I'm thinking of putting together a DU guide to the Canadian Election

[Screaming Lord Byron]

Do you guys think there's much interest here for that? I'm not sure what form it'll take, but I've already put together polls, party guides, key seats, etc. As a Westerner, I've done a lot of research on the West, much less on the rest of Canada, so I might need some help there. It would be as non-partisan as possible, although obviously biased towards two particular parties. Would it be a good idea? Any suggestions?

[cprise]

1. Do you really want Americans to begin

...picking over Canadian internal politics?

Is that wise?

[Hand]

2. Possibly not...

t might drive you insane!

:D

[Screaming Lord Byron]

3. Just a general guide for Americans, that kind of thing, nothing painful.

[mdmc]

4. I'd love to take a look

I'm interested in a partisan DU take of our right honorable neighbors. I want to know: who smokes pot? who like disco? (this was the "interview" that the local Green Party gave me when I wanted to run as a crossed endorsed Democrat).

[TrogL]

5. Good idea, we could send Canadians to it

I haven't found an equivalent to DU in Canada (probably 'cause we don't need one).

Maybe if it gets closer to Canadian election season (scheduled for this spring) we could have our own forum.

In the meantime, an election guide would be extremely helpful and save us having to re-explain Canadian politics which tends to be a nightmare to explain at the best of times (conservative Liberals, liberal Conservatives, two conflicting Conservative parties, federal parties vs. provincial parties).

[Screaming Lord Byron]

6. That would be the idea, to give people a basic grounding in the system

and point them in the direction of interesting policy clashes, marginal seats, that sort of thing. We could approach the mods about getting a forum for the duration of the campaign. The only Canadian equivalent to DU in Canada is Rabble.ca, but It doesn't appeal to me, particularly.

[HEyHEY]

7. You poor bored bastard!

Actually I would think putting a guide to BC politics would be the most entertaining...bunch nuts!

[Screaming Lord Byron]

8. I wouldn't know where to start with BC Provincial Politics

God, my brain hurts just thinking about it.

[HEyHEY]

9. they don't make pills strong enough to cure a BC politcs headache

At least where I live now I can just stare into BC...knowing the goings on there wo't affect me.....but then I remember I'm in King Ralph's world and I get blue......


Odd though, I drove to Fernie today, it's like as soon as you cross into BC there's cloud cover...I mean like right where the sign is.

[Bush loves Jiang]

30. Ugggh....

Don't even start. The Socreds were lunatics, the provincial NDP was so corrupt that it scared me away from the party for years (and apparently, Glen Clark didn't even give 2 shits about the parties ideals, but don't quote me on that), and the Liberals are just a coalition of Harris/Klein clones endorsed by the centre and the right of the federal spectrum.

[ArkDem]

10. no interest

.

[HEyHEY]

12. Yeah, it's good to know nothing about your nieghbours

and biggest trading partners.

[Zuni]

35. Agreed

The Canadian elections have a big effect on our economy and policies, believe it or not. There is much cross border transfers of ideas as long as people keep taking advantage of the open borders. Americans who go to Canada can see the results of certain policies, like the decriminalization of Marijuana for example or a single payer healthcare system, and be heavily influenced back here.

[ithacan]

11. excellent idea!

Thanks SLB!

[Interrobang]

13. I'll help with Ontario stuff in specific, and the view from east...

The Americans I've met who have a grounding in Canadian politics (my fiance and my "minister" -- don't ask -- for two) tend to find it fascinating. However, there is a lot of apathetic non-interest, as with our learned friend ArkDem... Nice comeback, btw! ;-)

[Screaming Lord Byron]

17. Cool. I need some Eastern input. Maybe we can divide it up

The General stuff is easy, I'm pretty clued up on BC and Alberta, I can fake SK and MB, although we have a couple of guys there who can help. If you'd like to do some stuff on Ontario, that would be very helpful. Quebec might be difficult, but we do have a couple of Maritimers who can help. I'd like this to happen, if possible.

[TrogL]

25. I can help with Ontario

my mother lives there and keeps me up to date

[Screaming Lord Byron]

27. Cool. What do you think we should cover?

PM me if you like, this'll probably take quite a few weeks to put together. I guess we'll put a plan together, then approach the mods later.

[terrya]

14. I'd be interested, Byron.

I'm an American...but I'd be very much interested in a DU guide to the Canadian election. It would be very informative.

I hope you don't mind this suggestion from your neighbor to the South.

[Screaming Lord Byron]

18. Sure thing, fella. You're over here a lot, aren't you?

might be useful for 'an American in Canada', that sort of perspective.

[terrya]

19. About once a month, Byron.

I'm sort of getting a handle on your electoral politics. I'd definitely be interested in learning more.

[Lisa]

15. well, you know what they say about politics in Canada ...

In the Maritimes, it's a disease
In Quebec, a religion
In Ontario, a business
On the Prairies, a protest
And in BC, entertainment!

[JohnKleeb]

16. sounds interesting

[gator_in_Ontario]

20. I'm interested...

I recently married a Canadian citizen and was appalled at my ignorance...about politics as well as how to open milk in plastic bags.

[Interrobang]

21. Funny!

I remember the first time I said "a bag of milk" in front of a bunch of American friends, and they all went, "A *bag* of milk?!?!" I grew up with it, though, so I'm used to it. You cut the front and back top corners off -- a small snip at the back, and a slightly larger one at the front, so that the air goes out the back hole, and the milk comes out the front. Old habits die hard -- I haven't had a glass of milk in almost 15 years!

My fiance's from Long Island, NY, and it's been...interesting. Food-wise, if only I could figure out why Americans use such bizarre nomenclaturre for cuts of meat (and precisely what "cube steak," "chuck steak," "skirt steak" and so on mean in terms of "eye of round," "flank steak," "outside round," and so on, I'd be in good shape. :)

[gator_in_Ontario]

22. *S*

and what exactly is "smoked meat"....hmmm...what kind of meat?

[grannylib]

23. I would appreciate a better understanding of the Canadian election

process, that would be great!

[tigereye]

24. My parents lived in Fort Erie, Ontario when I was a baby and

many of our relatives still live there. SO and I used to go to Toronto all the time and would spend much of our visits ranting about Reagan, Bush I , right- wing nuts, etc.

I always tease my parents that they should have let me be born in Canada :( instead of Niagara Falls NY, where I was actually born. So I find many things Canadian of interest and am intrigued by your politics. So a guide sounds really good. Especially since American politics are so disturbing at this point.

[TrogL]

26. My parents used to go to Fort Erie for the ice cream

There was a small Dairy Queen just off downtown. The proprietor would set up one of the machines to dispense chocolate whipped ice cream - the only Dairy Queen I've ever been to that had it.

[Dogmudgeon]

28. Vote for Trudeau!

Go! Go! Trudeau!

That boy rawks. And his wife is such a hot minx!

--bkl

[Bush loves Jiang]

31. Trudeau was once a New Democrat...

But he hated having to be concilliatory to separatists (Me too, but I still like Layton...lol) and he was over-ambitious, so he became a Liberal.

[Screaming Lord Byron]

29. Update - I posted in Ask the Admins, looks like a possiblity. n/t

[jonnyblitz]

32. I am very interested !!

one of my closest friends lives in Calgary and seems to know what is going on with us but I haven't a clue about you guys! He is very left wing despite the reputation of the area he lives in. :hi:

[Screaming Lord Byron]

33. Yeah, I'm a Calgarian, and us lefties are pretty thin on the ground here

although, I've noticed a few more Liberals of late.

[Zuni]

34. As a political junkie

I would love to learn more about what is going on in our neighbor's elections.
I also know a little about British politics, but am less informed about the Canadian elections