random impressions of a debate

I missed the first half hour of the debate. Watched the last hour and a half, although I'll admit I was texting Spike for the last half hour or so, and may not have been entirely listening.

So here are my random impressions. I'm sure you'll attribute bias, but you might be wrong in what my bias is. And before you opine that I'm voting based on silly impressions, keep in mind ... I've read (skimmed) all their platforms.  So yes ... I wanted to see how they looked in a televised debate.  Thus my impressions in that regard.

Layton - I had forgotten, and quickly remembered, how well he comes off in a debate. Combines passion with eloquence, shoots all sides down with aplomb, and speaks confidently right to Canadians.  Even when I disagree with him ... I grudgingly admire some of his ideals.  I think he's a hard worker, and a really good NDP leader.

Ignatieff - Gotta tell ya - he sounded whiny to me. I didn't like him. My impression was that he was all attack (which is to be expected, of course) and no "here's what the Liberals would do". I wanted to slap him a little, tell him to quit his bellyachin' and offer a solid solution or two of his own. I wanted to tell him to talk to the camera, talk to me, don't just natter at Harper. I wanted to agree or disagree with one of his ideas, but I didn't really hear any. That surprised me.  I kind of expected him to own this debate, given yesterday's leaked-draft-document media frenzy. I expected I would be more impressed with him when I heard him unedited in a debate.  I was not.

Harper - he surprised me too.  I see other comments saying he's mechanical and scripted and creepy.  For me ... well he seemed calm and unruffled and clear.  Even when I disagreed with him (and I did, at times), I thought he held his own pretty well.  It's always hardest on the one currently in power - everyone's attacking.  I remember thinking the same thing when it was Paul Martin getting hammered by everyone.  It's a tough spot.  By the way, is it just me, or did Harper get new glasses?  And don't you really want to know if his hair is just one solid entity?

Duceppe - I remember liking him in the last debate.  Less so this time.  Just didn't grab my attention in the same way, although my eyebrows went up when he asserted repeatedly that "multiculturalism doesn't fit for Quebec".  Okely dokely then. Good to know. He seemed genuinely angry at Harper a few times, and I was OK with that. Genuine anger - fine. Nattery whining - bleah. I giggled at one point when he kept saying, "bill 101 bill 101 bill 101 bill 101 bill 101". I don't know what Bill 101 is. Probably don't care. But if you say it enough times, it starts to sound funny.

Oh, and by the way, I can't be certain, but I think - I THINK - they all claimed immigrant status in one way or another.

You know ... I wish Elizabeth May had been able to be there. Even if I don't agree with all her party's ideals, I remember her kicking some serious butt last time. Ah well - no seats, no speaks. I can live with that.

Did you watch the debate or am I the only nerd?

the contestants

As mentioned - Canada votes on May 2. Except me. I'm at a conference. I vote before May 2. (I need to find out when that actually happens...hmmm....)

Anyway, for your information, I list for you each party's website and my first random impressions, based on a 10-second scan of that website.  Listed in backwards alphabetical order.  I am NOT reviewing the Bloc Quebecois.  Because I'm not.


New Democrats
First thing I saw - Jack Layton is BIGGER. I think the point was that there's an NDP app for the ipad which of course is bigger than the iphone, and so there's a change in size. But it made me giggle. Also, I saw a headline about cheating Senators and immediately thought hockey. What has happened to me, that I think hockey before government when I see "Senators"? Wow. That was a personal surprise. This website has a lot of orange and a place to find your candidate.

Liberals
Red. Ignatieff is skinnier than I thought. Instantly saw the "read our platform" headline and it made me happy.  I wanted to click, but 10 seconds isn't enough time. But I will definitely go back and click it. Lot of Harper-hating. Of course.  Hmmm, what are the odds that I'll see Ignatieff-hating on the Conservatives' page?

Greens
Simple. Clean. Inviting. Wow, apparently I like the colour green, and I like the use of the phrase "turn over a new leaf". Get it? Greens are environmental - "leaf" - oh come on, you get it, right? I noticed a headline at the bottom that said something sinister like, "What the networks don't want Canadians to know." I kinda want to read that, only because it sounds like the beginning of a conspiracy-theory movie.

Conservatives
Blue, with a lot of Canadian red. Glossy. A picture at the bottom of Ignatieff, which certainly will not be friendly, but I didn't look closely. Something about lacing shoes for a skater. I see photo opps, lots of video and pics. And not just Ignatieff-hating. Layton and Duceppe are in there too.

So there you are, and here's a radical notion - maybe click on any of the above links and take a look yourself at the platforms and policies. I know, crazy right? Does anyone DO that?

*small voice* I do. Sometimes.

Also, and this is important, you can make money off our federal election. What would YOU do with $160? Oooohhhhh, the possibilities!!!!

See you on debate night. For a preview of my debate-reviewing-style (as well as a good laugh), click here. It is definitely more entertaining than any of the other click-ables in this post.

PS Feel free to express your political opinions in the comments, but if you get super ranty or obnoxious I might mock you a little bit. Or delete you. Because I can.

politics

If you're in Canada, you know there's a federal election coming up. Well, maybe you do. It's certainly possible that you don't.

We don't do elections at quite the same level of intensity as our neighbours to the south. Lately, we vote in a minority government. We let them go for a time. Then someone gasps with indignation, and someone else calmly refuses to budge, and PRESTO - we have an election a month or two later. Then we start again.

One debate only. Unless Rick Mercer has his way. And I'm pretty sure Rick Mercer gets his way most of the time.

I was just scanning through Facebook friends and the various blogs I read. I'm kind of pleased at the wide variety of discussions which all say the same thing ... "Any self-respecting Canadian with a half a brain will vote for _______. After all, _______ is a complete idiot, and the entire country is doomed if _______ becomes Prime Minister."

The reason I'm pleased is that these blanks are filled with different names, depending on the friend.  And that means ... I have quite the diverse group of friends!  I have friends that are "obviously" voting for the "only real choice" which is ... well ... Layton, Harper or Ignatieff, depending on who the friend is.  (Greens don't make statements like this.  Greens stay below the radar.  We dislike the ugliness.)

Did I just say "we" in reference to Greens?

Oops.

Anyway, the one official debate is April 12, which I will, of course, blog.

And if Rick Mercer hosts a one-on-one debate, I'm hoping to catch that too.

Meanwhile, let's all hope that Canada ends up with the only reasonable choice for Prime Minister.  Not one of those other guys.

not a politician

This is why I am not in politics.

I just couldn't take it. I'd be one of the pen-throwing, accusation-making, arm-waving types that make everyone go, "Tsk, tsk, tsk, what is her PROBLEM?"

And then I'd call their bluff. All of them. I don't take well to being bullied or hijacked or politicked. I say if we disagree, let's have the honesty and integrity to do it up front. Talk it out, make a decision, and once the decision is made - let's all work together to implement it the best we can.

But that's just crazy talk, I know.

Which is why I am not in politics. And why I am, in all honesty, praying today that God will give wisdom to our Mayor and City Council as they field public frustration and input, and finally (hopefully) vote on this stadium issue. I know which way I'd like to see it go. As a taxpayer, I do have an opinion, and I fully recognize that not everyone shares it. I also recognize that although I get to have my say, I don't get to have ALL the say. Isn't that how democracy is supposed to work? Everybody gets one say?

But if it was me in a City Councilor's chair - and thank goodness it isn't - at this point, I'd throw up my arms today and vote to scrap the whole darn thing.

Which isn't very visionary, I guess. I really am big on vision - I couldn't do MY job, if I wasn't - but I don't know how one creates vision that survives the endless political process that picks and hacks away at it, until no one can remember what it looked like at the beginning.

Which is why I'm not in politics.

*sigh*

Back to happy tomorrow, OK?

cooler head

Anger ... subsiding ... rage ... dwindling ...

Just from a sheer lack of energy, I'm becoming calmer. My rants have become repetitive, and therefore, boring. Don't get me wrong - I haven't changed my mind. But I'm moving into my mode of analyzing from afar.

After reading scads of angry, grandiose, self-righteous, name-calling, smug comments on news articles, facebook pages and blogs - from all sides, by the way - I've been considering my own perspective. (I've also been considering the sad state of spelling and grammar in our lovely nation, but that's another story.)

Which raises a question.

If one of the parties in the coalition was a party I had voted for in the last election (there's a revealing statement!) - would I be as angry and upset as I am now?

In other words - am I mad at the principle of the thing, or am I mad that I'm not getting my way?

Here's what I've come up with so far. I'm probably a bit of an idealist, so if you're not, you will likely find this amusing.

• I believe that the spirit of our electoral system is to give power based on whom people "did" vote for, not for whom they "didn't". So the whole "60% didn't vote for Harper" thing doesn't really matter to me.
• I believe the first-past-the-post system is flawed, yes. But it's the system we have. I don't agree with changing results because one didn't like the system that got us there.
• I believe that numbers are mostly meaningless, because they can be twisted and used to say anything that anyone wants them to say. Madly, each party seems to believe that they had a majority of the popular vote - or at least a majority of people who meant to vote for them.
• I believe that my one vote should count for what it is - no more, no less. If we had an election with different results, I might not be happy about it, but I would respect it.
• And...truth be told...I don't think I trust any of them. No news there.

So, when I strip away the emotion of it all, here's the opinion which remains.

I know that this is not an illegal coup. I know the constitution allows for it. But there are two things I cannot get past:

• I cannot get past making a formal alliance with the Bloc.
• I cannot get past having a prime minister who has already resigned the leadership of his party, soon to be replaced with someone on whom we never even had a chance to vote.

At this point, my understanding is that there are only three options, and the Governor-General holds our fate in her hands. (No pressure there. Suddenly I find my own job much easier!)

• She can prorogue the government. (Notice that I've increased my word power this week!)
• She can give the coalition a chance to govern.
• She can call an election.

I vote for an election. If two or three parties are willing to run as a coalition, and they are voted in as a coalition, then so be it. But whatever the results - I would beg (rather cynically, I must confess) that all parties accept the results, have a cookie and a nap, and get back to work.

See? That's the power of breathing deeply.

election

October 14.

I've actually marked it on my calendar.

A federal election is taking place in our lovely nation.

I don't know yet if I'm happy or annoyed about that, so perhaps you'd like to influence me at the poll to the left.

I know I WILL vote - but I don't know yet for whom.

I know I'm still mad at Chretien, for what it's worth.

Which is not to say I'm loving anybody else.

I would probably vote for SOMEONE who would do SOMETHING POSITIVE with the land disputes.

Here's what I'm going to do.

Are you ready?

I'm going to go buy some clothes with my birthday money.

And think about elections on another day.

all over the map

As I've probably mentioned before, I do enjoy getting the Saturday Spec. I don't care about the paper the rest of the week, but reading the Saturday paper always has a sense of ... luxury, I think. Not bad for less than $2.

Anyway - this story, right here - has me hopping mad. Wait, make that spitting mad. My toe is still a bit tender. Are these people Grade 5 boys, on the school playground, working out the pecking order of their little group? And what the heck is a Superior Court Judge doing, calling the POLICE CHIEF'S OFFICE instead of backing up his monster Cadillac like reasonable people do? How can a SCJ make a snide comment about a city worker using tax payers' money poorly - when that same SCJ - also paid by our taxes, I believe (is that right?) - used up the time of 3 police officers and a municipal supervisor for his petty little annoyance? How is it that the SCJ is actually still proud of his behaviour????

Gah. For the record, I'm sure there was attitude coming from both sides. But I definitely have an opinion on who was the bigger idiot. And I'm guessing that, since this wasn't actually "news" of the global kind, it made the front page of the Saturday Spec for the exact purpose of watching people like me blow up over it.

Which, I guess, is kind of funny. :)

----

On another note....

Last night, in our church service, I was deeply moved. And I'm having a hard time finding words for why, but I'm going to try.

Sunday nights are small, laid-back, relational, less-planned. Times for prayer. Almost anyone can come to the mic and contribute a thought, an encouragement, a Scripture, a prayer, whatever. Last night, someone who has never come up before, came up to talk about some of the struggles they've been facing. Quiet and honest.

And when they finished....we invited people to surround this person in support and prayer (as we so often do). As soon as that invitation was given, people jumped to respond. No one wanted to leave this person hanging out on their own - we all know what that's like - and within seconds, a group of us were there, supporting, praying, standing with them in their struggle.

It impacted me. I was already feeling so thankful for a church where people can be honest about their struggles. But when the response was so quick, so heartfelt, so determined to push back the isolation that sometimes comes in tough times - well - all I could think was, "this is what God looks like".

apologies

Three things have converged in my mind today.

One - I was reading a book last night that I have greatly enjoyed. This one is the end of a trilogy that I think is nothing short of brilliant, even if I don't come to all of the same conclusions as the author. In this third book, part of the story is about a pastor being destroyed, emotionally, in his career, extending to his family - because he has sincere, heart-wrenching, faith questions. The one initiating the destroying feels that questions are not acceptable; only answers are.

And I cried a little bit, reading the story, because although it is fiction, it is still real. I know people who have lived various versions of this "fictional" story.

I thought to myself - "We get so angry. SO ANGRY when another person dares to question their own beliefs, or worse, ours. We aren't kind. We get so mean."

Not all of us, I know. But it's not rare, in my experience. Our first reaction is to defend, to attack, to explain, to answer, to prove, to declare. Compassion and kindness and empathy get way down the list, sometimes. Ugh.

Two - On the radio this morning was reference to this story. An Apology Bill being introduced in the Ontario Legislature. Meaning that people can apologize like a real human being, without being automatically liable and open to lawsuit.

I know there are a million technical and legal reasons why this is crazy. But as a member of the fallible, relational, human race ... I'm all for the principle behind this. The right to say, "I'm so sorry" or even "I made a mistake" or "I'm not perfect" without having it thrown back in one's face in a court proceeding. Not that people shouldn't face consequences. But we're afraid to apologize ever, in the worst of situations, because later it will be used against us.

So I'm going to write my MP and say so.

Three - In considering different responses people will have to this Apology Bill, it occurred to me that this book would help to explain the different responses. I haven't read it yet, but I've heard about it from several very different sources, all saying it is an excellent book. And somehow, for me today, apology bills and apology languages tie in to the beginning of my post.

Some days, I guess I would very much like to do away with all the rules, and the politics, and the rights, and the fights, and start all over again, as ... people.

Imagine that.

my two cents

As I have probably mentioned before now, I am on the email subscription list for City Hall updates from CATCH. I was disappointed to read in the most recent update that the possible position of Integrity Commissioner had been deemed "unaffordable" and thus off the table for this year's budget.

I thought this was worth putting in my two cents. So I emailed the Mayor, and two City Councillors - one for the Ward I live in, and one for the Ward I work in. I thanked them for all they do, said I understand budgets ... but this was a very disappointing cut, and I hope they will make it a priority sooner rather than later.

They've all emailed me back. Apparently it's not a done deal, and two of the three especially are quite committed to putting it through.

I'm glad. I think an Integrity Commissioner would be a very positive thing. And I am impressed when elected officials respond to their constituents.

Score one for City Hall!

voting

The election is tomorrow. I'm still undecided. This is not like me. I know who I'm NOT voting for, but I can't decide who I AM voting for.

I don't like voting AGAINST someone. Bugs me. Doesn't seem like the purest form of voting.

I recognize the value of "strategic" voting, but I don't like it. Sometimes I do it, sometimes I don't. Again - bugs me.

I just want to vote the way a vote was meant to be, one vote for who I want, and have that vote matter. That's all I want. IS THAT SO WRONG??

(pause to turn off my whining voice)

When I do decide, I won't tell you for WHOM I've decided, because I don't want to abuse my tremendous influence as a powerful spiritual authority in all of your lives.

(pause for hysterical giggling)

Have you decided? Care to share? Want to rant? Got any thoughts on the referendum? Did you even know there IS a referendum?? Predictions?

You've got 24 hours to speak your mind, and try to influence all the rest of us - ready ... set ... GO!!!

provincial debate

I have no political expertise ... various opinions ... I'm no expert.

So - did you watch tonight's provincial leadership debate?

Here's my take on it, for what it's worth (which is probably very little)!

Education & Faith-Based Funding
LIB - no faith-based funding; look how far we've come; no strikes under us!
CON - faith-based funding; let's include EVERYONE; buildings and infrastructure are crumbling
NDP - no faith-based funding; fix the buildings; stop the cutbacks, especially for special needs kids

Public Transit
LIB - we have a plan for 2025.
CON - use the gas tax now and fix what's there (isn't the gas tax what Hamilton was hoping for municipal funding for?); why did the Liberals wait until the last minute to have a plan?
NDP - more light rail

Municipal Funding
LIB - we aren't downloading - we're uploading costs. We've done more than the previous Conservative govt.
CON - you're downloading; smaller municipalities need help too; why did the Liberals wait until the last minute to have a plan? (I see a pattern emerging)
NDP - cities are in trouble; they need money

Breaking Promises - Recall Legislation
I don't know what this is. McGuinty's against it, anyway. McGuinty's dad also raised him to keep his word, and he wanted to, but he needed money for health care, so he had to break a promise.

Tory's grandfather used to shake hands with people; his word was his bond. Tory is also against recall legislation, I think. Actually, I'm not sure.

Hampton - wants to talk about low-income families that lost money in a clawback. Nothing about recall legislation. Which is fine with me, since I still don't know what that is.

Tory is really frustrated.

McG's getting beat up, but not flustered, and is attacking both Tory & Hampton. I think he sees Hampton as a threat!

Moderator wants an actual answer to the question - turns out everyone is against recall legislation, whatever that is.

Employment
NDP - we've lost many jobs. It's the Liberals' fault. It's the fault of increasing hydro costs. We need an industrial hydro rate that is consistent. Wants an independent jobs commissioner. Wants a skills economy.

CON - Ontario is "dead last" in job creation this year. Liberals brought in huge tax increase, which makes it worse. Lots of rhetoric. No mention of a plan.

LIB - Everything in Ontario is great, don't know what anyone else's problem is. We have the lowest unemployment rate in 17 years.

Poverty
CON - Visits vulnerable neighbourhoods. Almost said he had lived in them, but not quite. Will revitalize low-income neighbourhoods. Introduce and increase mentorship programs. Will open schools with proper recreational facilities.

LIB - We are one large extended family. (I'm a little nauseous) We have increased disability, social assistance, child benefits, brought back student grants. Now we're going to give free dental to poorest families.

NDP - Raise minimum wage to $10/hour now. McG raised his own pay, but not the minimum wage. Liberals keep clawing back. We need provincial dental program, and roll back tuition fees and apprenticeship fees.

Crime
LIB - We've funded new officers, new crown attorneys; we have "guns and gangs" strategy (catchy, isn't it?) Going to offer positive alternatives to young people. Wants to ban handguns.

NDP - population grew faster than police force. Punish wrongdoers, devote resources to prevention, for at-risk youth.

CON - Brokenhearted at going to funerals for victims of crime. People being accused of murder are people with criminal records already. Handguns are already banned. Liberals have "catch-and-release" justice system. Will fix justice system (wow - that would be impressive) and be transparent. (Also would be impressive)

Moderator is wondering why he agreed to do this. "Gentlemen! Gentlemen! Gentlemen! Gentlemen - forgive me!" (For what? For moving the debate along.)

Tuition
NDP - one of their pet issues. Roll back or freeze university and apprenticeship fees. Thrilled to answer the question.

CON - regulate tuition fees. Take a 2nd look at the system that assumes parents are paying for kids. Also look at ancillory fees. (What is this? I don't even know how to spell it.)

LIB - We're smaller in population than China and India. (don't know why this is relevant) We're going to give $300 textbook grant to all students.

Entirely Random Fun "Facts" or Frustrating Statements in No Particular Order
McG - "The fact is, your party (Conservative) left us with a multi-billion dollar deficit, and it takes awhile to recover from that"

Tory - "Why did the Liberals do nothing for 4 years, and wait until the last minute to have a plan?"

Hampton - "Mr. McGuinty, you must have been the only person in Ontario that didn't know the Conservatives left a $5 billion deficit."

Hampton - "The reason the unemployment rate has gone down is because people are leaving."

Tory - "The jobs you are creating are third-world jobs, at half the pay people had before. You're a high-taxing, low-paying, uncertain, unstable kind of government"

McG - "Bombardier is pleased with us"

McG (answering question about poverty) - "Babies are now tested for 7 genetic diseases, not just 2"

McG (repeatedly) - "I just can't be as negative as Mr. Tory and Mr. Hampton"

Everyone Throughout, with Great Sincerity & Shocked Righteous Indignation: "That's not true." "No, the fact is exactly the opposite." "That is a lie." "The fact is..."

And now we're an hour into this debate, and they're repeating themselves, so I think I'm done.

Still undecided. Except I am certain that the moderator should have the on/off switch for everyone's microphone.

You?

x marks the spot

Municipal elections are coming up.

Booorrrring, right? I admit, in the past, a municipal election has triggered about as much excitement in me as...well, I was going to say watching grass grow, but I have been known on occasion to throw myself down on the lawn for exactly that purpose. How about - as exciting as Saturday afternoon TV? Or as exciting as my early morning Apologetics class in Bible College, many moons ago? Oh, here's a good one! As exciting as...

But I digress.

I do pay attention to federal elections, and even to provincial elections, mostly to get my blood racing in disgust and frustration over political maneuvering and deception. (Usually in the midst of some televised debate or say-nothing speech, there is a moment when I'm tearing my hair out and yelling at the TV screen. This is the moment Jeff chooses to sweetly remind me of my self-righteous admonitions for self-control when he's yelling at the Leafs.)

But municipal elections? How important can they be? After all, it's my own neighbours, people who live in the same place I do, who are running this level of government. People who presumably like the community, but who are at the mercy of the other levels of government anyway, so their power to change anything is pretty limited.

This year, I'm changing. I'm checking out websites, asking around, paying attention. It's more INTERESTING than I thought. (If you saw me in the audience during the televised debate, you might have thought I looked bored, but that's actually my gaze of wise and discerning intelligence.) And, almost certainly, more IMPORTANT than I thought.

It's tough to sort out the actual truth from the "you can't handle the truth" rhetoric. I don't quite understand all the issues. But I do live here. I pray for my community and its leaders. And I'm asking God for wisdom as I watch it all unfold, so that my vote is a thoughtful one.

God keep our land!

(any thoughts?)