Thursday, April 7, 2011

CBC Vote Compass

If you're a CPC supporter, Vote Compass will recommend CPC. 

Here's how a conservative might vote:
1) All Canadian troups should be pulled out of Afghanistan immediately:  Strongly Agree
2) Canada should increase its military presence in the Artic: Strongly Agree
3) How much should the government spend on the military: Much more
4) When there is an economic problem, government spending usually makes it worse:  Stronly Agree
5) The federal budget deficit should be reduced, even if it leads to fewer public services: Strongly Agree
6) Canada should seek closer economic relations with the USA: Strongly Agree
7) The environmental damage caused by the Alberta oil sands industry is exaggerated: Strongly Agree 
8) Canada should adopt a carbon tax: Strongly Disagree
9) Environmental regulation should be stricter, even if it leads to consumers having to pay higher prices: Strongly Disagree
10) How much of a role should the private sector have in health care: much more
11) The government should fund daycare instead of giving money directly to parents: strongly disagree
12) It should be easier to qualify for Employment Insurance: somewhat disagree
13) Speaking English or French should be a requirement for immigration to Canada: Strongly Agree
14) How many new immigrants should Canada admit: many fewer
15) How much should be done to accommodate religious minorities in Canada?: much less
16) Violent young offenders should be sentenced as adults: strongly agree
17) The long gun registry should be scrapped: strongly agree
18) Possession of marijuana should be a criminal offence: somewhat agree
19) The government should make it easier for a woman to get an abortion: strongly disagree
20)  Marriage should only be between a man and a woman: strongly agree
21) If they so wish, terminally ill patients should be able to end their own lives with medical assistance: strongly disagree
22) The Senate should be abolished: somewhat agree
23) Political parties should no longer receive government funding: strongly agree
24) Only those who speak both English and French should be appointed to the Supreme Court: strongly disagree
25) The federal government should have a say when it comes to decisions about culture in Quebec: somewhat agree
26) Quebec should be formally recognized as a nation in the Constitution: somewhat disagree
27) Quebec should become an independent state: somewhat agree
28) Workers should contribute more to their government pension plan (CPP/RRQ) so that it can offer bigger pensions: strongly disagree
29) How much should wealthier people pay in taxes? much less
30) How much tax should corporations pay? somewhat less

Skip everything else except province.

With those answers, one ends up further right on the economic axis and further down on the social conservatism.   Also PM pick is Stephen Harper.

At the end of it all, if you select "not important" for all options, you get a messages stating that "Your position cannot be displayed..."

Sunday, April 3, 2011

Proposed rules for Canadian elections

These rules have been cleaned up from Twitter (@kdborg):

  1. These rules apply to parties, leaders, candidates, workers and media.
  2. Party leaders get into the debate if the party had at least 5% of the national vote in the last federal election.
  3. Platforms must be released by the Monday the week before debates. This gives time for voters to analyse, debate, discuss.
  4. Wil Wheaton's rule: Don't be a dick. In other words, don't be rude, misleading, abusive, etc.
  5. Questions need answers. Be open to questions from media, voters, etc. Parties, their leaders, candidates and workers are on at least a 35-day job interview for votes from ~20(?) million voters. Not answering questions and misleading answers don't go over well.
  6. Don't tell me how bad the other guy is. I think for myself and make my own opinions.
  7. Repeating phrases or concepts attacking the other guy doesn't make it true. It makes it suspect.
  8. Repeating phrases or concepts promoting you doesn't make it true. It makes it suspect.
  9. Talk about your platform and opponents platform truthfully. Release facts and analysis to public for review. "Trust us" doesn't cut it.
  10. Continue with these rules while elected.

Have more rules?  Comment below.  Yes, it is moderated.