As the day get's closer I have found myself thinking as to the various messages I have received via the media (television, print & radio) and how I have personally interpreted them...
Liberals:
Reactive and Non-Commital. Their message has primarily been aimed at trying to undermine the PC's or to sway NDPer's to vote their way. I have not really heard that much from their platform, besides child-care, and to be honest, the child care platform has been a liberal promise for the past 10-12 years. To say that the liberals have enjoyed a strong economy during their tenure is not true. During the early 90's things were not that great, but somehow, the liberal slant was to blame it on the previous tory government.
NDP:
Very Pro-Social: Jack has emphasized his pro-social values to the end. What concerns me about his party is that he was able to force Martin to adopt his extreme measures into a budget all for the sake of a power-grab (shame on Martin - Though I believe that if Martin was to have been elected to a majority, he would have told the NDP to "fuck-off" with thier demands). What scares me about Jack is that he has tunnel vision. When I lived in the Spadina region in the late 80's early 90's I cannot tell you the number of snail-mails I received from him begging for money for roller skating rinks. Even then I knew that it was a fad and would simply fall by the wayside...Yet there he was, wasting time on frivilous issues. Okay back to the point - I have no idea where the NDP stands except that it hopes to latch on to a minority government and have some sort of power/sway to push their issues through a governing body. What's worse, imagine if the NDP won? Jack would have to ask what he needs to do.
PC's:
Harper and his gang of strategist's have focused on the need for change. Though this focus has been based upon the poor track record of the liberals, any non-governing party would or should take the position to do so. Fortunately the conservatives have voiced their platform (at least more visibly) to the public than the other parties have which helps reinstate their message for change. My main concern is when he talks of the fiscal imbalance. Christ! We all know it exists. That is what has allowed the current Federal government to balance the books. If I was elected PM (wouldn't that be fun!) in order to address the fiscal imbalance I would immediately hold a joint meeting with the provincial governments and begin to work on an equitable solution. That way you get their issues and concerns on the table and address them in a fair and public forum. Let the media and public control the tone or concerns from the provincial officials.
Conclusion:
The most important part of an election is to vote. The way that I vote is that I determine which platform would benefit me the most from my personal income point of view, and we all differ pending our life cycle.
But I cannot stress the importance that you should at least vote.
Liberals:
Reactive and Non-Commital. Their message has primarily been aimed at trying to undermine the PC's or to sway NDPer's to vote their way. I have not really heard that much from their platform, besides child-care, and to be honest, the child care platform has been a liberal promise for the past 10-12 years. To say that the liberals have enjoyed a strong economy during their tenure is not true. During the early 90's things were not that great, but somehow, the liberal slant was to blame it on the previous tory government.
NDP:
Very Pro-Social: Jack has emphasized his pro-social values to the end. What concerns me about his party is that he was able to force Martin to adopt his extreme measures into a budget all for the sake of a power-grab (shame on Martin - Though I believe that if Martin was to have been elected to a majority, he would have told the NDP to "fuck-off" with thier demands). What scares me about Jack is that he has tunnel vision. When I lived in the Spadina region in the late 80's early 90's I cannot tell you the number of snail-mails I received from him begging for money for roller skating rinks. Even then I knew that it was a fad and would simply fall by the wayside...Yet there he was, wasting time on frivilous issues. Okay back to the point - I have no idea where the NDP stands except that it hopes to latch on to a minority government and have some sort of power/sway to push their issues through a governing body. What's worse, imagine if the NDP won? Jack would have to ask what he needs to do.
PC's:
Harper and his gang of strategist's have focused on the need for change. Though this focus has been based upon the poor track record of the liberals, any non-governing party would or should take the position to do so. Fortunately the conservatives have voiced their platform (at least more visibly) to the public than the other parties have which helps reinstate their message for change. My main concern is when he talks of the fiscal imbalance. Christ! We all know it exists. That is what has allowed the current Federal government to balance the books. If I was elected PM (wouldn't that be fun!) in order to address the fiscal imbalance I would immediately hold a joint meeting with the provincial governments and begin to work on an equitable solution. That way you get their issues and concerns on the table and address them in a fair and public forum. Let the media and public control the tone or concerns from the provincial officials.
Conclusion:
The most important part of an election is to vote. The way that I vote is that I determine which platform would benefit me the most from my personal income point of view, and we all differ pending our life cycle.
But I cannot stress the importance that you should at least vote.
