Where do I fit in?

[MikePal]

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.

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.

[trimmer21]

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.

^^^^^ 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.

[JBen]

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?

[Birdbuff]

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?