So, jokes, yes, this is a very critical issue that we all must take time out of lives to invest in our own future. Much like yourself, I don’t know anything about politics… left and right wing to me are the only choices after the drumsticks are gone. This is why I always vote Green… from what little I know, they seem like people with heart… support the underdog and all that. If I don’t know enough to make an informed decision then just put my ballot toward the least likely to win — our government can afford some diversity.

Your idea is solid. You need to start making waves… email your friends/family, pass the word. This is our weapon against what we don’t like in this world.

Which reminds me, I took time out yesterday and expended some ranting energy submitting an idea for http://www.project10tothe100.com

Here’s my idea: http://imnotasthinkasyoucrazyiam.allthegoodnamesarealreadytaken.net/2008/09/httpwwwproject10tothe100comindexhtml.html

(what can I say… I like exaggerated URLs)

So, jokes, yes, this is a very critical issue that we all must take time out of lives to invest in our own future. Much like yourself, I don’t know anything about politics… left and right wing to me are the only choices after the drumsticks are gone. This is why I always vote Green… from what little I know, they seem like people with heart… support the underdog and all that. If I don’t know enough to make an informed decision then just put my ballot toward the least likely to win — our government can afford some diversity.

Your idea is solid. You need to start making waves… email your friends/family, pass the word. This is our weapon against what we don’t like in this world.

Which reminds me, I took time out yesterday and expended some ranting energy submitting an idea for http://www.project10tothe100.com

Here’s my idea: http://imnotasthinkasyoucrazyiam.allthegoodnamesarealreadytaken.net/2008/09/httpwwwproject10tothe100comindexhtml.html

(what can I say… I like exaggerated URLs)

In fact, that FPTP system would have meant that the Green Party would have had some representation in Parliament, despite not winning any ridings. Since that election, though, an Independent in B.C. joined the Greens after being elected, and so there is someone in there now, but still — the fact that popular vote means jack is a bit of a thorn in the system.

But still, even if the system’s broke, there are ways to make the best of it. One way would be to not have too many parties, which would result in less chance of a minority government. Then again, I was glad that the last election resulted in a minority government, because I figured that would mean the Conservatives wouldn’t be able to fully screw much up…

Anyways, it seems you’ve spurred me towards more ranting I’m not qualified to do, so thanks!! :P I will still stand by my idea above even if I may have missed some important differences between the Green and NDP platforms, because mathematically it still makes sense to me that fewer parties would result in stronger parties.

Here’s hoping that if we keep whining constructively, we can have an impact on our political environment! :)

In fact, that FPTP system would have meant that the Green Party would have had some representation in Parliament, despite not winning any ridings. Since that election, though, an Independent in B.C. joined the Greens after being elected, and so there is someone in there now, but still — the fact that popular vote means jack is a bit of a thorn in the system.

But still, even if the system’s broke, there are ways to make the best of it. One way would be to not have too many parties, which would result in less chance of a minority government. Then again, I was glad that the last election resulted in a minority government, because I figured that would mean the Conservatives wouldn’t be able to fully screw much up…

Anyways, it seems you’ve spurred me towards more ranting I’m not qualified to do, so thanks!! :P I will still stand by my idea above even if I may have missed some important differences between the Green and NDP platforms, because mathematically it still makes sense to me that fewer parties would result in stronger parties.

Here’s hoping that if we keep whining constructively, we can have an impact on our political environment! :)

myself, this comment i’m leaving is more to whine than to leave anything constructive, but maybe there’s some substance in what i’m about to say.. .

i’m sure you know about the referendum last year to change the way our voting system works, where we had the option to switch from the first-past-the-post system to the mixed-member proportional system.
` it annoyed me greatly to see how the ballot was worded: essentially it gave two choices: “keep the current system, FPTP” and “change to a new system: MMP”.

and then we got swarms of uneducated people who probably didn’t even know what FPTP and MMP was voting to keep the current system. and then these same people complain about how there are only two parties to choose from since we’re wasting our votes by voting for any other party.

oye.

people more educated and informed than me would be able to articulate why NDP and Green parties are different from each other, and why a merger therefore might not be so appropriate.
` of course, if we had a proportional system, what would likely happen is that a coalition would likely be formed between the Green and NDP parties.. .

so yeah, as i said, this is just a big whine about MMP failing so poorly, largely because of how the ballot was worded. sigh!

myself, this comment i’m leaving is more to whine than to leave anything constructive, but maybe there’s some substance in what i’m about to say.. .

i’m sure you know about the referendum last year to change the way our voting system works, where we had the option to switch from the first-past-the-post system to the mixed-member proportional system.
` it annoyed me greatly to see how the ballot was worded: essentially it gave two choices: “keep the current system, FPTP” and “change to a new system: MMP”.

and then we got swarms of uneducated people who probably didn’t even know what FPTP and MMP was voting to keep the current system. and then these same people complain about how there are only two parties to choose from since we’re wasting our votes by voting for any other party.

oye.

people more educated and informed than me would be able to articulate why NDP and Green parties are different from each other, and why a merger therefore might not be so appropriate.
` of course, if we had a proportional system, what would likely happen is that a coalition would likely be formed between the Green and NDP parties.. .

so yeah, as i said, this is just a big whine about MMP failing so poorly, largely because of how the ballot was worded. sigh!