"Political literacy takes effort". Absolutely! While most political discussions have a certain bias, it does make a difference when citizens are literate in civics and political party platforms - and that does take effort also as political policy can and does shift. Thanks for writing this explainer.
As a dolt, from the perspective of a female grandma, I am asking everyone: why oh why is this not taught in school?!!! Maybe there would be more intelligent voting for a change!!!!
Following the budgets is the only real way to measure these parties. I was reading through old Hansard records and fiscal data recently. The numbers totally flip the script on political stereotypes. The largest reduction in the size of the Canadian government did not happen under a Conservative. It actually happened in the 1990s under the Liberals. Jean Chrétien and Paul Martin slashed the state's relative size by over 30 percent. Estimates (the government's detailed spending plans) rarely make the front page. The real ideological shifts always hide quietly in the math.
This was in part to manage a looming debt crisis. Brian Mulroney had created the largest debt that Canada had by the early 90s.
Which is important because it showed that the government could fix a real problem.
Unlike the guys down south at one point our government was able to deal effectively with debt and deliver on deficit reduction.
Which is why I am less worried about the debt and no matter what we have to upgrade and fund our military. The Arctic is melting whether we like it or not so we should at least be prepared.
Yes and this is why it is key to closely examine the policies and actions of each party to develop an informed position. That said people are unsubcribing because of this article
Unfortunate some unsubscribe. I find your perspective very interesting, even when I may not agree 100%. Some people seem to have lost that ability to agree to disagree but still see the value in another's perspective.
Ain't that the truth, these days! And I don't really know why that is. Kind of a mystery. People used to like being around each other and respected other opinions, even if they didn't agree. Now? Fawgeddaboutid! It's MY way or the highway. Very sad. It makes it hard to feel like you're part of a community anymore. Or a neighbourhood. Digital "communities", while nice, are not the same as being with real people.
With all due respect, we all need responsible AND various opinions to have healthy debates that help lines of thought go forward!!! Dr. Thomas Sowell would have something to say on this!! Don't unsubsidized, debate!! I love debates. By not hearing/ talking about opinion differences we all loose!!!
Thanks and I try to keep it as objective as possible so others can form their own opinions on the matter. I am partial to the NDP, which is a bit obvious by the fact that I colour the restack quotes in Orange. That said, the NDP is in a weird period of change right now after imploding under Mulcair and Singh.
Thanks for a well rounded discussion of modern political diversity in the Canadian political sphere.
I do wish that you emphasize one point more - that only one party couches much of its social policy in xenophobic rejection of "the other" (which can expand or contact to match their need of the moment to rage bait), and that is the modern creation of the CPC - Stephen Harper's CPC who lost an election with a policy of an immigrant snitch line, not the Progressive Conservative Party of Robert Stanfield, Joe Clark, or even John Diefenbaker, who all championed equal and human rights.
I was a Progressive Conservative until the merge. What is there now, the CPC, has no similarities with the old PC party. I left for the NDP after the merge and have finally settled in with the Liberal party under Mark Carney. I will never vote CPC, their vision for Canada is not aligned even a little bit with my own. I suspect this is true for many people in eastern Canada. I also believe the CPC is done as a party and the longer PP is leader, the closer to the end they get!
Currently it is the ‘immigrants’ in Alberta that are causing the problems. Smith, Fildebrant, Downing, Hill, all immigrants. Send them back.
Yes wannabe Americans
"Political literacy takes effort". Absolutely! While most political discussions have a certain bias, it does make a difference when citizens are literate in civics and political party platforms - and that does take effort also as political policy can and does shift. Thanks for writing this explainer.
Those who don't just unsubscribe
As a dolt, from the perspective of a female grandma, I am asking everyone: why oh why is this not taught in school?!!! Maybe there would be more intelligent voting for a change!!!!
It is still taught in MB schools - so my MB friends tell me.
That is good to know
Ontario stopped teaching it and most people think we operate like the USA
"The most basic question is not what is best, but who shall decide what is best"
Thomas Sowell
People are unsubscribing from this primer on the 2 major Canadian parties
Or is it the truth they are unsuscribing from?
I had the impression most people here are progressive-leaning. I did get people leaving when I wrote a piece about antisemitism in Canada.
Following the budgets is the only real way to measure these parties. I was reading through old Hansard records and fiscal data recently. The numbers totally flip the script on political stereotypes. The largest reduction in the size of the Canadian government did not happen under a Conservative. It actually happened in the 1990s under the Liberals. Jean Chrétien and Paul Martin slashed the state's relative size by over 30 percent. Estimates (the government's detailed spending plans) rarely make the front page. The real ideological shifts always hide quietly in the math.
This was in part to manage a looming debt crisis. Brian Mulroney had created the largest debt that Canada had by the early 90s.
Which is important because it showed that the government could fix a real problem.
Unlike the guys down south at one point our government was able to deal effectively with debt and deliver on deficit reduction.
Which is why I am less worried about the debt and no matter what we have to upgrade and fund our military. The Arctic is melting whether we like it or not so we should at least be prepared.
Yes and this is why it is key to closely examine the policies and actions of each party to develop an informed position. That said people are unsubcribing because of this article
Unfortunate some unsubscribe. I find your perspective very interesting, even when I may not agree 100%. Some people seem to have lost that ability to agree to disagree but still see the value in another's perspective.
Ain't that the truth, these days! And I don't really know why that is. Kind of a mystery. People used to like being around each other and respected other opinions, even if they didn't agree. Now? Fawgeddaboutid! It's MY way or the highway. Very sad. It makes it hard to feel like you're part of a community anymore. Or a neighbourhood. Digital "communities", while nice, are not the same as being with real people.
It's worse than real people
With all due respect, we all need responsible AND various opinions to have healthy debates that help lines of thought go forward!!! Dr. Thomas Sowell would have something to say on this!! Don't unsubsidized, debate!! I love debates. By not hearing/ talking about opinion differences we all loose!!!
Thank you as I keep losing subscribers over these kinds of posts!
Thanks and I try to keep it as objective as possible so others can form their own opinions on the matter. I am partial to the NDP, which is a bit obvious by the fact that I colour the restack quotes in Orange. That said, the NDP is in a weird period of change right now after imploding under Mulcair and Singh.
Thanks for a well rounded discussion of modern political diversity in the Canadian political sphere.
I do wish that you emphasize one point more - that only one party couches much of its social policy in xenophobic rejection of "the other" (which can expand or contact to match their need of the moment to rage bait), and that is the modern creation of the CPC - Stephen Harper's CPC who lost an election with a policy of an immigrant snitch line, not the Progressive Conservative Party of Robert Stanfield, Joe Clark, or even John Diefenbaker, who all championed equal and human rights.
I was a Progressive Conservative until the merge. What is there now, the CPC, has no similarities with the old PC party. I left for the NDP after the merge and have finally settled in with the Liberal party under Mark Carney. I will never vote CPC, their vision for Canada is not aligned even a little bit with my own. I suspect this is true for many people in eastern Canada. I also believe the CPC is done as a party and the longer PP is leader, the closer to the end they get!