Monday, January 30, 2006
Thursday, January 26, 2006
Thursday, January 12, 2006
Election 2006, take II
NDP Candidate, Wess Dowsett, sent back some answers to my inquiries yesterday.
Although I agree with the viewpoints in each of his answers, I'm not sure I like the way he makes reference to other parties when answering questions about his own views. He was actually giving the NDP party's ideals in some cases, not his own opinion.
The answers were less direct: the type of answers you'd expect from a politician. Yet they didn't ignore the questions... completely. Some of the answers were implied, while others were direct and to the point.
And as much as all that sounds bad, it's not. His answers were more in-depth than the Green Party's answers... and seemed more passionate... if that's a word you want to use when describing someone in politics!
AND... it's still better than the null responses I've received from both the Liberal and Conservative parties.
Although I agree with the viewpoints in each of his answers, I'm not sure I like the way he makes reference to other parties when answering questions about his own views. He was actually giving the NDP party's ideals in some cases, not his own opinion.
The answers were less direct: the type of answers you'd expect from a politician. Yet they didn't ignore the questions... completely. Some of the answers were implied, while others were direct and to the point.
And as much as all that sounds bad, it's not. His answers were more in-depth than the Green Party's answers... and seemed more passionate... if that's a word you want to use when describing someone in politics!
AND... it's still better than the null responses I've received from both the Liberal and Conservative parties.
Tuesday, January 10, 2006
Election 2006
I emailed each of the four eligible constituents in my local riding with a series of questions. I'll admit, I stole the questions (slightly modified & shortened) from Matthew Good's website. But they were excellent questions. And I don't think he'd be offended. Matt, if you are - email me. Hell, if you're reading this... stop wasting your time!
(For those of you interested... I've placed the questions I asked below)
Surprisingly, two of them have already responded (in less than 24 hours!). The quickest response was from the Green Party candidate (Tim Rudkins), and I must admit, the answers were well thought out. The second response was from the NDP candidate's office (Wess Dowsett), which asked me for my postal code. I sent it back... hopefully I'll hear back in the near future.
Of course, it automatically made me think about beaurocratic red tape. Hell, I just asked a few questions, and now I'm required to provide my postal code. Is this to ensure that I am in fact a constituent of this particular riding? If that were the case, I could simply provide any postal code within that riding, couldn't I? If I were a constituent in a different riding, how interested would I truly be in their standpoint?
In any case, I think I'm voting based on the constituent in my riding - not for any particular political party.
Here's the questions I emailed out:
As a constituent of the riding you are seeking to represent, I would like to know your position on the following.
1) Do you believe that an increase in defense spending is warranted?
2) Do you support Canadian inclusion in the ballistic missile defense program?
3) Would you support a serious reform of the Heath Ministry aimed at reducing the number of federal employees in Ottawa and increasing local representatives with medical backgrounds?
Do you support the privatization of healthcare?
4) Do you support the right for same sex couples to marry?
Were the current law to be challenged under a new government, would you vote to repeal it?
Do you consider personal sexuality a human rights issue?
5) Do you support an increase in the corporate tax rate?
What is your position on the belief that an increase in corporate tax rates adversely affects growth in the business community despite the fact that standard wages remain radically disproportionate to employer profit?
Lastly, and only if you feel comfortable doing do, could you please list those environmental, human rights, or animal rights groups of which you are currently a member?
Thank you very much for your time,
Pete
(For those of you interested... I've placed the questions I asked below)
Surprisingly, two of them have already responded (in less than 24 hours!). The quickest response was from the Green Party candidate (Tim Rudkins), and I must admit, the answers were well thought out. The second response was from the NDP candidate's office (Wess Dowsett), which asked me for my postal code. I sent it back... hopefully I'll hear back in the near future.
Of course, it automatically made me think about beaurocratic red tape. Hell, I just asked a few questions, and now I'm required to provide my postal code. Is this to ensure that I am in fact a constituent of this particular riding? If that were the case, I could simply provide any postal code within that riding, couldn't I? If I were a constituent in a different riding, how interested would I truly be in their standpoint?
In any case, I think I'm voting based on the constituent in my riding - not for any particular political party.
Here's the questions I emailed out:
As a constituent of the riding you are seeking to represent, I would like to know your position on the following.
1) Do you believe that an increase in defense spending is warranted?
2) Do you support Canadian inclusion in the ballistic missile defense program?
3) Would you support a serious reform of the Heath Ministry aimed at reducing the number of federal employees in Ottawa and increasing local representatives with medical backgrounds?
Do you support the privatization of healthcare?
4) Do you support the right for same sex couples to marry?
Were the current law to be challenged under a new government, would you vote to repeal it?
Do you consider personal sexuality a human rights issue?
5) Do you support an increase in the corporate tax rate?
What is your position on the belief that an increase in corporate tax rates adversely affects growth in the business community despite the fact that standard wages remain radically disproportionate to employer profit?
Lastly, and only if you feel comfortable doing do, could you please list those environmental, human rights, or animal rights groups of which you are currently a member?
Thank you very much for your time,
Pete
Monday, January 09, 2006
If Assholes could fly...
This place would be an airport!
Honestly. HONESTLY!
Why are so many people so f-ing ridiculous? Where did they lose their brain? Did they actually have one to begin with????
Is it just me?
When did friendships "expire" within weeks because the one pouty friend didn't get what they wanted when they wanted it and how they wanted it?
If you decided to stop talking to someone, why would you give a rats ass what they were doing with their life? And if YOU decided to stop speaking to THEM... How the HELL is it their responsibility to come to YOU to talk to you? WTF is wrong with you people!?
And why can't these people see this in themselves? Why do they refuse to listen to the possibility that *maybe* they could be wrong?
Can they not SEE the shit all over their faces???
Honestly. HONESTLY!
Why are so many people so f-ing ridiculous? Where did they lose their brain? Did they actually have one to begin with????
Is it just me?
When did friendships "expire" within weeks because the one pouty friend didn't get what they wanted when they wanted it and how they wanted it?
If you decided to stop talking to someone, why would you give a rats ass what they were doing with their life? And if YOU decided to stop speaking to THEM... How the HELL is it their responsibility to come to YOU to talk to you? WTF is wrong with you people!?
And why can't these people see this in themselves? Why do they refuse to listen to the possibility that *maybe* they could be wrong?
Can they not SEE the shit all over their faces???