Saturday, November 29, 2008

Political Math

I was doing some research on the last federal election and found an interesting stat.

It seems the New Liberal Bloc Coalition won zero seats and zero percent of the popular vote in the last election.

But I guess in politics, zero seats plus zero votes equals a viable, legitimate government.

Who knew?

14 comments:

Unknown said...

Zero is the word of the hour. Zero democratic right to create this coalition, Zero chance of working, Zero chance of helping this country in any way, Zero respect for the voters, Zero sanity.
1 liberal + 1NDP+ 1 separatist =0 PM!

Anonymous said...

Gerry, either you are being dishonest or you don't grasp the concept of democracy. First, coalitions are part of the Westminster system. Second, do you really suggest that democracy is no longer about managing to get 50 percent plus 1 MP on board to support an agenda? Isn't that what democracy is all about? Apparently not if it threaten the conservative entitlement to power.

Anonymous said...

I question the whole Westminster system of government and its undemocratic nature of not directly electing a leader. If Canada was a republic with a separate executive that required a run-off vote to ensure that whoever won had a majority, this could never happen. There'd be brokering in the legislative branch if nobody had a clear majority, but the executive would be stable always allowing for a minimum number of years of stability.

It's time to debate finally making Canada a republic.

Anonymous said...

You win some, you lose some. Harper lost this one. Time to move on.

It's kind of interesting how things will go from here, though. So many questions, and anyone who says they know the answer is deluding themselves.

1) Harper is ousted... will the CPC back him? They would be retarded not to, but politics is unpredictable.

2) The Corrupt Socialist Union takes over. Will there be a huge backlash among Canadians who feel that this is a coup d'etat? Or just among CPC members?

2) Harper stays. Is he able to function in the next 6 months, or are we going to end up with an election. And when we have an election, will he have any chance of getting a majority in the future, because I think at this point it is clear to everyone that if Harper had a majority last time, he would have been pretty ruthless.

This, I think is the biggest issue. Even if Harper survives, probably the most predictable outcome of all this is that giving him a majority will become nearly impossible given this fiasco.

So sad. Pride indeed... There were so many more important things to do - the HRC reform, Immigration reform, Criminal justice reform... all dead now.

Anonymous said...

I prefer an election to the pinko/separatist coalition for this reason. To stay in power the Lieberals & Dippers would have to pander to Quebec to a much greater extent than at the current unacceptable levels. In the long run an election would be cheaper, epectially if the voters decide to punish the Lieberals & Dippers for forcing the election.

Anonymous said...

True. And Harper didn't win a majority. He has a mandate to form a minority government, which he is throwing away. Harper has apparently decided it's a de-facto majority government or nothing. The 63% of Canadians who didn't vote for him are choosing the latter.

Anonymous said...

In our democratic system, the people elect representatives from a number of parties and which ever party--or coalition of parties--gains the support of a majority of the House of Commons forms the government.

That's democracy.

Anonymous said...

Canada was founded on a coalition government.

It was comprised of the Cartier Liberals from Quebec and the MacDonald Conservatives from Upper Canada.

Cartier and MacDonald were co-premiers of the time leading to confederation.

These gentlemen created a coalition of nation building Liberals and Conservatives that founded the Liberal-Conservative Party for that sole purpose.

MacDonald was the leader and Prime Minister. Unfortunately Cartier died suddenly in 1872 after pushing through the railway legislation.

It is interesting to note that of Canada's first 5 Prime Ministers, 4of them were Liberal-Conservatives.

It is interesting that the Liberal-Conservatives ran political campaigns in riding's against both Conservatives and Liberals.

The coalition of the Liberals, NDP supported by the BLOC may be once again once of those historical changes which political benefits for our nation may be argued for decades.

wilson said...

''The 63% of Canadians who didn't vote for him are choosing the latter.''

How do you know all of the 63% are choosing the later (coalition)?
They weren't asked.....

Maybe only 61% of them would choose a coalition, and PMSH would have his majority.

Anonymous said...

"The coalition of the Liberals, NDP supported by the BLOC may be once again once of those historical changes which political benefits for our nation may be argued for decades."

OK. Seriously. That has to be the most asinine thing I have read on the whole topic today.

Anonymous said...

Good point. I guess you and I wouldn't like the British House all that much since it thrives on splintered parliamentary coalitions.

Anonymous said...

This was signed by your dear leader Harper:

As leaders of the opposition parties, we are well aware that, given the Liberal minority government, you could be asked by the Prime Minister to dissolve the 38th Parliament at any time should the House of Commons fail to support some part of the government’s program. We respectfully point out that the opposition parties, who together constitute a majority in the House, have been in close consultation. We believe that, should a request for dissolution arise this should give you cause, as constitutional practice has determined, to consult the opposition leaders and consider all of your options before exercising your constitutional authority. Your attention to this matter is appreciated.

-----

Enjoy it....

Anonymous said...

OK. Seriously. That has to be the most asinine thing I have read on the whole topic today.
12:24 AM
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
It's not really a strange comment at all and your statement is hollow and lacks specifics.

The Liberal-Conservative coalition from 1867 took us through 30 years of a nation building government. It was a well documented political struggle for a nation.

We are faced once again with the same challenge.

Do we support a free market economy as the conservatives do (although in the last several days they don't act like it) or do we recognize the need for some government intervention and stimulus in any economy and to what degree.

The question becomes whose economic principles do we follow, a free market economy or one with intervention?

That will become the decades long debate well after this political action.

Steve said...

Here is a scenario, the PQ wins the election next week, they hold a referendum on independance, while the Bloc is controlling the Federal Government.