Day 10 & 11: Yesterday was surprisingly, almost uncomfortably and certainly unexpectedly warm outside (18C). The evening prior, it snowed and today there is a stiff wind and it is cold again - a typical "spring" for these parts.
I'm still collecting the 100+ signatures which I must say is the toughest part of this or my previous campaign. I need to convince people that their signature does not obligate them to anything - it just consents to having my name on the ballot. Sometimes people are wary. My daughter suggested I try a local senior citizens complex nearby because they will be home. They were home, and many did sign, but just as many did not, and with good reasons. I was surprised at how "tuned in" to politics many of these elderly people were. I had some good discussions about a wide range of topics, but it was tiring.
A group of the "minor-fringe" parties, including us, are planning to hold a public forum for press and electors next week. Elizabeth May (that's here) was invited, but declined pointing out she is neither minor nor fringe. Ah, but she is getting minor as the days go on. Take a look at the daily poll here. The Greens are fading. Maybe she should reconsider?
Your post reminds me of why I despise the current system of regional representation. Why should someone like yourself have to rely on local votes to get elected to a federal system?
ReplyDeleteWouldn't a better system allow people to vote for ideologies, despite their geographic location, and have leaders of that ideology get the seats to represent it?
If the Greens had 7% of the vote nationally, why shouldn't they get 7% of the representation?
Well, I did once sympathize with that view. The problem is that it centralizes government even more than it already is. I've become very anti-federalist since joining the Libertarian party. I see the wisdom of local government representing the local population reducing the power of the central government so they can't unilaterally buy $100 million of jets we don't need and sending forces to wars we don't want. It also encourages competition between jurisdictions, which tends to create more freedom and less economic regulation.
ReplyDeleteIn the States i'm aware of many that live in one state with no income tax and work in another nearby. I wish the provinces were smaller maybe Toronto a province?
Its too bad about Ms. May not being in the debate, I would have preferred her to the Bloc.