tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35117130.post4643840629118234419..comments2024-03-18T20:18:14.088-04:00Comments on Northern Reflections: Not The TimeOwen Grayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06464860078574618579noreply@blogger.comBlogger20125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35117130.post-26778566789160009032021-07-11T08:17:58.049-04:002021-07-11T08:17:58.049-04:00In the end, e.a.f, all of this is self-defeating.In the end, e.a.f, all of this is self-defeating.Owen Grayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06464860078574618579noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35117130.post-75859783076315321482021-07-10T22:38:16.740-04:002021-07-10T22:38:16.740-04:00The other political parties couldn't have done...The other political parties couldn't have done a better job of destroying the Green Party. They did it to themselves. They weren't even smart enough to keep this "in house", and at least get through the next federal election. The Greens are cutting off their nose to spite their faces. Not the brightest bunch in Canada. If this is a power play within the party, one does wonder what the end game is or do they hate the current leader so much they would destroy the Greens to unseat her from her duly elected position.e.a.f.noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35117130.post-48758047756858210272021-07-10T12:49:49.026-04:002021-07-10T12:49:49.026-04:00A majority of NOTA votes is certainly within the r...A majority of NOTA votes is certainly within the realm of possibility, John. Then, like Robert Redford in "The Candidate," we'd have to ask the question, "What do we do now?"Owen Grayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06464860078574618579noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35117130.post-85930447505897476542021-07-10T11:42:57.683-04:002021-07-10T11:42:57.683-04:00If "none of the above" should win, it be...If "none of the above" should win, it becomes another story. I don't think it's happened in jurisdictions where the option has been offered, but it would interesting to see how they'd handle the situation here if it did.<br /><br />From: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/None_of_the_above<br /><br />"When 'None of the Above' is listed on a ballot, there is the possibility of NOTA receiving a majority or plurality of the vote, and so 'winning' the election. In such a case, a variety of formal procedures may be invoked, including having the office remain vacant, having the office filled by appointment, re-opening nominations or holding another election (in a body operating under parliamentary procedure), or it may have no effect, as in India and the US state of Nevada, where the next highest total wins regardless. ...<br /><br />"No electoral jurisdiction in Canada formally lists 'none of the above' as a ballot option. However, in some provincial elections it is effectively possible to vote for 'none of the above', by attending the polling station and formally 'declining to vote'. These declined votes are counted and become part of the electoral record. ...<br /><br />"In Ontario, the None of the Above Party of Ontario is a registered political party, although its stated mandate is for its candidates to serve in the legislature as independent representatives who reflect the views and interests of their constituents, rather than simply as a 'reject all of the candidates' placeholder."<br /><br />This question is an old time-waster that came up intermittently in discussions with my canvassing buddies as we sought to rationalize our personal delusions of importance to the process.John B.https://www.blogger.com/profile/07402794337521523610noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35117130.post-72682430488688241612021-07-10T10:26:20.535-04:002021-07-10T10:26:20.535-04:00That would be simple and direct, zoombats. But it ...That would be simple and direct, zoombats. But it probably won't happen.Owen Grayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06464860078574618579noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35117130.post-79233727857341176292021-07-10T09:14:44.682-04:002021-07-10T09:14:44.682-04:00As I said before, Trudeau could offer an electoral...As I said before, Trudeau could offer an electoral reform package of allowing "none of the above" on the ballot starting with this coming election. Then there would be no spoiling of votes and no "strategic" voting, something I never clearly understood and some of us could truly be counted. Colour me "unimpressed".zoombatsnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35117130.post-70983449210481535892021-07-09T20:11:02.741-04:002021-07-09T20:11:02.741-04:00It's getting more frustrating for those of us ...It's getting more frustrating for those of us who don't like anything that's on offer, John.Owen Grayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06464860078574618579noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35117130.post-21565681833472951912021-07-09T19:37:39.958-04:002021-07-09T19:37:39.958-04:00I don't like spoiling my ballot. It just gets...I don't like spoiling my ballot. It just gets counted with the ones spoiled by frustrated comedians. We should revisit the question federally of allowing voters the option to formally decline the ballot as we do in Ontario elections. But I guess there are more important matters that we're already neglecting.<br />John B.https://www.blogger.com/profile/07402794337521523610noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35117130.post-64864112236350149272021-07-09T15:38:54.664-04:002021-07-09T15:38:54.664-04:00We're at a tipping point, Mound. And we still ...We're at a tipping point, Mound. And we still refuse to recognize the precariousness of our situation.Owen Grayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06464860078574618579noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35117130.post-77959738550928942372021-07-09T15:07:33.927-04:002021-07-09T15:07:33.927-04:00Ms. Paul knew the party membership was strongly pr...<br />Ms. Paul knew the party membership was strongly pro-Palestine when she ran for leader. Even Elizabeth May, despite throwing a tantrum and threatening to quit, was not able to cow the membership.<br /><br />Now the party is a giant lame duck. Its leader is unelectable. She has three arrows in her quiver and uses them freely and indiscriminately to silence her critics by branding them misogynists, racists and/or anti-Semites.<br /><br />I stayed with the Greens as they held on by their fingertips. I thought that the climate emergency would eventually draw the public to their party. That illusion has been shattered. The Canadian public want action on climate change - provided it doesn't demand anything of them. We've got a prime minister who invents the notion of Canadian leadership on climate change even as our emissions have kept increasing.<br /><br />We are a petro-state, one of the worst. Canada will pay a price for that but, hey, that's 10, maybe 15 years down the road. Don't worry, be happy.<br /><br />Elizabeth May worked crazy hard to build that party but she didn't succeed. Why anyone expected Annamie Paul to do better eludes me. She's an anchor round the party's neck and just treading water is becoming too much to endure.<br /><br />If we do go to the polls this autumn, I'll have just one choice - to spoil my ballot. The Disaffected Libhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13135599782685108764noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35117130.post-34826083222512397182021-07-09T12:56:15.447-04:002021-07-09T12:56:15.447-04:00Under First Past The Post, Toby, our options are s...Under First Past The Post, Toby, our options are shrinking.Owen Grayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06464860078574618579noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35117130.post-68454350164079073152021-07-09T12:41:42.251-04:002021-07-09T12:41:42.251-04:00In previous elections the Green Party was a box on...In previous elections the Green Party was a box on the ballot where those of us who were frustrated with inaction by the establishment could send a message that the environment is important. Voicing hard positions on other issues, such as Israel versus Palestinians, simply diminishes the attraction to Green. By venturing into identity and woke issues the party signals that the environment is no longer a priority and that drives its voter base away. In the next polling booth the only box that points to a solution to Climate Change might be a religious party that says God will fix it. Tobynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35117130.post-40878631100259620652021-07-09T12:25:33.499-04:002021-07-09T12:25:33.499-04:00It's pretty clear, UU, that Ms. Paul was never...It's pretty clear, UU, that Ms. Paul was never the person for the job.Owen Grayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06464860078574618579noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35117130.post-44563078951273061782021-07-09T12:24:33.425-04:002021-07-09T12:24:33.425-04:00Disgruntled voters used to have an alternative wit...Disgruntled voters used to have an alternative with the Greens, Ben. Now they're just more disgruntled.Owen Grayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06464860078574618579noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35117130.post-2451500443677194162021-07-09T12:22:48.706-04:002021-07-09T12:22:48.706-04:00That's not how to grow a party, rumley. It'...That's not how to grow a party, rumley. It's political malpractice.Owen Grayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06464860078574618579noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35117130.post-49505974647623997442021-07-09T12:21:24.304-04:002021-07-09T12:21:24.304-04:00This has been self-inflicted, Rural. It's deep...This has been self-inflicted, Rural. It's deeply troubling. In fact, it's tragic.Owen Grayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06464860078574618579noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35117130.post-47664120804479630242021-07-09T12:16:40.956-04:002021-07-09T12:16:40.956-04:00Unfortunately, Ms. Paul has shown that she does no...Unfortunately, Ms. Paul has shown that she does not have the necessary gifts of leadership - especially when, with the Green Party, you are basically heading cats.<br /><br />UUAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35117130.post-24579867688652450562021-07-09T11:55:49.145-04:002021-07-09T11:55:49.145-04:00The Greens are in a precarious position. Originall...The Greens are in a precarious position. Originally growth came from disillusioned NDPers and soft Tories. With an incoherent economic policy and an unoriginal environmental policy it appears that all it has going for it, as a Party is to be the home of lookie-loos and people driven from other places.<br /><br />Coupled with a Party Leader that few have heard of and with no prospect of getting a seat. what do the people looking for alternatives see in that?<br /><br />Just my two cents worth!Ben Burdhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06372169478978720740noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35117130.post-71568277043514637532021-07-09T11:42:01.911-04:002021-07-09T11:42:01.911-04:00Paul's decision to deny shadow positions to he...Paul's decision to deny shadow positions to her only elected members will only alienate more party faithful.Get rid of the people you have and refuse to attract new members is a strange strategy.rumleyfipshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03346146988416679423noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35117130.post-76777049376251110232021-07-09T11:33:41.088-04:002021-07-09T11:33:41.088-04:00Sad to say Owen, but the Greens have just put them...Sad to say Owen, but the Greens have just put themselves back 10 years, perhaps into total oblivion federally which given the state of our environment and their general platform is very troubling. No matter who is to blame be it a vocal part of the executive or the new leader they have shot themselves in the foot and are about to fall down the well! Suspect it is a big bonus for the Liberals thoughRuralhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11814103548500393628noreply@blogger.com