The NDP is just plain DISGUSTING!!!!

[glarius]

I have, in the past, voted for the NDP and have always had respect for them. I used to believe they were principled and even when I didn't vote for them, I felt they had only the good of the country at heart. Since Jack Layton helped to get Harper in government, and the way they have conducted themselves since, I have completely changed my mind. It is so obvious that all they are for, is getting more power for themselves by trashing the Liberals. It matters not to them how much more powerful Harper becomes, as long as they can add a few more NDP M.P.s to parliament. It doesn't matter who the NDP member of parliament is....when put in front of a microphone he or she manages to twist everything they say in such a way as to convey the message that the Liberals are crooks and liars. I am soooo sick of these sanctimonious jerks. I will NEVER EVER vote for them again. They are pathetic!
P.S....If this starts a flame war....I couldn't care less. I'm not arguing about this...just stating how I feel and I know many others who feel the same way.

[Sen. Walter Sobchak]

1. the only description I can come up with for the NDP is:

Hipster Douchebags

Sitting next to Olivia Chow for an hour is among the most painful experiences of my life!

[Selatius]

2. Political parties, as a rule, should not be trusted.

However, if you do want to trust anything, trust individuals, regardless of party. There are several individuals in the US Senate that I trust, and they are all Democrats except for one person, but as far as the Democratic Party as a whole is concerned, I do not trust it. If I had my way, we'd operate on proportional representation. That way, it will be difficult for any single party to win the majority of seats. I don't trust parties enough to allow a single party to capture all the branches of government as the Repubs have done at one point.

[rockymountaindem]

3. Living in Toronto for four years, I just got the impression that the Grits never actually *do* stuff

they just keep the other two parties from changing anything.

[glarius]

5. My point is that the important thing is NOT LETTING THE RIGHT WING

DICTATOR STEPHEN HARPER GET A MAJORITY! That should be the concern of those of us who do not want our country completely revamped in Harper's image of what he thinks it should be. The NDP is HELPING Harper!!!!!!!

[applegrove]

7. I agree that Harper is the worst thing to hit Canada and must be stopped.

[Whisp]

12. mulroney was no prize either.

I still spit whenever I hear that bloody name. may he rot in Hell. fricken lieing theif.
yes, the NDP has certainly gone the bland and weasel way - they don't have much differentiate anymore. very dissapointing. but expected. that's the new world order thing - one party systems ruled by mega corps.

[ChenZhen]

4. This is EXACTLY why canada needs a ONE party system.

See:
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=389&topic_id=2053075&mesg_id=2053075


:)

[Richard Steele]

9. Give it a rest. No one's buying it- you should quit selling it.

Where did you even get the idea that DU would
be interested in Political Totalitarianism, anyway? :silly:

[ChenZhen]

10. From Nader and NPD hate threads

To be honest. It seems people do not want a multi-party system in which their party loses. A 2 party system still introduces a chance of loss, so naturally, id assume anti-third party posters would be intrested in a one party dictatorship. Otherwise, maybe these alternative options aren't such a bad thing.

You follow?

[Bitwit1234]

6. I need to ask a question about Canada politics could you answer

I have a first cousin six times removed you lives in Alberta Canada. He says that the providence (think that's what you call them) is so sparse that their vote doesn't count too much when they vote for a PM. Then he says the PM appoints the representatives for the providence. Is this the way it is done. Or did I get it incorrect.

[applegrove]

8. It is "province". And no the PM doesn't appoint the members that

represent you. That is proportional representation and Ontario just voted that idea down (where you vote twice: 1) to choose your local member 2) to choose the party that wins...and then their leaders choose some extra members that were on a list for the election). Right now we have first past the post where you vote only once, for your local Member of Parliament and whichever party has the most members elected wins the Priministership and the election. The elected members of the opposition sit in opposition while representing their ridings.

[CHIMO]

11. You Got It

Incorrect. In fact you got it totally incorrect.

Each voter votes for his member of parliament, or MP. They don't vote for the prime minister (first minister).

Each aspiring member runs in their own riding.

The party that obtains the most seats in parliament has the opportunity of forming the government. The leader of that party becomes the first minister (prime minister).

The number of ridings in general have the same number of voters so a province that has a large population has more MP's.

Looks like the cousin doesn't know what is going on. Might not be surprising though. "Stupid To The Last Drop."

[TahitiNut]

13. Well, there's always the Bloc Quebecois

:evilgrin:

[Clintonista2]

24. That chart is so innaccurate

Socially the Liberals are VERY progressive, economically they are slightly left of centre.

[ncabot22]

14. I respectfully disagree

I am an NDP supporter. Part of Layton's job is to get more NDP MPs into Parliment. He didn't put Harper into power. If the Liberals had not been involved in scandal after scandal and picked better leaders for the party, then the Liberals would have retained their slim majority.

Look who the Liberals picked as their leader--Stephane Dion. They would have been better off with Bob Rae.

You cannot blame the NDP for the failure of the Liberal party to maintain power--they did it to themselves.

No flame war or argument intended. You are a thoughtful poster and I've enjoyed your opinions. I just disagree with you on this one.

[glarius]

16. Thanks for the kind words about me......but.........

You said it's Layton's job to get more NDP M.P.s into Parliament. Of course that is true, but in my opinion, it is even more important (if he is sincere about wanting the best for Canada) for him to do what he can to keep an extreme right winger like Harper from getting control of the government. Instead he has been instrumental in helping him.
As far as the so-called scandal after scandal. That is way overblown. Aside from the few people in Quebec (none of them M.P.s) involved in the sponsorship scandal, the country was doing quite well under the Liberals. Has everyone forgotten how the United Nations said Canada was the number one country in the world for 7 years in a row under Chretien's government?
As for Dion....I thought he would make a good leader too, and was greatly disappointed and surprised at how he has turned out to be as a leader. Still, I find it despicable that EVERY NDP person who gets up in parliament to speak, or speaks to the press, manages to say scurilous things about Dion and the Liberals, (obviously the instructions to do so come from Layton) even though they must know this is reinforcing Harper's strength. It's not as if the NDP has a chance of forming the government, and they know that.
I hope this explains my feelings.

[ncabot22]

21. It does explain your feelings

And I agree with you on some of your points. It is imperative that the Conservatives do not get a majority. I'm disappointed in Dion, as well.

Bob Rae where are you? He should be the Liberal leader, I think.

[Canuckistanian]

15. Is there something in particular that set you off today?

And I know what you mean.

I'm a lifelong NDP voter and have been constantly disappointed with every leader since Ed Broadbent.

And even he couldn't hold a candle to Tommy Douglas.

[glarius]

17. See my answer above to ncabot22

I agree with you about the NDP leaders. Ed Broadbent seems to be the last really good one.
You asked if something set me off......I guess it was just that I kind of boiled over with anger and had to get it off my chest!

[glarius]

18. The dictator Harper is doing his snow job on the Canadian public right

now, through the Throne Speech. God I hope he never gets a majority!

[ncabot22]

20. From your lips to God's ear!

I think a lot of Canadians feel the same way. I do, at least.

[Evoman]

19. The liberal party is made up of the fucking stupidest morons in the country.

Everything from their stupid ads, to their stupid in party fighting, to their stupid, STUPID choice of leadership. The liberals DESERVE to lose. In fact, maybe the smartest liberals should defect to the NDP and start building up that party. Sacrafice liberal votes for the NDP.

I didn't have too much problems with Chretien....I didn't like the liberals much, but at least Chretien had some moxy. Martin? Dion? Forget that shit.

[glarius]

22. I take it you are happy with the right wing aims of Harper?

Everyone knows the NDP doesn't have a chance of a snowball in hell of forming the government. Little Colonel Ramrod...Jack Layton, is responsible for helping the Conservatives get power in the first place. I certainly don't believe he has Canada's best interests at heart. He's only concerned with getting a few more NDP members in parliament and more power for himself!

[Evoman]

23. Fuck the two party system.

They may never get a majority, but the NDP keeps the other parties in check (especially with a liberal minority). I may not like harper (strawman by the way), but neither do I like Dion in any capacity. I've met Layton...to me he seems like an honest, good man. And of course he is only concerned with getting more NDP members...thats the fucking point.

[glarius]

25. You really are a charmer aren't you?

Have you forgotten that the United Nations declared Canada to be the number one country in the world for 7 years in a row, under Chretien and the Liberals? Our country was doing just fine, thank you. If Layton was such an "honest, good man" he wouldn't have helped Harper to gain control of the government. He knows that Harper is an exteme right winger who is just waiting till he gets a majority and then he will do everything in his power to turn us into his idea of what we should be. He's obviously a control freak who thinks he has the answer to everything. Already, with his minority government he has changed things arbitrarily.
Dion was the wrong choice...but they'll get that sorted out. Remember a couple of years ago the conservatives were in disarray too, but they've managed to come out of it united. These things happen in parties from time to time.
As for having several parties.....that's fine....if you want nothing but minority governments forever. Look at Italy. They have to go to the electorate about once a year there because of the instability.

[Evoman]

26. People who vote NDP DON"T VOTE LIBERAL OR CONSERVATIVE.

Not necessarily. Why do you assume that the liberals deserve, or should expect, our vote?

[glarius]

27. Look.......you don't seem to get it....

I can't be bothered carrying on with this conversation any longer. My only interest is in stopping Harper!.... I'm not a party person....have never belonged to a party....will never belong to a party. All I care about is that Harper with his extreme right wing agenda is STOPPED!...And believe me, he is extremely right wing. His speeches of the last couple of years to American right wing think tanks and his going on Fox TV and apologizing for Canada not joining in the Iraq war prove that! If he gets a majority....just watch him go to town!

[Evoman]

28. I understand.

I just don't understand why you think the NDP is responsible for Harper. I have never voted liberal. Many of the people who vote NDP or Block have never voted liberal.

The conservatives are in power BECAUSE the people who voted LIBERAL are voting conservative instead. It is not the fault of the NDP...it is the fault of the liberals. Period.

Edit: Also, a great deal of the problems are because people who vote NDP are trying to play politics, and instead are voting liberal, which splits the vote. So instead of the NDP getting in, its the conservatives. That is what happened in my riding.

[glarius]

29. Read my answer #16 to ncabot22 and perhaps you'll understand. n/t