4 more years of Campbell? Really?

[Chewy]

This guy is a supercilious prick with nothing but neo-conservatism on the agenda. To top it off, STV didn't get it either, sure it's not perfect, but it's a step towards change, and I'd rather multiple minority govts than one big corrupt one with absolute power.

How in the hell did this happen again?

your thoughts please.

[loki]

This guy is a supercilious prick with nothing but neo-conservatism on the agenda. To top it off, STV didn't get it either, sure it's not perfect, but it's a step towards change, and I'd rather multiple minority govts than one big corrupt one with absolute power.

How in the hell did this happen again?

your thoughts please.

how the hell did bush get in for a second kick at the can? the saying is true "a person is smart, people are stupid"

[Fanny Bay Delica]

I'm extremely happy Lib Majority, Lib MLA in riding and no stupid STV -- all is right with the world. How anyone could ever vote for the "Big Labour" NDP is simply beyond me -- not to put too fine a point on it but they couldn't run a piss up in a brewery!!!

[Chewy]

Loki, I'm beginning to fear that's the case.

Fanny Bay Delica: Wouldn't you rather a government do very little, rather than selling off all your public systems and resources between providing Jim Pattison with fellatio. The Libs are wrought with corporate scandal and full on fascism even. Take a look at the CADA, lobbying to ban RHD, I can assure you that there were generous donations to the Campbell campaign in all 3 elections, and in return they've been assured they will eliminate the RHD "problem". Even if you aren't directly affected by that because you have a registered one, do you want a government that will take away something for no reason aside from the fact that someone with tons of money and power wants more of it?

Or are you still bitter from the fast ferry fiasco? Maybe not the best idea, but as I saw it, trying to create an industry in BC aside from something either agrarian or tourism based. They're just getting the whole thing nailed down, and to make the NDP look bad, the libs sell the ferries for next to nothing and say, "see, look at all the money they lost you." More of a scandal than their being built in my mind.

I'm open minded, but honestly, as a 23 year old, who holds down 2 FT jobs, realizing the NDP are simply the lesser of 2 evils, I fail to see how the liberals help me in the least, let alone anybody. Since Gordon Campbell gave himself among other MP's a healthy raise this year too. I'm quite disturbed by the fact that people still think he is the "safe choice".


Also, STV would give other parties that didn't conjure real world images of the phrase "epic fail" a fleeting chance of making some bloody decisions or bringing some fresh ideas in instead of the typical ndp vs. liberal mudslingery.

My opinion is only mine, but please educate yourself, as it seems most have been reading the province and watching CTV for direction.

[Adam]

Regardless of your politic affliations something wrong with our voting system when the popular vote is less than 4% difference, but that translates into a 15% difference in seats.

[Fanny Bay Delica]

Chewy,

I disagree with virtually everything you say, the Liberals are not the safe choice but the only choice. The NDP are simply incompetent with respect to running any kind of sensible government. They are completely beholden to special interest groups and Unions and they can never and will never get past this stumbling block. With respect to the RHD issue, when it raised it's head couple of years ago, I can tell you the absolute weakest reaction came from Catherine Bell (the North Island's NDP MP). At that time it was obvious that her opposition was clearly grounded in the impact that JDMs' may have in terms of the CAW's poor product and she couldn't give a whit about the benefit of families buying an economical and environmentally friendly purchase.

So as I stated there was no choice in the election and I'm confident that the Liberals will do an adequate to good job as opposed the the NDP doing and incompetent to unbelievably destructive job!!

[Chewy]

I see your point Fanny Bay,

But I would say that the Liberals are beholden to a very small cartel of individuals as well, but with corporate sponsorship on any level you have these issues. I'm not saying the NDP are the be all end all, far from it if the best they can put forth is Carole James....but in the sense of the RHD issue, that was Catherine's standpoint, and for the most part wasn't supported by the rest of her party members. The NDP do scare me, as they make very little clear as to what they desire for this country. On the other hand, I have a fairly good idea of what Gordo wants, to live large, spend money on privately sponsored projects, and then eliminate the defecit by selling off social infrastructure. I would rather see the province go into debt creating social safety nets than have the budget in the black and my ass out on the street.

I'm flabberghasted at the lack of a good choice, understanding it's flaws I was hoping STV would help eliminate the strategic voting problem and get some fresh ideas and blood into an otherwise old boys club.

Just tired and disappointed coming up in this world as an adult, it feels like it's broken and the older generation has found it's niche and is too apathetic to want to help fix it, and for the most part my generation is more concerned with being a vapid consumer than what parties are planning to do...let alone vote.

[marsgal42]

I'm appalled by the results, but would have been even more appalled by an NDP majority.

I think we blew it on STV. A major missed opportunity, not likely to be revisited in my lifetime.

...laura

[konadog]

I still can't believe Campbell survived his DUI - what that says about voters here is frightening - He should have been run out of town of a rail. I Hate the selloff's of the utilities we hold in common and think it a backwards approach. No reason "the People" shouldn't own the ferries and Hydro, etc. Things like the once world leader BC Parks and Ferries aren't supposed to make money - they are a service we all hold in common. Seems pretty clear to me that the Campbell Gov. is about making the richest richer - All about bleeding the little people, but tricking them into thinking their getting a good deal. Why anyone who isn't rich would vote for them is beyond me - And Fanny Bay, that doesn't mean I support big labour - Can't stand the whole union thing - anytime I worked in a union shop I had more trouble with that bunch than the managers - But at least the N.D.P. is more concerned with the collective and the regular people. Oooo, that smacks of communism eh...? Too bad Canada wasn't bordering Europe, then perhaps we would have a little more balance and a more mature approuch to these things - too much infulence from south of the boarder has been unhealthy for us all. And I think it's just pathetic the stv failed - are we such a bunch of red-neck sticks-in-the mud?!

[Fanny Bay Delica]

Hey I tried to say the nicest things I could think about on the NDP and that's all I could come up with!!

I think I was being pretty generous!!

[Youbou]

[mararmeisto]

The problem with the STV issue is a matter of complexity. Most voters have a difficult enough time wrapping their head around what the different parties are peddling come election time, but trying to figure out the STV was going to be an even greater stretch.

One of the reasons for the first-past-the-post election process is to accommodate a multi-party system (which we've had pretty much from the beginning in this country), although some would argue that it actually supports only a two-party system. Some see the STV as a more fair way of accommodating many nominees on a single ballot, but it is complicated to tally.

I think a better reform would be a system similar to the that south of the border which, while not codified, has settled into a two-party system. Of course, the problem with that system is: what if your platform issues don't align with either party?

Regardless, if one doesn't vote, one doesn't get to grouse about the government, and considering only 52% of BC voted, there should be a lot of silent observers for the next four years.

[konadog]

only 52% of BC voted

WTF?! Pathetic...

[Adam]

It is even easier to tally the votes if you have a one party system. Hardly any counting involved at all, and your save tons of money on campaigning. Seriously though, how can a gov't be representative with fewer voices? I don't agree with either the Libs or the NDP on a lot of issues. Their party platforms are designed to be the least offensive to 51% of the population. Wouldn't it be nice to have a candidate that you actually wanted to vote for, that represented the majority of your views?

As for the US 2 party system, I see that as a road to even more rancorous partisan politics. You either left or right, democrat or republican. No shades of grey. The US is mired intense party posturing and an atmosphere of continual campaigning. I'm surprise they have enough time in between the political attack on each other to start a couple of wars. Too bad thay haven't found the time to finish them.

[Kuan]

only 52% of BC voted

WTF?! Pathetic...

People in this province and this country don't know how good they have it. People around the world are dying for democracy. I think it should be illegal not to vote. Sad very sad reflection of our society.