tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2018539519561702876.post6022310037163183877..comments2023-09-28T05:31:05.540-06:00Comments on Pondering the Myriad Things: This is Democracy?Theresahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03908227916944431265noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2018539519561702876.post-6463870266119931082008-03-02T16:21:00.000-07:002008-03-02T16:21:00.000-07:00Chances are the Conservatives will retain power, b...Chances are the Conservatives will retain power, but we're hoping for a stronger opposition at least. There are two ridings where the Green Party has a shot, so we're really pulling for a breakthrough there!Theresahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03908227916944431265noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2018539519561702876.post-63764882951646327152008-03-02T16:17:00.000-07:002008-03-02T16:17:00.000-07:00Will be watching the election results with interes...Will be watching the election results with interest tomorrow,<BR/>HazelnutJanehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02803104035204416080noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2018539519561702876.post-23261073667337423982008-03-01T18:17:00.000-07:002008-03-01T18:17:00.000-07:00i had every intention of leaving a comment and the...i had every intention of leaving a comment and then google seemed to be having technical difficulties....feels i've been away from the blog world for quite a while now....however i think you have quite the valid point in this posting and that it's disappointing that this is the reality of the world...Simply Authentichttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10149087342124493037noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2018539519561702876.post-56063764915799341002008-02-29T21:55:00.000-07:002008-02-29T21:55:00.000-07:00Yes, greed is definitely part of the equation. I ...Yes, greed is definitely part of the equation. I was thinking along the lines of fear of not getting the grants or subsidies. Bad either way. <BR/><BR/>Our last premier did pretty much bribe citizens, giving out a $400 cheque to every single person in the province - these were called "Ralph Bucks" after the then-premier, Ralph Klein. Not sure if news of him made it out your way, but he was our kind-hearted premier who went to a homeless shelter one time while he was drunk, and threw change at the homeless people, telling them to get a job. A fine public servant, he was.Theresahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03908227916944431265noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2018539519561702876.post-50664877556912079872008-02-29T20:49:00.000-07:002008-02-29T20:49:00.000-07:00Actually, you mentioned two things that affected t...Actually, you mentioned two things that affected their vote - getting grants and subsidies, and fear of people's response to their vote.<BR/><BR/>So there was greed, and bullying.<BR/><BR/>I think we should emphasise that bribes are just as destructive of democracy as actual intimidation. Whether the guy at the booth has a gun or a fistful of cash for you, both are bad for democracy.<BR/><BR/>The only difference is that voters will actually ask for the cash. <BR/><BR/>For some reason, if the candidate offers me $500 directly, that's bribery and they can be jailed; if they offer me $500 of tax cuts, that's alright. Funny stuff. <BR/><BR/>People are always going to vote in terms of their self-interest, that's fair enough. What's needed is to consider our long-term interest as well as short term. Is it better for us to get $500 now, or for the government to pay off public debt with that money, or invest in renewable energy, or what?Hanley Tuckshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13047638048463160737noreply@blogger.com