Where do I fit in?

Not sure where I’m going with this but I’ll give it a try.
I’m wondering if I’m alone in my thinking. So I thought I’d pose a question to you all. Where do you fit in (politically)?

The main parties federally and provincially we are all familiar with. I’m sure a lot of people align themselves with one or another. But you can’t tell me that you believe wholeheartedly in ALL of one parties’ policies. Here lies the issue I have. Every election I watch on the news, read in the papers or forums and listen to bystanders explain how they are and always have been a one party supporter. I don’t understand this kind of attachment. I read the platforms every election and listen to the candidates promises and I can’t put myself entirely behind one system.

In my opinion they are all flawed, they really have no plan, they are opportunistic and the whole thing is a popularity contest based on the flavour of the week.

I see strengths and weaknesses throughout each party. It’s too bad that some parties are so stubborn that they won’t accept another’s policies, even if they make sense. There lies the distinction between the groups. I guess it’s just as much about marketing and selling ones brand as it is about politics. One thing they all have in common is stubbornness and the ability to back pedal out of the thickest quick sand.

I’m also surprised that we have such few choices politically. This is another problem. Essentially our choices are so few that it doesn’t seem like a choice at all. Almost like you are corralled into making a decision. In my town there are 8 different car dealerships, probably over 100 restaurants, 6 different grocers and many more various stores. My political options are 4.

All I’m saying is maybe we are due for a shake up. Maybe there should be a political party that takes a bit from column A and a bit from column B and see what happens. I think we could benefit from more choices.

Now, I’m not saying I don’t vote, I absolutely do. It’s a privilege that some nations do not offer. I’m saying that I pick the lesser of two evils when voting. I’m also saying Ive never been able to read through a political parties platform and embrace it 100 percent.

There it is, what are your thoughts?

All you can do is listen to each party’s platform and go with the one that reflects your beliefs the best. That’s what I do.....it just will never be Liberal......ever !!

Soon it won't matter anymore. It will be democratic socialism. I encourage you to read up and see if you like it. This is the global reset we are now entering.

First off, I never vote for the candidate running, I vote for the party. I have and continue to do so, study the platform and policies of each. Every one of us has a philosophy of life and, if they take the time to analyze their outlook, understand what is important to our beliefs and values.
If my neighbour plants a big garden, who am I to demand he share the bounty with me, simply because he was successful and I chose to sit on my arse and watch him? The liberals (their philosophy) would have you believe, he has to share it with everyone. The Conservatives (their philosophy) will create the the infrastructure so a person has the opportunity to build their own garden.

I said it in another recent post and Ill reiterate it here in different terms. Partisanship is an interesting concept, I dont believe the majority whole heartedly agrees with one party or the other, at least not open minded individuals. But political parties know alot of weak minded people exist and alot of the rhetoric they pump out can seem captivating if you dont have all the information on a topic and they play on people's vulnerability.

I find it amusing to see people bickering about partisanship and trashing the opposing views party as if one party is better then the other. They are all reptiles at some point in my opinion. Its almost assumed if you disagree with a liberal its because you are a "con" supporter and vice versa.

Anyone who is whole heartedly partisan one way or the other is a fool. Each party in power gets comfortable over time and needs to be voted out to keep things fresh.
No single party has it all. If you think they do they have succeeded in brainwashing you.

Im not a liberal, conservative or a new democrat. I am an open minded individual that can use rationale and compromise when it comes time to cast a vote to determine which party reflects my views best at that point in time.

In most democracies , people vote for the face of the party, very few have a clue about the party's policies, most don't even know the name of the MP in their own riding. They can be easily manipulated with a few catch phrases and some slickly designed campaign slogans and they have your vote. If you doubt that, just watch the 'man of the street' interviews that ask why they vote for one party over another. Case in point...the "He has nice hair" ...and 'time for a change' simplicity. There is no intellectual depth to their reason they are voting one way or another.

Fact be told...it doesn't matter who standing on the bridge, the good ship lollipop will continue to troll along till the ship runs aground, then we have a democratic Mutiny, vote in the least offensive pirate in the bunch as Capt and off we sail for another 4 yrs in a different direction with the same inevitable results.

I have voted for both the Conservatives and the Liberals, federally and provincially. Once I even voted for the NDP provincially. I guess some would call me a turncoat as I have no real allegiance to any particular party. I do not feel it is possible to agree with 100% of a particular parties policies, so you choose to follow the policy most important to yourself. Lately I have been choosing the lesser of two evils. Good thread. Could show, who truly has an open mind.

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Originally Posted by fishermccann

I have voted for both the Conservatives and the Liberals, federally and provincially. Once I even voted for the NDP provincially. I guess some would call me a turncoat as I have no real allegiance to any particular party. I do not feel it is possible to agree with 100% of a particular parties policies, so you choose to follow the policy most important to yourself. Lately I have been choosing the lesser of two evils. Good thread. Could show, who truly has an open mind.

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I vote for the local MMPs and MPs based of what they promise to do in and for my community. They are the ones that have a direct effect on me, my family and neighbours.

MP, same for me. For some candidates running in my riding , I could not send them to Ottawa or Queens Park, to represent me. I just did not like them, for various reasons. No matter the party they happen to represent.

The thing that really gets me is that people care the least about the politics that impacts them the most. Your local government has the largest impact on your life and the cost of living, then the provincial and finally the federal, yet municipal governments have the least turnout and the least interest in the people involved.

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Originally Posted by Fox

The thing that really gets me is that people care the least about the politics that impacts them the most. Your local government has the largest impact on your life and the cost of living, then the provincial and finally the federal, yet municipal governments have the least turnout and the least interest in the people involved.

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That is very true, especially in an area like we're in that is growing. It's where you'll retire and the your kids will grow up and be educated. What happens in this little corner of your world is very important and you need to have a say how it develops. Look at the debacle about about the proposed prison.

The importance of politics on our lives at the far removed Federal level, is indicative of who is running our country now...some trust fund baby with no political or economic understanding of how a country is suppose to be run. Yet the party chooses him as leader because he 'had nice hair'...they made a farce of the office he holds. It's a shame how they have besmirched their duties to hold public office. It's become show over substance and it will take a long time before the stain they leave is removed.

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Originally Posted by Fox

The thing that really gets me is that people care the least about the politics that impacts them the most. Your local government has the largest impact on your life and the cost of living, then the provincial and finally the federal, yet municipal governments have the least turnout and the least interest in the people involved.

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^^^^^ THIS!! ^^^^^ Federal politics is far removed from ordinary citizens. I vote for the party who represents freedom,liberty,civil rights,property rights,common decency and good governance. We only get ONE vote and realistically,it's all we can do.

I am very firm on my stance. I loathe them all. I also strongly dislike what "politics" have become. This latter, I absolutely lay at the feet of the electorate though. Politician's ( parties) care most about winning and power. So, more than anything they are a reflection of society ( the electorate). Cause and effect if you will. More on this "later". Depending on the topic, I can be fairly far to the Left, or to the right. So on the whole, somewhere in the middle.

"Today"
I utterly detest, the Liberal parties and have much disdain for the Left side of the electorate. Why?
Because since 2000 no party has done as much damage or harm to the lowly tax payers as them. Either through scandals or abuses and vote buying. But who knows, had Cons been in power from 2000 to 2013 I might feel the same about them today. Just look at the NDP....Its been 40 years since Rae ( who I actually blame for alot and knocking things off the rails) and people still won't give the NDP the time of day....

I don't pay a lot of attention to platforms to be honest. When was the last time any party kept even 40% of their major promises? So what good are platforms?
I am a believer in "A time and place for everything". During some times I might favour standard left wing ideology, a few years later given circumstances Right wing ideology.

We all, gripe about abuses and scandals no matter who is in power. Rightfully so. But oddly, the L side rarely makes a lot of noise when its their side in power, and the R side is no different.
Just look at the damage done to Ontario from 2003 to 2016........../crickets

So why do they all stuff? Because we let them. Want better choices? Than it's on "us".
I would much rather churn through parties every four years. And for the most part think most parties whether R or L will do some good, some bad. My choice on election day is normally about stuff, that isn't about platforms or ideology. Aka abuses, scandals, vote buying, etc, etc.

Instead, today. We see this and that, abuses, scandals, vote buying and more. The electorate is very polarized. And the policitian's know that. We also see pendulum swings to such an extant that too often parties get utterly destroyed. Ford could go completely off the rails....so what...look at the Liberals their party is in utter disarray....Shame the GTA didn't decide to turf them much sooner......People also can't understand why the likes of Trump are popular, nor the rise in populism. Look down south. The US is going to blow, the polarization is so bad. We aren't that far behind them. Is that the policitician's fault or the electorate?

Very level headed thoughts all around. We have no one to blame but ourselves mostly. Where are the consequences for poor governing?? They do not exist! In any other job (except maybe meteorology) if you make errors and cost a company money you get sacked. Today’s politicians get a slap on the wrist, maybe have their names dragged through mud a little, then they are on some board of directors or elsewhere. We need to have consequences, REAL consequences or nothing will change.

Essentially my young children will push me just to see how far they can get. Eventually they learn where I’ve drawn the line by the consequences of their actions. For far too long our politicians have suffered no consequences for their poor choices. There is no line, so they will forever continue to push, and we will continue to complain.

We need unity on many things, but first we need to unite and draw the line somewhere so that the future has a chance. I’m not saying it’s easy to do, but if not now, or soon then when? How much more are we willing to let things get out of hand (I know it’s subjective) until something changes?