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This is like standing in a cornfield and seeing two trains somehow on the same track, speeding towards each other. Don't do what you're about to do, it'll win you nothing, teach you nothing, and ruin your day pointlessly.
See this coming on again.
To go back to the OP, and I've mentioned this in a different thread, the main difference between US and Canadian Conservatives is on social issues.
In the US, the "marriage" between the GOP and the moral majority (and the pandering we see to religion and religious groups during elections) has now tied fiscal conservatism into moral conservatism. Of course, people tend to vote less over fiscal issues than social ones, and the GOP successfully used this as an election tactic for a few decades.
Unfortunately, I believe they are now seeing a drain on their party and its future prospects as Amercia becomes more secular. The intolerance and judgementalism of the moral conservatives seems to be scaring away more and more independents who might agree with the GOP fiscally, but cannot morally.
And this is why when a good, honest, tolerant, decent man such as John McCain runs for President that:
- Carl Rove and the hatchet boys do push-polling (including race-baiting) to kill his nomination chances against Bush
- He is excoriated both in and out of the GOP (and even by his "going rogue" running mate) when he finally does get the nomination
In Canada, there are certainly people who are both fiscally and morally conservative. There are also people who are fiscally conservative, but morally liberal. There are liberal/liberals, liberal/conservatives, and socialist/liberals. My grandparent's generation was socialist/conservative in many ways.
Point being, in Canada, if you are concerned about fiscal issues, you can vote for the Conservatives without worrying about gay marriage, abortion, the Lord's Prayer in schools, etc. coming up on the agenda.
Elections are often fought over the best way to lead the Province/Country forward, and the issues usually end up being about Crown Corporations (government run companies), taxes, roads, health care, plans for the future, and Canada's role in the world. Elections are not about the social issues that seem to fixate the American conscious - social issues are dealt with in a less rhetorical manner, usually through legal proceedings, and Canadians accept the results of these.
And one post quoted a story about two gay men being driven from a small Manitoba town. I don't consider this Conservatism - this is about tolerance, education, and ignorance. And like most things in the media, I would issue a strong caution to not take this story with the particular spin the media chose to use.
Point being, in Canada, if you are concerned about fiscal issues, you can
vote for the Conservatives without worrying about gay marriage, abortion, the
Lord's Prayer in schools, etc. coming up on the agenda.
I'm fiscally conservative but morally liberal. I could NEVER vote for Harper again, never. His environmental stance makes me want to gut him like a deer.
I'm fiscally conservative but morally liberal. I could NEVER vote for Harper again, never. His environmental stance makes me want to gut him like a deer.
As an American, who is also a Canadian citizen, I liked Harper until I heard he was thinking draconian drug laws like Reagan. My god, have't we learned the War on Drugs in America is a complete failure. Stephen Harper Marijuana Clip Shows What PM Really Thinks (VIDEO)
As an American, who is also a Canadian citizen, I liked Harper until I heard he was thinking draconian drug laws like Reagan. My god, have't we learned the War on Drugs in America is a complete failure. Stephen Harper Marijuana Clip Shows What PM Really Thinks (VIDEO)
There's so much wrong with the guy, I don't know where to begin. I voted for him once, a long time ago. I wouldn't do it again.
It is interesting to think what may happen in the next election. Even myself (pretty much a lifelong Conservative) has had issues with some of the Conservative policies, especially those in the omnibus bill they put through.
For example, discontinuing medical care for refugees. I can't think of something less Canadian than doing that.
Not cutting useless government programs to get the budget back into balance. Not a fan of that either.
Spending billions on "Canada's Action Plan" then thousands more "advertising" it. Not really a free-market economy, fiscally Conservative type play. When government is responsible for your economic engine, you end up like Manitoba (which is not good, BTW).
Being short-sighted on the environment as well - not a good play.
I've only voted Liberal federally once, when both the local PC and Reform candidates were completely intolerable. We'll see what happens between now and the next election.
But as a "red Tory", I'm not overly fond of the areas where the Conservatives have become more conservative, and I'm not fond of the areas where they've become less Conservative.
Unfortunately, I've been alive under too many Liberal governments, and have no idea if I can hold my nose tight enough to vote for them either.....
You vote Conservative, and you might get a balanced budget (we'll see what happens in 2015) and some good cuts, but you'll get some ideological cuts, lack of transparency and wasteful spending as well.
You vote Liberal and you might get a balanced budget (possibly through sneaky methods like they've done in the past) and some good policies (e.g. legalization of marijuana, possibly prostitution), but you'll get some wasteful spending, higher taxes, and only the illusion of more transparency.
You vote NDP and you might get more transparency and some good policies (same as above), but you'll get higher taxes, and a lot of wasteful spending with no intention to balance the budget.
Whoever you vote for, you're screwed in some way.
...
The Cons have made a few good changes actually, but they've also passed or tried to pass some purely ideological legislation, and have not been particularly fiscally responsible either.
Canada needs a real centrist party, one that is willing to make reforms and pragmatic decisions, without being excessively driven by ideology or interest groups.
Right now, there's only corrupt and/or populist and/or fiscally irresponsible parties. It's no wonder voter turnout is so low.
I wouldn't say Canadians are more Liberal, just less radical about our political beliefs. Right-wing Americans seem to be very right wing and left-wing Americans seem to be very left wing. Our politics are less polarised.
I wouldn't say Canadians are more Liberal, just less radical about our political beliefs. Right-wing Americans seem to be very right wing and left-wing Americans seem to be very left wing. Our politics are less polarised.
I don't think generalizations can be made. Liberal on what issues? Conservative on what issues? Canadians are notorious in certain circles for being repressive and redneck on First Nations issues. The Canadian government, no matter what party is in power, is notorious in international human rights circles for having one of the most repressive regimes on the planet in relation to its First Nations peoples. It's not unusual for Canadians to rant angrily on and on for an hour or more on that topic.
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