Comments on: Time for a Coalition of the Opposition http://greenpolitics.ca/2008/10/time-for-a-coalition-of-the-opposition/ A grassroots view of green politics Thu, 21 Jan 2010 16:21:30 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Stuart Hertzog http://greenpolitics.ca/2008/10/time-for-a-coalition-of-the-opposition/comment-page-1/#comment-549 Stuart Hertzog Mon, 13 Oct 2008 07:44:30 +0000 http://greenpolitics.ca/?p=213#comment-549 Good solution of giving direct financial support to the Green party, Dave. I agree, though: the opposition party leaders are going to maintain the illusion until the bitter end that they can defeat Harper outright. The problem as I see it is that there’s only a small window of opportunity for them to get their act together after October 14th. That’s why I'm asking people to join with me on the facebook group <a href="http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=40224214324" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">majoritycoalitionforcanada</a> to pressure them to start talking turkey immediately after this weekend (ouch!). Good solution of giving direct financial support to the Green party, Dave. I agree, though: the opposition party leaders are going to maintain the illusion until the bitter end that they can defeat Harper outright. The problem as I see it is that there’s only a small window of opportunity for them to get their act together after October 14th. That’s why I’m asking people to join with me on the facebook group majoritycoalitionforcanada to pressure them to start talking turkey immediately after this weekend (ouch!).

]]> By: Stuart Hertzog http://greenpolitics.ca/2008/10/time-for-a-coalition-of-the-opposition/comment-page-1/#comment-548 Stuart Hertzog Mon, 13 Oct 2008 07:36:20 +0000 http://greenpolitics.ca/?p=213#comment-548 It sure seems that our democratic system is dysfunctional right now. But by holding back until they were ready, the Liberals gave Stephen Harper enough time to change the direction in which Canada is headed. He doesn’t need a majority to do a lot of damage to Canada’s social programs. “Non-strategic strategic voting” — I like that description! It sure seems that our democratic system is dysfunctional right now. But by holding back until they were ready, the Liberals gave Stephen Harper enough time to change the direction in which Canada is headed. He doesn’t need a majority to do a lot of damage to Canada’s social programs.

“Non-strategic strategic voting” — I like that description!

]]> By: Dave Prosser http://greenpolitics.ca/2008/10/time-for-a-coalition-of-the-opposition/comment-page-1/#comment-522 Dave Prosser Fri, 10 Oct 2008 20:43:10 +0000 http://greenpolitics.ca/?p=213#comment-522 Do Not Fear - The Coalition is coming soon enough. No politician with any kind of brain is going to indicate interest prior to V-Day as it amounts to surrender. If we want to get the job done let's concentrate on getting rid of Harper first. Other posters have mentioned www.voteforenvironment.ca, but i have found their projections lag new developments. (Probably due to limited $ resources) I suggest people still visit their site, but an excellent source of riding dynamic is www.electionpredictionproject.org they called both 2004 & 6 almost dead on! We should be letting everybody we know about these sites. And i am VERY sorry, but it HAS to be said - In 95% of ridings a vote for the Greens IS a vote for Harper. Solution? Vote Lib or NDP based on polls per riding and GIVE $$ to the Green Party! Do Not Fear – The Coalition is coming soon enough. No politician with any kind of brain is going to indicate interest prior to V-Day as it amounts to surrender. If we want to get the job done let’s concentrate on getting rid of Harper first. Other posters have mentioned http://www.voteforenvironment.ca, but i have found their projections lag new developments. (Probably due to limited $ resources) I suggest people still visit their site, but an excellent source of riding dynamic is http://www.electionpredictionproject.org they called both 2004 & 6 almost dead on! We should be letting everybody we know about these sites. And i am VERY sorry, but it HAS to be said – In 95% of ridings a vote for the Greens IS a vote for Harper. Solution? Vote Lib or NDP based on polls per riding and GIVE $$ to the Green Party!

]]> By: Jean Sansum http://greenpolitics.ca/2008/10/time-for-a-coalition-of-the-opposition/comment-page-1/#comment-513 Jean Sansum Wed, 08 Oct 2008 04:00:17 +0000 http://greenpolitics.ca/?p=213#comment-513 Stuart, I wish I had some brilliant suggestions for inspiring/forcing the opposition parties to form a coalition. All I can think of is to appeal to the leaders to forget their personal ambitions for the sake of the country they have promised to serve, to cooperate instead of forever squabbling among themselves. That is not what they are elected to do - that is not what they are promising. We can appeal to their patriotism (that's a winner!), their idealism, their promises to tackle the coming monumental problems to the best of their ability, and their hopes of going into the history books as great Canadians. Unfortunately, we will be voices crying in the wilderness if we can't come together to demand that they cooperate instead of tearing each other apart. Does anyone have any ideas for this? I have a weekly newsletter in which I can urge this action, but it is small and not confined to Canada - I usually avoid politics and religion. If such a coalition ever becomes a possibility, I will forgo my usual practices and ask my Canadian readers to become involved. Any ideas? Anyone? Stuart, I wish I had some brilliant suggestions for inspiring/forcing the opposition parties to form a coalition. All I can think of is to appeal to the leaders to forget their personal ambitions for the sake of the country they have promised to serve, to cooperate instead of forever squabbling among themselves. That is not what they are elected to do – that is not what they are promising. We can appeal to their patriotism (that’s a winner!), their idealism, their promises to tackle the coming monumental problems to the best of their ability, and their hopes of going into the history books as great Canadians.

Unfortunately, we will be voices crying in the wilderness if we can’t come together to demand that they cooperate instead of tearing each other apart. Does anyone have any ideas for this? I have a weekly newsletter in which I can urge this action, but it is small and not confined to Canada – I usually avoid politics and religion. If such a coalition ever becomes a possibility, I will forgo my usual practices and ask my Canadian readers to become involved.

Any ideas? Anyone?

]]> By: Brenton http://greenpolitics.ca/2008/10/time-for-a-coalition-of-the-opposition/comment-page-1/#comment-509 Brenton Tue, 07 Oct 2008 17:25:48 +0000 http://greenpolitics.ca/?p=213#comment-509 "The threat of sending Canadians back to the polls kept Liberal leader Stephan Dion supporting him, as Jack Layton pointed out in the debate, 43 times during his term as prime minister." This bit needs context. The Liberals didn't support the Conservatives, they just didn't want an election called because their organization in Quebec was in shambles and they faced huge losses if an election was called. I think they should have taken the high road anyway, as their position certainly didn't improve over those 43 votes and they are doing poorly in Quebec. If a coalition were to form, it would be ad hoc and informal. Too many Liberals see themselves as the only really legitimate counter to the Conservatives and the NDP as a marginal force. Too many NDPers have serious issues with the Liberal government of Chretien and Martin. I think it will have to come down the the individual voter, and I'm not too optimistic. I've talked to more than a few voters that are voting strategically but not for the party most likely to defeat the Conservatives in their riding. Non-strategic strategic voting, I call it. “The threat of sending Canadians back to the polls kept Liberal leader Stephan Dion supporting him, as Jack Layton pointed out in the debate, 43 times during his term as prime minister.”

This bit needs context. The Liberals didn’t support the Conservatives, they just didn’t want an election called because their organization in Quebec was in shambles and they faced huge losses if an election was called. I think they should have taken the high road anyway, as their position certainly didn’t improve over those 43 votes and they are doing poorly in Quebec.

If a coalition were to form, it would be ad hoc and informal. Too many Liberals see themselves as the only really legitimate counter to the Conservatives and the NDP as a marginal force. Too many NDPers have serious issues with the Liberal government of Chretien and Martin.

I think it will have to come down the the individual voter, and I’m not too optimistic. I’ve talked to more than a few voters that are voting strategically but not for the party most likely to defeat the Conservatives in their riding. Non-strategic strategic voting, I call it.

]]> By: Stuart Hertzog http://greenpolitics.ca/2008/10/time-for-a-coalition-of-the-opposition/comment-page-1/#comment-507 Stuart Hertzog Tue, 07 Oct 2008 16:53:24 +0000 http://greenpolitics.ca/?p=213#comment-507 Good work, Jean. Anyone is free to post a link to any posting or comment on this site -- the Internet is open democracy. In terms of getting a coalition government, I think we're going to have to mount a campaign to pressure the politicians and the Governor-General to have this happen. Any suggestions as to how to proceed? Good work, Jean. Anyone is free to post a link to any posting or comment on this site — the Internet is open democracy. In terms of getting a coalition government, I think we’re going to have to mount a campaign to pressure the politicians and the Governor-General to have this happen. Any suggestions as to how to proceed?

]]> By: Stuart Hertzog http://greenpolitics.ca/2008/10/time-for-a-coalition-of-the-opposition/comment-page-1/#comment-506 Stuart Hertzog Tue, 07 Oct 2008 16:45:37 +0000 http://greenpolitics.ca/?p=213#comment-506 Excellent site, Neil -- thanks for setting it up. I recommend everyone to visit it and check out your riding. Also go to democraticSPACE: http://www.democraticspace.com/canada2008/ Excellent site, Neil — thanks for setting it up. I recommend everyone to visit it and check out your riding. Also go to democraticSPACE:

http://www.democraticspace.com/canada2008/

]]> By: Stuart Hertzog http://greenpolitics.ca/2008/10/time-for-a-coalition-of-the-opposition/comment-page-1/#comment-504 Stuart Hertzog Tue, 07 Oct 2008 16:18:04 +0000 http://greenpolitics.ca/?p=213#comment-504 Excellent site, Neil -- thanks for setting it up! I recommend everyone to visit it and check out the situation in your riding. Also visit democraticSPACE: http://www.democraticspace.com/canada2008/ Excellent site, Neil — thanks for setting it up! I recommend everyone to visit it and check out the situation in your riding. Also visit democraticSPACE:

http://www.democraticspace.com/canada2008/

]]> By: Jean Sansum http://greenpolitics.ca/2008/10/time-for-a-coalition-of-the-opposition/comment-page-1/#comment-499 Jean Sansum Tue, 07 Oct 2008 06:32:54 +0000 http://greenpolitics.ca/?p=213#comment-499 In despair about the possibility of a majority Conservative government, I have started a political blog http://jeansansum.shawwebspace.ca/blog/. It is probably too little, too late, but it lets me feel I am doing something to avert the disaster of four years with Harper at the helm. I too would like to post your URL on my blog. I agree with you that our only hope is that the opposition parties unite to form a government. Vote ABC - anyone but Conservative! In despair about the possibility of a majority Conservative government, I have started a political blog http://jeansansum.shawwebspace.ca/blog/. It is probably too little, too late, but it lets me feel I am doing something to avert the disaster of four years with Harper at the helm. I too would like to post your URL on my blog. I agree with you that our only hope is that the opposition parties unite to form a government. Vote ABC – anyone but Conservative!

]]> By: Neil C http://greenpolitics.ca/2008/10/time-for-a-coalition-of-the-opposition/comment-page-1/#comment-496 Neil C Tue, 07 Oct 2008 02:42:08 +0000 http://greenpolitics.ca/?p=213#comment-496 I'd like to point out that there is a way that we, as voters, can effect this sort of change without needing our politicians to form an official coalition - which is, at this point, highly unlikely. It is simple: Vote for the non-conservative candidate most likely to win, even if their party is not normally the one you support. It's called strategic voting, and it is our best hope of avoiding a conservative government on October 14th. This should particularly interest Green supporters: If you are not in one of the 2 or 3 ridings where the Green Party has a legitimate chance at being elected, your vote is FAR better placed with the NDP or Liberal candidate: whomever is most likely to win. Ms. May herself has stated that she would rather not win a single Green seat than see a Conservative majority. More info, including poll data and recommendations for your specific riding, can be found here: www.voteforenvironment.ca I’d like to point out that there is a way that we, as voters, can effect this sort of change without needing our politicians to form an official coalition – which is, at this point, highly unlikely.

It is simple: Vote for the non-conservative candidate most likely to win, even if their party is not normally the one you support. It’s called strategic voting, and it is our best hope of avoiding a conservative government on October 14th.

This should particularly interest Green supporters: If you are not in one of the 2 or 3 ridings where the Green Party has a legitimate chance at being elected, your vote is FAR better placed with the NDP or Liberal candidate: whomever is most likely to win. Ms. May herself has stated that she would rather not win a single Green seat than see a Conservative majority.

More info, including poll data and recommendations for your specific riding, can be found here:

http://www.voteforenvironment.ca

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