How much should I care about this political scandal?

[Barrister]

I am shocked that a Conservative politician is corrupt. 

No shock over Liberal corruption in Ottawa?

[crazy canuck]

I am shocked that a Conservative politician is corrupt. 

No shock over Liberal corruption in Ottawa?

Umm BB, your thread is about the scandal in Alberta.  In fact you specifically asked us whether you should care about the Alberta scandal.

And really, you have started with the "but what about" Trumpist response.

[Barrister]

I am shocked that a Conservative politician is corrupt. 

No shock over Liberal corruption in Ottawa?

Umm BB, your thread is about the scandal in Alberta.  In fact you specifically asked us whether you should care about the Alberta scandal.

And really, you have started with the "but what about" Trumpist response.

Sasks showed up for the first time in a long while - I wanted his take on LavScam.

[Maximus]

I think there's a difference between trying to convince a person not to vote (fair game!)

No, it's not.

[Admiral Yi]

No, it's not.

The connection between not voting and delegitimization of democracy is pretty ephemeral.

[Maximus]

The connection between not voting and delegitimization of democracy is pretty ephemeral.

That's an extraordinary claim.

[Admiral Yi]

That's an extraordinary claim.

No it's not.

[Razgovory]

What would a Democracy look like if nobody voted?

[Valmy]

What would a Democracy look like if nobody voted?

If one person voted it would look like a dictatorship.

[crazy canuck]

What would a Democracy look like if nobody voted?

If one person voted it would look like a dictatorship.

And if only one group in society voted - say affluent, older white voters - well we call that conservative strategy.

[viper37]

I think there's a difference between trying to convince a person not to vote (fair game!)

Back in my more activist days, I used to think that. But no longer, not with declining participation rates. The crisis of democracy requires us to empower the democratic process, and that means encouraging everyone to vote - and to participate more largely. In our moment of "victory, no matter the cost", we need to appreciate anew the value of the process itself, over the result. And convincing a person not to vote is always done in a somewhat disingenuous way.

the Parti (and Bloc) Québécois used to call me each election, reminding me how important it was too vote.  Until I told them I voted for the other guys.

There is the old belief that high voter turn out helps left of centre parties more than right wing ones, so it may make sense that  Conservative parties would see the benefits of voter suppression and be more willing to engage in it.

nah, I think it's too simplistic.

Urban centers tend to be mostly center of the left in America&US.  Countryside tends to be more conservative.  The Liberal Party (both of them) used to send a van, with their party logo well painted, get my grandparents to vote (it wasn't unique to them ).  They used to do this with lots of elderly people because they were traditionnaly "redder".

If older, more conservative people vote and young voters feel they have something better to do, you have low voter turnout with a conservative tint.

[viper37]

What would a Democracy look like if nobody voted?

If one person voted it would look like a dictatorship.

And if only one group in society voted - say affluent, older white voters - well we call that conservative strategy.

in here, we call this Liberal strategy.
Along with nationalizing lots of immigrants with Canada flags everywhere just before an election or a referendum and reminding them how the Liberal Party truly embraces the Canadian values they want to be part of.
Or courting the religious extremist vote.

Yeah, basically, each party has their own tactics.

[jimmy olsen]

Think about how you'd react if a political opponent did this and adjust your outrage appropriately.