ed_rex: (Default)
ed_rex ([personal profile] ed_rex) wrote2006-01-23 05:39 pm

Bourgeois Radical?

No doubt to the disappointment of some of you, I will be casting a ballot this evening, neither declining it, nor even simply refusing to show up at the poll.

Though I am not excited by what I expect to be the outcome - a Tory government whose degree of neoconservative, self-loathing, Republican America worship remains to be seen - I still hope for a minority government, one which may be kept somewhat in check by a stronger NDP prescence.

That said, I would not expect revolutionary change even if it were an NDP government - what was once a (relatively) radical democratic socialist movement has become a left-liberal party, spending too much of its time defending such self-evident Good Things as universal medical care and fundamental human rights, without a corresponding vision of what might this an even better country in which to live. Any thoughts of challenging the economic status quo - as opposed to reigning in its worst excesses - are put aside for another era. I'll vote for the NDP because I believe they are an effective opposition party - and will be especially so if they hold the balance of power in a minority situation - not because I believe they have a vision for the future.

As befits the end of a campaign of much vented heat but little directed light, I too have placed my bet on the outcome of tonight's race.

For the record:

Conservatives:---> 132
Liberals:--------> 85
Bloc:------------> 47
NDP:-------------> 42
Green:-----------> 1
Independent:-----> 1

You can all have a good laugh at my expense in a few hours.
beable: (Default)

[personal profile] beable 2006-01-24 01:25 am (UTC)(link)

While I would love to see a Green seat (so that goddamn networks would fucking take them seriously enough to let into the debates), I don't particularly think it is likely. Even if the Ottawa citizen endorsed the green candidate for our riding (one of the more even ones for the 4 non-bloc parties). And even if they have some BC hopes.

I'd also love to see such a strong NDP. I'm not sure that that is particularly likely either.

But I could just be a pessimist.

It's Not Easy Being Green

[identity profile] ed-rex.livejournal.com 2006-01-24 02:33 am (UTC)(link)
I haven't investigated the Greens closely, but what I have read - strange internal goings-on, and a hint of libertarianism (but take this with a grain of salt) - doesn't make me a likely fan

That said, if a party qualifies for federal funding, it should have a seat at the media table.