One has to carefully consider the democratic process and how it is supposed to work, in the minds and spirit of how it was created, to understand the gravity of such a statement. Strategic voting. Using ones vote not for beliefs or support but as a "tool" for anothers satisfaction or gain. Basically as a "form of currency". In essence, selling your vote. If a party can not get elected on it's platform or it's leaders integrity then they should not get elected, period. If the Canadian voters want a "Liberal-NDP" coalition then we will ask for one. To do so after the fact and go to the GG and ask to form a government is tantamount to Canada being "occupied" or "invaded" by a political party. They were NOT elected by the Canadian people. And they do not, should not, and can not, ever, rule us, if WE didn't elect them. THAT is what democracy is. Any person that would suggest, support, or be part of this does not believe in democracy. This is a corrupt strategic manipulation of free choice. That sounds disturbing. That sounds like something to be ashamed of. In Canada? No thank you.
2 comments:
I think you misunderstand the way our process works. Canadians don't elect parties, and they don’t elect party leaders. Let’s look at “the spirit of how our democratic process was created” shall we?
Every riding in the country chooses to elect one representative to send to the House of Commons to serve as their representative. The Governor General (as the representative of our formal head of state: the Queen) them chooses from these elected Members of Parliament one individual to serve as her Prime Minister and form a cabinet.
She could technically choose anyone she wants, but according to unwritten tradition she tends to choose the person who appears to have the most support from all MPs (so that the government can pass legislation and such). It just so happens that this is USUALLY the leader of the party which has the most MPs elected. But if two or more opposition parties ask the GG to allow them to form a coalition government, she is well within her rights to do so as our Commander in Chief. This is because, unlike in a proportional representation system, our Westminster model of democracy is not based on which party gets the most votes.
Regardless, I don’t know what has to do with strategic voting. Which I’m pretty sure means, uh…. voting strategically. If you mean voting for a particular party because they have the best chance of defeating the Conservatives, then that is well within voter’s rights. All voters can vote for any candidate they choose for any reason. THAT, as you say, is what democracy is.
Regardless, it matters not. Harper is kicking ass and will in all likelihood form a majority. But even if he doesn’t the Liberals, NDP, and Bloc have visions for the country that are simply too different for them to seriously consider forming a coalition government.
Technically, yes you are correct. But I have an issue with the members of one party saying to others that even if you don't believe in us or what we will do if elected vote for us so the other guy doesn't get in. I know there is no law against that, and I know that people may do what they want with their votes. However, that being said it still strikes me as something very distasteful and sinister. Not the democracy and values I would like to hold my politicians to.
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