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BC Elections and the Carbon Tax: Why going back is not advisable
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by kempedmonds | April 23, 2009 at 11:23 pm
154 views | 14 Recommendations | 2 comments
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Today's first leaders debate in the British Columbia provincial elections featured sitting Premier Gordon Campbell of the BC Liberals, leader of the opposition Carole James of the NDP and BC Green Party leader Jane Sterk.
The true nature of British Columbia (pun intended) emerged when Jane Sterk called out Carole James and the NDP on their election promise to repeal the carbon tax. The move is opposed by environmentalists, conservationists, Greens and BC Liberals, well by almost everyone.
I am sorry to say it is difficult to be a British Columbian who is happy with our political choices:
A Tory Liberal with a DUI conviction in Hawaii while he was Premier who was then re-elected by this electorate then oversaw a boom to bust scenario while watching. An individual who with the support of his party sought to silence his party's most ardent public opponents during this campaign with an unconstitutional 'gag' law.
A not so nice opposition leader who flip-flopped on the largest infrastructure project in the region and wants to repeal a tax we are already used to. A tax that ultimately, with better leadership, is capable of a lot of good. A leader who seems out of touch with everyone except traditional party strongholds which grow smaller everyday.
A Green Party that still can't get the motor running with no broad platform due to political myopia. Although they could reach to the center and control the balance of power by engaging and activating a shrinking but devoted youth contingent.
...and let us not forget the last kid invited to the party or in the case of the debates not invited at all. The BC Conservative Party is back from the dead after a nearly 40 year hiatus throwing a wrench into the BC Liberals previously lone position.
Only in BC politics.
The carbon tax is now something citizens, as mostly animal, have come to accept and no longer take notice of. This money should now be used for its intended purpose, to take on major projects to create carbon free transportation, energy projects and buildings.
Good Luck Voters! Be sure to educate yourself on BC-STV, a good reason to vote and above all...
Make sure you vote so when you complain about the government to your friends, family, co-worker or partner they can't say, "Well since you didn't vote you have no right to complain."
If you don't know who to vote for be sure research the candidates running in your riding and match your personal politics to the candidate who agrees with you. Remember we vote for MLAs and MPs not the leaders, something British Columbians and Canadians tend to forget when they head to the ballots.
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at 03:41 on May 2nd, 2009
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Mr. Edmonds,
I must respectively disagree with several of your conclusions, as I struggle to understand why you have ventured outside of your typical twitter realm of technology and business marketing. Although, I always suspected a certain level of political motivation behind your rhetoric, I enjoy the devils one player tennis match whereby he 'stirs the pot' and advocates contradictory remarks, which I find inflammatory.
I begin with the following editorial comment: "he was a premier (Gordon Campbell) who was then re-elected by this electorate then oversaw a boom to bust scenario while watching."
'Boom to bust,' so does that mean Campbell is responsible for the current economic situation, or is saying that Carole James could do a better job? Currently the most important issue facing British Columbians is will we have a job tomorrow, and who is going to be the best party to maintain and create jobs? That, I will leave up to you decided, but, I will say that the polls might be right this time.
On another note, the editor argues that the Green Party "can't get the motor running with no broad platform due to political myopia." I argue, with the greens receiving 13% of the popular vote in 2005, and with the anticipated referendum vote on STV (brain child of Gordon Campbell), the greens may actually garner upwards of 11 seats in the 2014 election. Should we be thanking Gordo, or someone else? The Greens consistently draw over 10% of the popular vote, yet have not received one seat to date.
With the conservatives, who cares what there doing, they mean less then the Marijuana Party, not deserving of acknowledgement.
The most striking of scandalous commentary struck me near the end, where the editor states: "Be sure to research the candidate who agrees with you. Remember we vote for MLA's and Mp's, not the leaders." Have we not been living in a Campbell and Harper government for several years now? Do we not realize and appreciate the extent to which political parties operate and adhere to party lines? Please, lets not naively believe that we actually vote for an individual. My vote and your vote support individual candidates, but ultimately were all voting towards a brand and an individual leader who has ultimate control.
Tim Nugent
at 10:29 on May 2nd, 2009
It's always interesting when readers take what they want from an opinion piece. My comments were simply put there to illicit a response from the audience, you.
What I said is up to your personal interpretation and thank you for applying your view with such editorial vigor.
I am glad you have taken the time to add your personal input and interpret as you see fit.
This sir is the purpose of writing something like this. I am glad you point out that in five years the Greens could potentially get 11 seats, imagine what a 'meaningless' party like the BC Conservatives could do with STV, 15 seats? Think about how British Columbians voted nationally. Get your head out of the sand sir.
It's not naive to understand how the electoral system really works and what power an individual really has politics without activism or involvement and that's a single vote.
Understand that an individual's pitiful ability to effect anything on a macro level in politics without activism is as strong as ever. I encourage those wishing to 'empower' themselves politically to get involved and make a difference for what you believe in.
Whatever it may be, thanks for posting friend.