Kitchener Centre Record Debate

[pnijjar]

I attended the Kitchener Centre debate last night. I don't live in that riding anymore, but I was (and am) pretty much stressed to the breaking point, and I needed something to relax and entertain me. In addition, I infiltrated the literature table and snuck in some referendum literature.

The contenders were: J.D. McGuire (independent), Rick

Comments

[melted_snowball]

Forgive me, but isn't it the case that even if the referendum wins, only two candidates would have any chance of winning this riding? And is it not the case that those two candidates were chosen by the parties that most people actually do vote for?

I'm not an advocate of FPTP, but I do think that local communities deserve some local representation, and in those contexts, I'm less uncomfortable with FPTP than some. (I do plan to vote for this referendum, I should note.)

[Oh, and I do vote, at least somewhat, for person, not party; I will probably vote for Telegdi in the next fereral election, not The NDP Person Who Will Certainly Lose, despite not really preferring the Liberals.]

[Oh, and while I'm at it, I sometimes find myself agreeing with fundamentalist Christians. And they hate me even more than they hate you.]

[pnijjar]

It is the case that only two candidates would have any chance of winning the riding. But the other candidates would likely qualify as list members, so it would be worth knowing who they are and what they stood for. But overall I take your point: debates will largely continue to be travesties of democracy under MMP as well (at least unless we get a list-free system or open lists

[melted_snowball]

Yeah, I even briefly contemplated a vote for Witmer, but just couldn't stomach it; while she may not be evil, her party was so bad for higher education that I couldn't conceive of voting for it

[pnijjar]

I think there are a number of possibilities for post-MMP debates

[mynatt]

I needed something to relax and entertain me.

I can't say either of those have ever been motivations for me to attend all candidate's meetings.

I am pretty sure that finding any common ground with the Family Coalition is grounds for ostracization and maybe even public flogging, so I am glad nobody reads this far into my blog posts.

That's what you think :) But seriously, it's just as dumb to dislike all ideas for coming from a given party or individual, as it is to like them for the same reason. And it's not like you're considering voting for them.

And yeah, I really don't get why the NDP or Greens wouldn't spend half the debate telling people to vote for MMP in the referendum. WTF?

[pnijjar]

And it's not like you're considering voting for them.

It wouldn't be the first time somebody in your social circle voted Family Coalition. Ask K. Smith about his voting history sometime.

[mynatt]

Well, I'm sure he knows better now. My sister cast her first ever federal vote for the Reform Party (due to religious indoctrination she's since overcome) but I try not to hold it against her.