Top 5 Reasons to Vote for the Conservatives
1 – Economic Record - Since the economy is doing well, they get credit for it. If it was in the gutter (like the US economy), they'd get blamed for it. They also signed trade agreements with Columbia, Iceland, Lichtenstein, Norway, Switzerland, Jordan, Panama, and Peru. Also, I like TFSA accounts and paying less GST.
2 – Law and Order - They eliminated the Two for One Credit and passed bills related to Identity Theft, Organized Crime, and White Collar Crime.
3 – Afghanistan - I supported this mission when Chretien got us into it, and I still do. I'm well aware that this issue will be in the next list for a lot of people.
4 – Pro-Market decisions – The government spanked the CRTC on two key decisions. #1 - Allowing Wind Mobile to operate in Canada. Wind and some other new carriers have changed the Canadian wireless market for good. I'm really enjoying my cheap unlimited talk/text/data plan. #2 - Tony Clement forced the CRTC to review its Usage Based Billing decision, which will probably be reversed.
5 – Political Party Welfare - I really don't like political parties receiving welfare money from taxpayers. This will be a huge accomplishment if they can pull it off.
Top 5 Reasons to Vote against the Conservatives
1 – Lies/Incompetence - Bernier affair, Busty Hookers, Chalk River, Kairos, Galloway, and the legendary "not" document.
2 – G20 - Could go under #1 but this was such an epic fuckup that it deserves its own section. I still can't fathom why you'd spend a couple of billion dollars holding a conference in the downtown core.
3 – Contempt of Parliament - Triggered the current election. Absolutely shameful and idiotic conduct from the government.
4 – Quebecois as a Nation – A big 'fuck you' to Federalists and one of the worst decisions they made in Harper's bid to secure Quebec votes. Got them nowhere.
5 – Economic Un-Conservatism - Unbalanced budgets, increased debt, protectionism (Air Canada), corporate subsidies...the list goes on forever.
Top 5 Reasons to Vote for the Liberals
1 – Change - The Liberals are the only other party that could form a government, and Michael Ignatieff is the only other person that can be Prime Minister.
2 – Deficit - They're promising to reduce it immediately and eliminate it eventually. They have a lot of credibility on this issue since they've done it before. Iggy should be pushing this hard, but instead the Libs are running desperate 'hidden agenda' ads. Pathetic.
3 – Open Government - Some interesting ideas including posting all access to information requests (and their response times), government datasets, grants/contributions/contracts.
4 – Infrastructure/Transportation - Lots of promises on high speed rail, municipal infrastructure, and highways.
5 - Canada Learning Strategy - Interesting ideas including education benefits for veterans and language training for new immigrants.
Top 5 Reasons to Vote against the Liberals
1 – Lack of principles. They got us into Afghanistan but they now want to cut and run. They initiated the corporate tax cuts which they’re now against. They always act as if Harper will destroy the country, yet they always vote with him to keep his minority government alive.
2 – Taxes – They will raise them. The Liberal party president said so himself.
3 – Culture - They will increase subsidies for artists and support cancon rules. I'm against this, but I know a lot of people are for it.
4 – Coalition – It’s real, and it could happen again. For me this was the their worst moment since I've followed politics, and it really soured me on the party.
5 - Iggy - He's come a long way as a politician, and his support for the Iraq war has become a non-issue. But, he's still not performing as well as a Liberal leader should be. Considering his impressive background in international affairs, he should be mopping the floor with Harper on foreign policy issues, but he isn't. Considering how many times team Harper has screwed things up, Iggy should be riding sky high in the polls, but he's failed to take advantage.
Top 5 Reasons to Vote for the NDP
1 – Tons of Benefits - They promise to improve EI, CPP, mat leave, and introduce several new benefits.
2 – Abolishing the Senate - A cause near and dear to my heart.
3 – Infrastructure - A lot of investments are promised.
4 – Foreign Policy - Increased development aid, strengthening consular services, and pushing generic drugs.
5 - Jack Layton - The most credible federal leader (other than Mr. Duceppe, but he doesn't count). I don't like him much, but I do like him more than Harper or Iggy.
Top 5 Reasons to Vote against the NDP
1 – Taxes - They've promised to reverse the Liberal/Conservative corporate tax cuts. There's nothing in their platform that specifically mentions raising any other taxes, but come on, it's the NDP.
2 – Afghanistan - They want out, asap. Layton loves to talk about refocusing on aid and development, but has no answer for one simple question: Who will defend the NGOs when the Taleban are trying to blow them up?
3 – Cap and Trade - If they implement this, the economy will suffer.
5 - Vote Splitting - If you're a lefty who wants Harper out, the best way to do so is by voting Liberal. The NDP will not form a government after this election.
Top 5 Reasons to Vote for the Greens
1 – Benefits - Expand access to EI, reduce EI/CPP contribution premiums for businesses. Love it.
2 - Corporate Subsidies/Tax Breaks - Cut and eliminate, especially for big corporations. Hallelujah.
3 – Taxes - Cut income taxes (!), and introduce full income splitting (!!!). I had no idea the Greens had this on their platform. If the Libs push these policies, it'll go a long way towards winning back Blue Grits like myself.
4 – Municipal Infrastructure - Long term funding is promised.
5 - Legalize and Tax Marijuana (!) - We should have done this a long time ago.
Top 5 Reasons to Vote against the Greens
1 – Carbon Pricing - They are the green party after all.
2 – Market Interference - Plans to pick winners in farming, fisheries, and forestry industries. Also plans to muck around in the broadcast sector.
3 – Federal Funding for GMO Research - They plan to stop it.
4 – Taxes - They'll cancel the corporate tax cuts, and introduce new ones on industry.
5 - Elizabeth May - They may have reached their highest ever vote totals in 2008, but I believe this was despite her leadership (not because of it). Their platform has some hidden gems that she has failed to promote effectively. I actually bothered to read their platform; I doubt most voters have. She comes off as whiny in debates. I attended the Munk debate on Climate Change and she constantly lost her cool (pun not intended) and it was difficult to take her seriously. Suing TV networks because they won't let her into debates was just daft. It's their channel, they can do whatever the hell they want with it. If they decide to host a Harper vs. sock puppet debate, it's their prerogative.
I pulled most of this information from the respective parties' platforms: Cons, Libs, NDP, Greens.
1 – Economic Record - Since the economy is doing well, they get credit for it. If it was in the gutter (like the US economy), they'd get blamed for it. They also signed trade agreements with Columbia, Iceland, Lichtenstein, Norway, Switzerland, Jordan, Panama, and Peru. Also, I like TFSA accounts and paying less GST.
2 – Law and Order - They eliminated the Two for One Credit and passed bills related to Identity Theft, Organized Crime, and White Collar Crime.
3 – Afghanistan - I supported this mission when Chretien got us into it, and I still do. I'm well aware that this issue will be in the next list for a lot of people.
4 – Pro-Market decisions – The government spanked the CRTC on two key decisions. #1 - Allowing Wind Mobile to operate in Canada. Wind and some other new carriers have changed the Canadian wireless market for good. I'm really enjoying my cheap unlimited talk/text/data plan. #2 - Tony Clement forced the CRTC to review its Usage Based Billing decision, which will probably be reversed.
5 – Political Party Welfare - I really don't like political parties receiving welfare money from taxpayers. This will be a huge accomplishment if they can pull it off.
Top 5 Reasons to Vote against the Conservatives
1 – Lies/Incompetence - Bernier affair, Busty Hookers, Chalk River, Kairos, Galloway, and the legendary "not" document.
2 – G20 - Could go under #1 but this was such an epic fuckup that it deserves its own section. I still can't fathom why you'd spend a couple of billion dollars holding a conference in the downtown core.
3 – Contempt of Parliament - Triggered the current election. Absolutely shameful and idiotic conduct from the government.
4 – Quebecois as a Nation – A big 'fuck you' to Federalists and one of the worst decisions they made in Harper's bid to secure Quebec votes. Got them nowhere.
5 – Economic Un-Conservatism - Unbalanced budgets, increased debt, protectionism (Air Canada), corporate subsidies...the list goes on forever.
Top 5 Reasons to Vote for the Liberals
1 – Change - The Liberals are the only other party that could form a government, and Michael Ignatieff is the only other person that can be Prime Minister.
2 – Deficit - They're promising to reduce it immediately and eliminate it eventually. They have a lot of credibility on this issue since they've done it before. Iggy should be pushing this hard, but instead the Libs are running desperate 'hidden agenda' ads. Pathetic.
3 – Open Government - Some interesting ideas including posting all access to information requests (and their response times), government datasets, grants/contributions/contracts.
4 – Infrastructure/Transportation - Lots of promises on high speed rail, municipal infrastructure, and highways.
5 - Canada Learning Strategy - Interesting ideas including education benefits for veterans and language training for new immigrants.
Top 5 Reasons to Vote against the Liberals
1 – Lack of principles. They got us into Afghanistan but they now want to cut and run. They initiated the corporate tax cuts which they’re now against. They always act as if Harper will destroy the country, yet they always vote with him to keep his minority government alive.
2 – Taxes – They will raise them. The Liberal party president said so himself.
3 – Culture - They will increase subsidies for artists and support cancon rules. I'm against this, but I know a lot of people are for it.
4 – Coalition – It’s real, and it could happen again. For me this was the their worst moment since I've followed politics, and it really soured me on the party.
5 - Iggy - He's come a long way as a politician, and his support for the Iraq war has become a non-issue. But, he's still not performing as well as a Liberal leader should be. Considering his impressive background in international affairs, he should be mopping the floor with Harper on foreign policy issues, but he isn't. Considering how many times team Harper has screwed things up, Iggy should be riding sky high in the polls, but he's failed to take advantage.
Top 5 Reasons to Vote for the NDP
1 – Tons of Benefits - They promise to improve EI, CPP, mat leave, and introduce several new benefits.
2 – Abolishing the Senate - A cause near and dear to my heart.
3 – Infrastructure - A lot of investments are promised.
4 – Foreign Policy - Increased development aid, strengthening consular services, and pushing generic drugs.
5 - Jack Layton - The most credible federal leader (other than Mr. Duceppe, but he doesn't count). I don't like him much, but I do like him more than Harper or Iggy.
Top 5 Reasons to Vote against the NDP
1 – Taxes - They've promised to reverse the Liberal/Conservative corporate tax cuts. There's nothing in their platform that specifically mentions raising any other taxes, but come on, it's the NDP.
2 – Afghanistan - They want out, asap. Layton loves to talk about refocusing on aid and development, but has no answer for one simple question: Who will defend the NGOs when the Taleban are trying to blow them up?
3 – Cap and Trade - If they implement this, the economy will suffer.
4 – Culture - Like the Liberals, they want huge subsidies and cancon rules. They also plan to muck around with the official languages act to strengthen minority languages.
5 - Vote Splitting - If you're a lefty who wants Harper out, the best way to do so is by voting Liberal. The NDP will not form a government after this election.
Top 5 Reasons to Vote for the Greens
1 – Benefits - Expand access to EI, reduce EI/CPP contribution premiums for businesses. Love it.
2 - Corporate Subsidies/Tax Breaks - Cut and eliminate, especially for big corporations. Hallelujah.
3 – Taxes - Cut income taxes (!), and introduce full income splitting (!!!). I had no idea the Greens had this on their platform. If the Libs push these policies, it'll go a long way towards winning back Blue Grits like myself.
4 – Municipal Infrastructure - Long term funding is promised.
5 - Legalize and Tax Marijuana (!) - We should have done this a long time ago.
Top 5 Reasons to Vote against the Greens
1 – Carbon Pricing - They are the green party after all.
2 – Market Interference - Plans to pick winners in farming, fisheries, and forestry industries. Also plans to muck around in the broadcast sector.
3 – Federal Funding for GMO Research - They plan to stop it.
4 – Taxes - They'll cancel the corporate tax cuts, and introduce new ones on industry.
5 - Elizabeth May - They may have reached their highest ever vote totals in 2008, but I believe this was despite her leadership (not because of it). Their platform has some hidden gems that she has failed to promote effectively. I actually bothered to read their platform; I doubt most voters have. She comes off as whiny in debates. I attended the Munk debate on Climate Change and she constantly lost her cool (pun not intended) and it was difficult to take her seriously. Suing TV networks because they won't let her into debates was just daft. It's their channel, they can do whatever the hell they want with it. If they decide to host a Harper vs. sock puppet debate, it's their prerogative.
I pulled most of this information from the respective parties' platforms: Cons, Libs, NDP, Greens.
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