Reaction

[grav_ity]

I understand how the Conservatives got elected as a majority.

They got elected as a majority, because our electoral system is broken. And stupid. And unfair. And beyond that, we have three(ish) parties on the left and only one on the right. Obviously, the math is not hard.

I do not, DO NOT, understand how anyone voted for the Conservative Party of Canada today.

Leaving aside all the bullshit of tax breaks and tax cuts, of the complete insanity and ineffectiveness of their so-called childcare program, of their complete disrespect for the other parties and how this country works, of their intolerance and shortsightedness, of their fear mongering, war mongering and slander - leaving that aside:

THEY WERE FOUND IN CONTEMPT OF PARLIAMENT.

They lied. A LOT.

ETA: And Harper cheated. He campaigned on election day. This is illegal.

And 40% of us were dumb enough to vote for them again.

(ETA: Also, 40% of us were dumb enough not to show up AT ALL, which means that 40% of 60% (which is what, 25%?) of the country was enough to hand the man A DECADE OF POWER.)

I've moved past the point where I was rational enough to focus on the three great things that happened this election (the meteoric rise of the NDP, the complete and utter dissolution of the Bloc, and the fact that Elizabeth May might finally win her own seat and knock out a cabinet minister to do it), and now I'm just devastated.

What if the youth never show up again? What if Quebec never shows up again? What the hell is Layton supposed to do? What the hell are the Liberals supposed to do? How are we supposed to get electoral reform now? HOW WERE FORTY PERCENT OF US THIS DUMB?

I'm going to bed.

Comments

[speedy-leen.livejournal.com]

I think there needs to be an uprising from those 60% of Canadian voters who did not vote for Conservatives and they should all push for electoral reform.

[archae-ology.livejournal.com]

Honestly, I think it's incredible that 75% of the population voted. Since Iggy lost his riding, there is no doubt in my mind that there will be another leadership convention and I hope to god Trudeau runs. If he does I do think he will win without question and he has the charisma and intelligence to go far.This isn't the end, not by a long shot.

[grav-ity.livejournal.com]

SERIOUSLY? 75%? THAT makes me feel better.

DuCeppe has already retired, and I have no doubts that Trudeau will win if he runs. Which will make Quebec a VERY INTERESTING PLACE in 2015.

The NDP Caucus is shaping up to be my kind of crazy.

[mylittleredgirl.livejournal.com]

I'm SO SORRY. :( I can't even believe it.

AMAZING that there were that many voters though. HOLY CRAP. We couldn't get that many voters if we served free donuts and coffee. I'd rather people vote against me than be apathetic and stay home, because at least they're involved... but the outcome is still the same. The worst part about democracy is that the people get the government they deserve. *sigh*

[grav-ity.livejournal.com]

60% is better than last time...but still not great (the numbers were all over the map last night. At one point they were saying as high as 75% and as low as 58%). I'm concerned that this might have killed the Youth Vote forever, but we'll see.

[lone-pyramid.livejournal.com]

I'm concerned that this might have killed the Youth Vote forever, but we'll see.

The number they're giving today is 61%, up only slightly from the last election, so either the youth turnout wasn't as great as hoped or they lost a lot of non-youth voters.

I really thought that given all the hype and the NDP's last-minute meteoric rise, lots of people would vote because they felt strongly one way or another (get them in or keep them out). Apathy, oy.

[samjohnsson.livejournal.com]

I'm jealous about the turnout. As to the results, what, y'all couldn't learn from our mistakes? Should we offer to let y'all come south, soon? How far right are your Conservatives?

[grav-ity.livejournal.com]

It's a tricky question. Our Conservatives used to be about as far left as your Democrats, but under Harper, who is a Conservative in name only; his party before the merge in 2005 was the Reform party, whose life ambition is pretty much to become Republicans, they've moved further left. It makes me very sad.

I imagine this is what it felt like when Bush got his second term. Hopefully this means we get our version of Obama next time around.

[samjohnsson.livejournal.com]

his party before the merge in 2005 was the Reform party, whose life ambition is pretty much to become Republicans, they've moved further left.

bwuh? Are we driving on opposite sides of the road? (Down here, the liberals are 'left'.)

[grav-ity.livejournal.com]

I meant right. I should never try to explain intra-party politics when I'm angry. :)

[samjohnsson.livejournal.com]

Yeesh, I've done more reading since. I have a couch, a recliner, and an air matress, if needed.

[rj-anderson.livejournal.com]

The lack of proportional representation in our system drives my husband nuts. It really is so unfair.

If it's any consolation, I did not vote Conservative.

[grav-ity.livejournal.com]

MAKES. ME. INSANE.

(Seriously. 39.8% is NOT A MAJORITY.)

[emmy-roo.livejournal.com]

*hugs* I'm so sorry, sweetie. Maybe Canadians will start joking about moving to the US if things get bad. ;) (Maybe too soon to joke about this - if so, I'm sorry.)