None of the above (other).
Conservative
Liberal
New Democratic
Green
Bloc Quebecois
Other
Results 1 to 20 of 108
Canadian Election 2011
Which party are you going to, or would you support? Why?
I selected NDP. They are the most left leaning party I can vote for in my region, and the one left party with a chance of growing to opposition and eventually form a government. Jack Layton would get things done.
None of the above (other).
"A new centrist project does not have to repeat these mistakes. Nobody in this topic is advocating a carbon copy of the Second International (which again was only partly centrist)." (Tjis, class-struggle anarchist)
"A centrist strategy is based on patience, and building a movement or party or party-movement through deploying various instruments, which I think should include: workplace organising, housing struggles [...] and social services [...] and a range of other activities such as sports and culture. These are recruitment and retention tools that allow for a platform for political education." (Tim Cornelis, left-communist)
What party/independent would you support, or would you refrain from participating in the election?
Some of my Social Democrat friends have been ready to lunge at my throat due to my temptation not to vote in this election. Aside from the issue of wasted votes, no party with any chance of winning would actually make significant or even genuine steps toward workers' control of the means of production.
While a vote for the reformist NDP in order to try to keep the Cons out is tempting, I'm not convinced that a vote in this election is anything more than active legitimization of bourgeois "democracy". The voting rate is already as low as 60%, and the lower it goes, perhaps the more effective a presentation of alternative action would be, namely the democratization of the economy.
What's worst is the indignant response I get that "people in Libya are dying fighting for a right to vote!" and hence my not "exercising my freedom" is somehow an insult to the Libyan masses.
Long story short, I'm quite conflicted at this point. Reformism is a lesser evil, but is an active endorsement of that position by the left really the best option?
Then there are those who vote "strategically" for the Liberals...
No matter how much I refute the "If you don't vote, then you have no right to complain" nonsense, I hear it again and again as an almost religious chant.
EDIT: Also, the NDP candidate for my riding has just recently defected to the Conservatives, showing they are quite capable of sacrificing even reformist principles for political opportunism, although this kind of defection between these particular parties is admittedly rare.
---End rant.
"I'm a pessimist because of intelligence, but an optimist because of will." - Antonio Gramsci
"If he did advocate revolutionary change, such advocacy could not, of course, receive constitutional protection, since it would be by definition anti-constitutional."
- J.A. MacGuigan in Roach v. Canada, 1994
NDP; I joined as a youth member a while back and even if I'm massively disappointed at times, they're the only seriously left-wing party on the ballot (while the Bloc has gone left, it also started out under ex-tory neoliberal leadership and has enabled the tories (and I don't mean just by existing)).
I'll still sign the CPC and MLPC candidates' petitions to run, while groaning at the sectarianism involved. It would make a nice change if they actually got on the ballot, even if ultimately revolution is probably a better plan.
YOu know, these guys are still running candidates:
http://votecommunist.ca/
http://www.cpcml.ca/Tmld2011/D41052.htm#1
I mean, I know this is OI and all and sure I respect the spoilage line, but why are they left out of a poll on REVLEFT in deference even to the tories or the bloc?
百花齐放
-----------------------------
la luz
de un Rojo Amanecer
anuncia ya
la vida que vendrá.
-Quilapayun
The Communist Party barely managed to get a name on the ballot in my riding once since I turned 18, the Marxist-Leninists, same. I can cancel my vote (probably will, unless I like the NDP candidate, because after the whole "former NDP candidate goes careerist and switches to the tories" thing I have second thoughts), but I can't vote for someone who isn't even running.
It's our responsibility to elect the option that is best for the working class!
Any improvement is better than none, or regression.
THe voting rate in the US is closer to 30%, does THAT make a difference there? No.
In federal elections? I'd like to see a source for that. Still, of course a low voting rate in and of itself doesn't necessarily mean greater receptiveness to socialism, but it seems like those who don't vote for the Dems/Reps (or bringing it back to Canada, Libs/Cons) would be more likely to favour or be persuaded to favour socialism.
My point was simply that voting NDP is not really a solution, so why encourage support for them instead of for socialism?
"I'm a pessimist because of intelligence, but an optimist because of will." - Antonio Gramsci
"If he did advocate revolutionary change, such advocacy could not, of course, receive constitutional protection, since it would be by definition anti-constitutional."
- J.A. MacGuigan in Roach v. Canada, 1994
Anyone from Canada want to explain the political situation in short? I know about the reelections, but who has the biggest chance of winning?
“To revolt is a natural tendency of life. Even a worm turns against the foot that crushes it. In general, the vitality and relative dignity of an animal can be measured by the intensity of its instinct to revolt.”
The short version:
A parliamentary committee found the prime minister in contempt of parliament, thus the federal elections. Unless he eats a kitten, Harper will probably still have a plurality of the seats in the house. A few conservatives are already hoping for the majority. And the only left wing party in Parliament (aside from the Bloc) is bleeding people because Harper framed it into a popularity contest between him and the liberal party leader.
30-40% in midterm elections for Federal legislators depending on how pissed off people are. 40-50% in Presidential elections, depending on how competitive the campaign is and how pissed off people are. The US very rarely breaks the 50% voter turnout mark.
"[Marx] laid the cornerstones of the science which socialists must advance in all directions, if they do not want to lag behind events."
-Vladimir Lenin, Our Programme
Economic Left/Right: -9.12
Social Libertarian/Authoritarian: -9.54
The reality of the situation is there's only three out comes to this election
1.Conservative Majority
2.Conservative Minority
3.Liberal Minority
Weighing out the lesser evil I would go with number 3.
There's also the nightmare scenario: a Tory supermajority. Given Harper's understanding of parliamentary politics, I wouldn't be surprised if he invoked war measures at the first sign of protest.
OTHER is an option.
I'd like to note the Marijuana party and the New Rhinoceros party is probably running people too.
Neo-Rhino? Really? That'd be cool, but I never heard that they were running any candidates.
"I'm a pessimist because of intelligence, but an optimist because of will." - Antonio Gramsci
"If he did advocate revolutionary change, such advocacy could not, of course, receive constitutional protection, since it would be by definition anti-constitutional."
- J.A. MacGuigan in Roach v. Canada, 1994
None of the above. Power corrupts, and those in government, no matter how liberal they claim to be, will not bring change, which must start at the grassroots level.
I can look up the source if you don't believe me, but its pretty well known.
I'm not saying trying to encourage people to vote, thats not what causes change, activism and direct action and organization cause change, but telling people not to vote is stupid, thats the right wings dream, the right wing in the US actually put ads out last election to discourage people from voting.
Yes, all leftists should not vote. Allow a conservative majority as "nothing" would change... Apart from cuts in social services, end to gay marriage, more corporate tax cuts, more and more right wing policies...
While voting won't change the capitalist system, its the only thing we have to promote at least some secular and progressive policies, to maintain and improve the lives of the workers.
