTY, as I voted PERSON. I still don't like Stelmach, and I don't like that I have to vote for a leader I don't like, in order to elect the candidate I *DO* like.
I guess I'm simply trying to say that not everyone who votes PC is a sheep, as your original message indicates.
no subject
Date: 2008-03-04 06:38 pm (UTC)But honestly, I can't say all that and go with my pithy quip now can I? It's like starting out an ethnic joke by prefacing it with "but not everyone who's X is really like this".
Me? I voted Liberal because I felt that, as the incumbent (Harry Chase, Calgary Varsity) he had a better chance then the NDP candidate. And honestly, looking at the numbers I'm glad I did. If there was no Wild Rose Alliance candidate in my riding, the PC guy might have squeaked by.
no subject
Date: 2008-03-04 07:06 pm (UTC)Honestly, all that says to me is that he's privileged enough to be able to not work for an entire month at the drop of a hat. Our system is so skewed towards people with money...
no subject
Date: 2008-03-04 11:43 pm (UTC)The Tories are so well financed that they can actually pay their candidates to run, whereas the rest of us have to work during the day and campaign at night since we actually volunteer to run.
no subject
Date: 2008-03-05 01:17 am (UTC)It is disappointing to live in a province where $$ = electoral clout. Look at our most recent Mayoral race - we had many names on the ballot, but only two real candidates... those with a cool $1M to throw at the race.
no subject
Date: 2008-03-05 05:07 am (UTC)If all the finances are provided by the Tory party, why were fundraisers and donations needed? I know the Tory in my riding held several fundraisers to help with their campaign.
So, he took leave from his job, sacrificed a great deal of time with his family, raised money through fundraisers and such to help with the campaign, and made PERSONAL contact with 12,000 houses in his constituency, and this is BAD???
I'll be the first to admit that it takes money to get elected. However, I think you are making some rather large assumptions without first-hand info.
That all said, we can probably sit here and try to convince each other all week... :) It just frustrates me when people assume that all major-party candidates are wealthy and have all the time (and money) in the world to spend...when many of them actually don't.
In the end, politics is politics.... and yeah... most folks in that line of work are pretty darned shady.
I'm simply saying that my ridings MLA came across responsible, caring and worthy of a vote.
no subject
Date: 2008-03-05 05:25 am (UTC)Not saying they necessarily have all the money, but it still takes more than a lot of people have.
no subject
Date: 2008-03-04 06:34 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-03-04 06:39 pm (UTC)