[Canada] Canadian Politics Redux

[viper37]

http://www.arcticstarcreativity.com/blog/2015/7/6/on-resigning-from-the-toronto-star

Strange.  I tend to side with this guy's version of events.

[Tonitrus]

More evidence that taxation policy by referendum is a dumb idea.  The vote to increase sales tax in Greater Vancouver to fund transit projects failed to pass.  The infrastructure still needs to be built but now it will be significantly delayed while Municipal and Provincial politicians try to figure out other ways to pay for it.   

A referendum to fund transit projects?  How grotesquely American. 

[Syt]

Direct democracy relies on the voters being politically informed and deciding things rationally, not from their gut feeling. Since that's rarely the case we have representative democracies.

That requires politicians that are well informed and who can decide things rationally instead of from their gut feeling.

So we're fucked either way.

[Tonitrus]

Even worse, based on the voting results CC cited, in Amerika, there is almost no chance politicians would have the balls to force out a tax rise that just got shut down 60/40 in a referendum.

[Monoriu]

Direct democracy relies on the voters being politically informed and deciding things rationally, not from their gut feeling. Since that's rarely the case we have representative democracies.

That requires politicians that are well informed and who can decide things rationally instead of from their gut feeling.

So we're fucked either way.

I consider myself rational, but if I were to vote on that referendum, I would not no.  The increased sales tax that I have to pay is certain and immediate.  The improved transit system may not benefit me directly, the project may take many years to materialise, there maybe cost over-runs that require a further increase in taxes down the road etc.  The cost/benefit is unfavourable from a purely personal and selfish standpoint. 

I must be clear that I will not vote on the referendum though.  The above is a purely hypothetical scenario.     

[Syt]

Direct democracy relies on the voters being politically informed and deciding things rationally, not from their gut feeling. Since that's rarely the case we have representative democracies.

That requires politicians that are well informed and who can decide things rationally instead of from their gut feeling.

So we're fucked either way.

I consider myself rational, but if I were to vote on that referendum, I would not no.  The increased sales tax that I have to pay is certain and immediate.  The improved transit system may not benefit me directly, the project may take many years to materialise, there maybe cost over-runs that require a further increase in taxes down the road etc.  The cost/benefit is unfavourable from a purely personal and selfish standpoint.   

QED

[crazy canuck]

More evidence that taxation policy by referendum is a dumb idea.  The vote to increase sales tax in Greater Vancouver to fund transit projects failed to pass.  The infrastructure still needs to be built but now it will be significantly delayed while Municipal and Provincial politicians try to figure out other ways to pay for it.   

A referendum to fund transit projects?  How grotesquely American. 

Yep.  The huge irony is that polls also show that there is overwhelming support for increasing the transit infrastructure.  There was certainly a better way of doing this.

[crazy canuck]

http://www.arcticstarcreativity.com/blog/2015/7/6/on-resigning-from-the-toronto-star

Strange.  I tend to side with this guy's version of events.

lol, the Toronto Star is in league with the PMOs office? 

[crazy canuck]

The Globe has started an new election prediction site that it will update each week.  Currently they project the NDP have a 52% chance of a majority; the Conservatives have a 47% chance; and the Liberals have a 2% chance.


http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/globe-election-forecast-2015/article25377958/

[Valmy]

Liberals have a 2% chance.

In the words of a great Canadian

[crazy canuck]

 

[Grey Fox]

He's not great. He's a traitor.

[viper37]

The Globe has started an new election prediction site that it will update each week.  Currently they project the NDP have a 52% chance of a majority; the Conservatives have a 47% chance; and the Liberals have a 2% chance.


http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/globe-election-forecast-2015/article25377958/

Stay the course Harper, stay the course.  Everything is allllright.

[Josephus]

Damn news media 

I wish they wouldn't go on about the NDP. It's not gonna work out well if they continue. People will start going "Oh my God...an NDP majority...we'll be just like Russia.....gotta vote for the Liberals instead"

[crazy canuck]

Is there a reason we should think voting for the NDP is bad.  Is there something you aren't telling us?