Provincially and Federally.
If yes, always, excellent.

All other answers, please inform what keeps you from voting - let it all out. No judging at all. Just trying to get an idea of what can or will motivate the typically younger(ish) votes to get excited, involved, passionate.

I figure the current system has done a pretty good job at making sure this powerful demographic feels absolute powerelessness when it comes around to election time. That and there is no one even close to someone that they could relate to, 'cept maybe a grandfather or older uncle .

What would be included in YOUR 'ideal' political party for Canada moving forward? Or are we hamstringed by our past parties and have no other alternative.

lil pink floyd clip for you all,

Us, and them
And after all were only ordinary men.
Me, and you.
God only knows its not what we would choose to do.
Forward he cried from the rear
And the front rank died.
And the general sat and the lines on the map
Moved from side to side.
Black and blue
And who knows which is which and who is who.
Up and down.
And in the end its only round and round.
Haven't you heard its a battle of words
The poster bearer cried.
Listen son, said the man with the gun
There's room for you inside.

thanks for your time,
smokemifyagotem!!
peace

I don't vote which is pretty dumb i guess you can say, considering i am all for the legalization for marijuana. The truth is i don't support the green parties views other than the legalization of marijuana, and the rest of them are just morons lmao. Harper = plan old retarded, Dion well he was just crazy, and Jack couldn't answer a question if he had to read it off the page lmao.

Exactly, and no, it ain't dumb, and it is not your fault at all. Change is coming, you can hear it in the wind, taste it in the rain, feel it in the earth itself.

The parties that are around now will never change things the way they need to be changed - way too much of the 'status-quo' at work, way to many dollars at risk for a minority of our population. Wages sinking, inflation rising, taxes never-ending...the list goes on and on.

What would your ideal party have for policies/reforms, other than mj legalization of course...hehe, but how bout legalization of all narcotics? Provided government grade, with normal laws as are in place with alcohol and tobacco. It is way harder to score smokes or beer than weed, meth or coke in high-school I have been told, and it rings of truth to me.

What about no more invasive wars on foreign soils, but training for citizens in self protection and survival techniques. Bring our army home to protect and serve our interests, not those of big oil and whatever comes next.

How about tax reform using the taxation of the new legalized drugs...starting with personal income tax and moving on to others as available from new revenues. People are doing these drugs now, crappy - street versions that can and do kill immediately. Talk about harm reduction...

I used to be completely disenfranchised, I had voted the first time I was legally allowed, then completely abandoned politics for the sham it is.


Now, I've woken up and figured out that not voting empowers the morons elected by the cowardly, misinformed, close-minded or just hateful Conservatives populace.

Once the next election is announced, I'll be printing T-shirts and talking to as many CEGEP/University kids I can, just asking them the third line of your post.

We need the same movement Obama managed to stir up, who cares which NWO puppet gets elected, as long as it's not Heir Harper.

Incumbant MP's have already been purchased, kick them out!

zactly!! NWO go home, leave us alone...

time for Canada to stand as the proud INDEPENDENT nation we once were! WE will decide our direction, WE will decide our laws, WE will do what WE see fit for US first and foremost. The youth is the key, the disenfranchised of our society...

cheers Afka
smokemifyagotem

I do vote but I will almost certainly never vote for a winning candidate as I support principled candidates with whom I can agree rather than party platforms. If there is no candidate who can garner my vote in any given election, I'll simply add my ballot to the spoiled ballot count.

I am not impartial to the non-voter argument either however and wouldn't have any terrible qualms about not voting outright. This is a 360 from where I used to stand. At one time, I thought people should be required by law to vote with stiff fines imposed for kicking one's sacred franchise aside in favour of popping off to get a burger or some such thing.

The ideological non-voter can offer the compelling argument that voting lends a feeling of legitimacy to the balloting process by which we elect the clowns we cal our leaders today. Imagine if the government was elected by only 2% of eligible voters. It sure would seem as though it wasn't really an expression of the will of Canada huh? I think we're already there though if you think about it. Our conservative government today was elected by only 38% of those who bothered to show up at the ballot box Since only 58.8% of eligible voters cast a ballot, that means that only about 22% of those eligible to cast a ballot determined our governing structure.

Honestly, I think we're already at a point of demonstrable illegitimacy of government when it takes just over a fifth of the eligible electorate to hire a government in parliament.

So I do vote but I don't vote for anyone with a hope in hell of winning their seat. If I pledge my vote to you, it's probably a bad sign. I see the system as an illegitimate system of government and so I'm no longer against the idea that one need not show up at the ballot box.

Cheers

It'd be a sad farce, but a sad farce with the power to fuck up our country, or have everything voted Nay, fucking up our country through inaction.

Would it? If 2% of the eligible electorate voted a government into power to govern the other 98% as well as those who are unable to vote, (youth or landed immigrants et al) would the government be able to take any action justifiably? I understand that technically it could but if the citizenship suddenly grew that apathetic, it would be difficult for political figures to justify their mandates to the media and the public at large.

"We propose a law regarding firearms"

"But only like 2% of the electorate voted for you? What makes you think you can make a a law that I'll respect or see as otherwise legitimate?"

"err...."

Cheers

Excellent points Canadian Psycho, and I must say I agree with most if not all of them...now to find a way to get the missing voters to the polls, that is the rub.

cheers,
smokemifyagotem

I always vote. I ran for the BC Greens in the 2009 provincial election, along with the lovely Jodie Emery.

My ideal party?

Fiscally conservative - No bail outs, less spending, seriously reduce or abolish altogether income taxes, bring in consumption taxes instead, higher government efficiency, No tax exemption for churches

Legalization of all drugs

ABSOLUTE free speech, right down to the vilest neo-nazi propaganda. No censorship. With the advent of parental controls there is no justification for regulation of television.

Repeal hate-speech and anti-blasphemy laws. Currently we have Muslims who say "behead those who carricature the prophet" and push for increasing censorship in western countries. What does criticizing these poeple and their faith get you? YOU will be accused of hatespeech. Not those calling for authors and artists to be beheaded, but those criticizing the fascists in our midst. Im going to go out on a limb here and say hate-speech laws are protecting precisely the wrong people.

National carbon tax and cap and trade system

Scrap the gun registry. Doesn't work, waste of money.

Engage with Afghan opium farmers and buy their crop, effectively cutting off the 100 billion + that goes to the taliban every year. What an idea, instead of handing billions to islamists, WE can buy the opium and help the Afghans get on their feet economically, until they can return to being a vineyard and orchard country, which will take a while.

Stop listening to the masochistic anti-war lobby who think the only problem with Jihadists is that we make them mad. Take the fight to the enemies of civilization. Demand our allies help our troops in Afghanistan. Aid in the fight against those who wish to destroy western civilization and bring about the return of the caliphate.

DEFEND OUR SOVEREIGNTY! Get Washingtons' hand out of Ottawa, the Pharma and oil lobby out of our policy decisions. We can't give in to corporatism, US pressure, or Islamist attempts to reduce our freedom. Canada for Canadians.

Defend civil liberties - No more of the Orwellian measures of the Harper governemnt. No invasion of our privacy online, no warrantles surveilance.

Police oversight - Either moving to all regional police forces or providing enough oversight to stop abuses. While we are at it ban tazers.

Essentially, Green Libertarianism. Sadly I differ with most Greens and most Libertarians on how serious the Islamist threat is.

Thats a terrific post....travE

yes some would be getting the wrong ideas but then of course...they want to

Don't sell yourself short with your views...lots of Greens would agree.
I see through to your underlying spirit or intent and see just a wish for sane respectful democratic free citizen type thoughts....or am I wrong?

My only concern if I had one....
would be that you had not grown to this point......

when I as silent mass's needed you here.........


http://forums.cannabisculture.com/forums...254#Post1351254


keep up the fight !

myself its a little twisted these days but still with the program

I will either go bankrupt cease to exist in many ways or win the whole anchillota.....nice life

so.....travE, maybe wanna run for a seat sometime in the future in a new party....lol, hey a guys gotta have a dream and vision!!

Excellent points, kinda where I live in my mind
peace
smokemifyagotem

I have voted since I first turned 18, started voting for the liberal party before all the scandals and plundering our money away to companies that barley did any work, and ever since I have voted for the green party. Their platform may not be the best but at least its a change and its a vote for the little guy. We constantly vote in the Liberals or the Conservatives and they make promises and then go back on them, and as far as I'm concerned they are all a bunch of corrupt slime balls that line their own pockets and do nothing for our country. I think its time for a change!!!

I tend to vote NDP, but they along with the Green Party seem partial to affirmative action which is "reverse discrimination." Reverse discrimination only implies a directionality, i.e., it implies this is discrimination against the original discriminators. It is simply discrimination. Using discrimination to combat discrimination is clearly contradictory. That does not sit well with me.

I also know why these policies are supported by some people and I respect their intentions. They start with the question "Do you believe that past events and conditions influence future events and generations?" Clearly, the answer is a resounding "Yes!" A child has a better chance of succeeding in life if they are from a well-off family for many reasons, I trust you people have sufficient imagination to abstract reasons of your own. Similarly, people of different backgrounds, particularly those who are decedents of a traditionally oppressed group, are likely to have been negatively affected by the past actions of our society. For example, white people had a better chance of leading good lives and very adequately supporting their families for a longer period of time than black people would.

However, is race really the problem? Is gender? Women make less money than men if doing the exact same job on average, this is true, but is the answer to enforce ethnic, gender, or other quotas? I don't think so. It's entirely possible a poor white person could be denied entrance into a law school over a minority with lesser qualifications. This not only is wrong because merit is not the determining factor, but also because it exactly contradicts the intentions of affirmative action. As I have already stated, the first contradiction is fighting discrimination with further discrimination. The second is that it is meant to equalize society, to make society more fair.

But what are the reasons why these groups are put in a disadvantageous position? Surely, racism is not absolutely eliminated from anywhere. With that said, though, I believe there are adequate laws in place and that society has progressed far enough such that we do not need to institute quotas. But the main reason these groups could be considered to be placed in disadvantageous positions is because of socioeconomic conditions. Does this mean that we should change affirmative action to be geared toward individuals of lower incomes? I don't think this is a good idea, either. It is a better idea, but still not a good idea. There is still the issue of the first contradiction (fighting discrimination with more discrimination).

I think we just need to invest more into social programs and into education. The student loan situation is not a good one and educating your populace is without question an investment. And to appeal to the core audience of this website, if we legalized marijuana, I am sure that the government would have even more funds to be able to help out those who are truly in need of help.

I hope what I said here isn't too far off topic. Just in case it is, I have one last thing to say with regards to voting. I saw Marc Emery speak today in St. John's, Newfoundland. It was a very good talk. Something he mentioned was that voting can change things, but not voting is absolutely worthless. This is true. If you feel like you have to choose between (to cite South Park) a giant douche or a turd sandwich, why even choose? Why be forced to choose between the lesser of two evils? Or maybe all options are not worthy of your vote for different and difficult to quantify reasons? In Canada, I think that they record the number of spoiled ballots. If this is the case, that is one option. In fact, it is the only option present that I can think of. Well, besides "strategically voting," which is very anti-democratic.

I would very much like to see an additional box on every ballot:

"None of the above."

Oh hell yes I vote!!!!!
Can't bitch about the way things are to me, if'n ya didn't vote...

Too many lives have been lost that I may exercise that right; what a slap in the face to all those who've died defending that right for me...

Actually, as I outlined above, you certainly can bitch if you do not vote, and be perfectly right to do so. Forcing people to decide between the lesser of a given amount of evils is not democratic. It is very anti-democratic.

who said your limited to the choices that the parties give you?



Not in my book.
If you're not participating then you're part of the problem. Why do you think that things are the way they are?, cuz no one participates, or the people forget that they can "write-in" the candidate of their choice.

Bet you'd vote if someone you loved died defending that right for you; has no one in your family done service for their country?

Oh cool...so then I'll just stop paying taxes. I guess since it's just voting that give's one a right to bitch and moan about those who are causing their lives to become absolutely and utterly screwed, I don't need to worry about any of the other participatory portions of society huh?

I used to think that was a clever line...and then i smartened up. I pay taxes, I consume goods and services, i help my fellow citizens and I happen to think our political system is illegitimate and generally counter productive in terms of improving society. I can not view our system as a democratic one when you are required to put down a large financial sum in order to participate as a candidate for the people. Granted that sum is fully refundable but it's still an unreasonable barrier to running for office.

I'm sorry but this is the most ridiculous notion. The idea that the political system has failed to inspire the non-voter and caused the non-voter to become disillusioned or otherwise uncaring is some how the fault of the non-voter? I understand that the citizenship should remain vigilant in ensuring tyheir government is a quality government but there just might be a reason that the idea of voting for a government tends to get less and less popular over time among a democratically governed population. It's not just Canada that experiences a lower and lower voter turnout year over year. There may be spikes but generally, fewer and fewer people vote in every single democracy. Why do you think that is?



Isn't it a slap in the face to those people when we elect unethical people to govern our nation? Isn't a slap in my face when some one who fights for freedom does so selectively?

"Sure we fought for freedom but not the freedom to get stoned! You people are useless!"

If you can find a WWII vet, ask em what they think about pot smokers.

The military is one big ball of BS too come to think of it.

Again I mention that I do vote but the way the system operates, I don't have any confidence that I'll be voting for a winning candidate anytime soon. If I ever chose to not vote, I would certainly still bitch. You have any idea how much a business owner pays to the sheriff of Nottingham these days?

Cheers

Oh do not get hooked by this obvious ndp plant as its pointless

as larsen had me deleted from the ndp site "babble" yesterday this is probably just him abusing his power here and doing multiple sign ups

Just tell everyone """IF YOU USE CANNABIS """

ONLY THE GREEN PARTY HAS POLICY TO HELP US !!!(or u live in quebec)

Do not listen to the dying Neanderthal parties as they run scared over our last 41% increase !!! or showing in the last election

You will hear ...vote splitting you will hear we have seats you do not etc etc etc...its all garbage as they will try to scare you back to vote for them THEN DO NOTHING TO HELP !!!

I am tired of stupidity and I am tired of being abused.....I will only VOTE FOR A PARTY WHO SAYS THEY WILL RE-LEGALIZE NATIONALLY AND THAT MEANS GREEN


I plan on scaring them into adopting our policy

Say to them there is no point to vote ndp because they are liars..hypocrites...bullies and a joke as far as credibility !!

I know I was in them for 30 years and on their executives !!!!!!!!!!



Go away anonymous bullshitter





here are some babble links

part two

http://www.rabble.ca/babble/canadian-politics/green-party-supporters-what-would-it-take-etcpart-ii




part one

http://www.rabble.ca/babble/canadian-pol...ince-you-you-di



here are a couple more good ones ....LOL


http://www.rabble.ca/babble/canadian-politics/end-prohibition-ad-blocked-ndp-convention-guide



http://www.rabble.ca/babble/canadian-politics/calling-shenanigans-ndp-convention



No one invested more into the ndp (now done party ) than us....PERIOD

larsen even deleted me at this site in the endpro threads


If you really know what has been going on in our political world please stand up and help me demand our rights and do not fall for their garbage ANYMORE PLEASE !!!!


Go there(babble) sign up !!and help me with these lying bastards and help shut up the uncle tom from our group please....its the only way to educate them and it does work !!

Can you lend me $1,000 for the deposit to run as a candidate please n' thank you? Can you do it as well for 308 other ridings? You seem to be such a pro-democracy fellow. I'm sure you'll come up with the cash.

Cheers

I will
even though as a truck driver and just having a job and probably a home...have way more money than I

I do not need to come up with 308 thousands though as we were only a few riding away from doing it by ourselves individually anyway

I did ask you to do this the last time and you gave us your usual..... speeeeeeeeeel then

mr "" I couldnt careless but always ready to help it seems anyway persona"""....LOL

Here... let me make it simple for you - I am an American.
That should be enough to keep you entertained for a spell.

I'm not saying in any way shape or form, that its gotta be my way. NAY! All I am stating is that if someone comes at me with a political bitch and I know, or find out that they don't vote - I simply assert my right to free speech and tell them that I don't care to hear it. Probably would'ave taken them less time to go vote than to pitch a bitch...

Krikey...you'd think I called your mom a name...

...and I'm NOT a freakin' Democrat


...nor am I republican.

I can assure you that I'm far from prosperous currently. IU'm trying to change that but if I were to run as a candidate in a federal election, I wouldn't be able to justify coming up with the $1,000 today.

When did you last ask me to help in this regard?



You're an American...well ducky for you I suppose. I'm a Canadian.

I'm not trying to make out as though you've offended me or some such thing. You haven't..you just sound silly. This idea that people lose a legitimate platform from which to speak should they fail to cast a ballot is ridiculous. We all live here and we all participate in or respective societies. Just because some one has not been inspired to vote does not mean they have any less of a right to have a beef with the state of affairs then you do. It's akin to telling a 16 year old that they shouldn't complaint about government regulated working conditions because they don't vote.

I understand that there's a difference between that situation and a regular non-voter who simply chooses not to vote but for me, the reasoning remains the same. We all participate in our society and so we all have a credible position from which to complain about the state of affairs. The fact that you'll shut some one out simply because they failed to vote makes you closed minded and less able to access a variety of ideas in what is a great national and international debate about all things.

As I pointed out earlier, our government in Canada was elected by only 22% or so of the eligible electorate. What on earth should make me think that the government is a legitimate system in which everyone should participate?

Cheers

OhYesWeCannabis!, agreed...the parties in existence in Canada will never do what needs to be done - period. That is where the start a new party plan comes in. Much more than a legalization party, many big changes in policy and get candidates that are appropriately aged for the desired demographic (for the most part at least). The NDP will never become the ruling party of Canada, ever. The Green parties big dream is ONE SEAT, wooohooo, gonna change the world once that happens I bet.

To make big changes, you have to dream big. I know it won't be easy, nothing worth having or doing rarely is. I plan to get things rolling big time by next fall.

Keep up the good work!
cheers n peace,
smokemifyagotem

hahha
yeah give me a call buddy.....just even when you get all the signatures required....hmm lets see ....maybe if you started today by next ....next fall you would have ...SOME !!

sorry but its like we are on a car lot looking at the so called choice cars ....oh.... there's cop car and and an assorted bunch of others...over there is actually cannabis car the only one on the lot that runs on cannabis

now theres you .....who keeps telling me how we can get some wheels and an engine and darn near build something that kinda looks almost kinda like ...I mean if we lower our expectations until we earn tax payer funding etc ...darn it all we can get a thing called a cannabis car.......see where I am going ...kid?


Now you naked guy.......I meant Pseudonymous the newfy...or who ever is in newfoundland and created a quick name



and you mr truck driving steal trap mind.....hahhahahahhaha....really?
come ooooooooooooonnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn........

I could tell you...... if I could remember what my name was then here.....LOL


so I penciled you in for saskatoon humbolt....K?

cheers

You're...not making a lot of sense to me. And what on earth makes me a steel trap mind. Actually, what on earth does that mean?

You know John, I didn't want to take claims that you make enemies of friends at face value but it seems to be quite right. I'm not sure if it's because your expectations are too high or what but I'm actually really kinda saddened that I get vitriol directed at me from your direction. Honestly it's actually kinda hurtful not because it's vitriol but because I honestly just don't know why it's comin' at me.

Cheers

"To make big changes, you have to dream big."

Is Yet Another Political Party really a big dream?
It is rather apparent that "political parties" are what created this mess, and, indeed, they're what stand in the way of fixing it.

As soon as one enters the "political party" game, one needs to start thinking not in terms of principles but "public credibility". I mean, if you want an electable party. If you want to push an issue, sure you can be principled! But principles don't win votes.

Like, unless you're envisioning some grand formation of government by your new political party, you're thinking about playing second fiddle to a major party---the LIBS or CONS. As soon as a LibCon says "we were wrong about drug prohibition. As it happens the police unions have been lying to us for, oh, gosh, the better part of a century. And that's just about drugs" he will be replaced by a useful idiot willing to toe the party line.

And I do not vote any longer. I wanted to vote when I was eight years old, but the desire passed around the time I realized that for my taste monarchy >> democracy. Voting is now thoroughly irrelevant except as a PR exercise. To make it relevant, large-scale structural changes need to be made, such as extending the franchise downward as well as teaching children how they may decline the franchise and live outside of the corporation which issues that franchise.

If, for example, political party membership begin during K-12, it would be much easier to justify public funding for everyone so that they could finance their ideas, rather than forcing people to pick from the pool of ideas which the business community is willing to finance. For example, on the first day of school everyone is given a voucher and they may take it to one of the tables already set up by the mainstream political parties. If none of those are satisfying, support staff could be in-place to help the children form their own parties. This could also be a useful basis for self-government of schools by and for the students therein.

Children are forced to attend government run schools and yet they have no say in how those schools operate---is that fair?

And remember, that there's historical precedent is no argument; there ertr thousands of years of historical precedent for wife/child beating, but very few people believe in those things anymore.

You are kidding I hope?
Right off the hop I apologize if thats how I come across.....dam I hate that we are not all on google talk

I know you are one of the good guys and yes I am sorry I do not translate
My sense of humor is I guess pretty dry I will admit my bedside manner I will confess has been rather pessimistic since I disappeared one day in 1991 for a so called crime I did not commit

everyday since is excruciating in some form or another


No way I would hurt you ever

I am sorry my style is giving you that impression I will make more sense some how some way

I will say its just two fingered spontaneously as I sit here


Yes I think you can help us all easily with what you have done already and I know you and as I as conservative types fit very well in the green party

yes I am on a daily basis probably as cynical as you
it disgusts me what really goes on in plain sight...to me they are sheeple grazing and ignorant and yes need something like us and have had it in the past to get the improvements that have been done...who else but us to do it for ourselves?


see now I have meandered and if any get that I want harm or anything to you or am putting you down etc ...I do not ...but I have heard that I do that from time to time ....I am however the type willing to do a tussle over posts and comments....sorry I thought that was what it was about isn't it?
I do argue
The only consolation I can give
is that I am all over the place in political forums
and if even my own team .....gets their backs up
imagine how I must drive them crazy ...LOL



have a look see here for example......

http://greenparty.ca/blogs/74/2009-07-29/council-matters-2#comment-10340


http://greenparty.ca/blogs/11193/2009-07-28/federal-council-elections-marijuana#comment-10343

--



keep up the fight.....some how

1) I guess I should look at it like taxes then? Because I certainly don't believe that government should be supported by a tax put on me, I shouldn't expect it should require a vote to participate.
I'm not saying that they (those who did not vote) do NOT have a platform from which to speak, its just harder for me to hear them.
Seems that regardless of how decreped a system may be, one should participate in it. Obviously in fascist governments its all for 'show' anyway, but when it(your vote)actually (sort of) counts, &/or you have the ability to "write-in" ANY qualified person(s) that you see fitI think it should be exercised. I think its a slap in the face to those who have died defending our right to express ourselves by voting, when you don't.
I understand that the wars generally were not fought for the reasons we think: Never-the-less, I think it cheapens the lives lost defending our right to vote, regardless of how corrupt our governments may be.
How do you expect to change things if you are silent?



2) 16 yr. olds are not allowed to vote... I'm not sure I understand all of what you're trying to convey here.., really.
I still fail to see how "silence" is the key?

3) I don't really think so... I see it very similar to the admission ticket for an amusement park. You don't pay - you don't get in. V.A. benefits - you didn't serve - you don't get them. The government which serves you; you don't vote, you didn't participate(obviously - to me that simply translates into; "I don't care enough to get up and speak-out by casting my official ballot.")
If you have an opinion; why didn't you vote?

4) Costco shuts you out if you don't pay the membership(I'm going on 'principle' here), this is one of only a few truly FREE forums now. You may have the best ideas in the world but if you dont get out and say so - when it counts(no pun intended)then how have you contributed? By telling me that your government(much like my own) is elected by a minute amount of those qualified to project a vote? Other than maybe you & I motivating each other to get off our asses and register/take people to the poles when its time to vote, what good is TALKING about it? Good, Better, or Best idea - what difference does it make if its not taken to the public forum, your town council meetings, and you support and champion it.
If its an idea that NOT on the ballot; then it does NOT mean shit, regardless of how good or bad it may, or may not be... No, I am not the perfect little citizen either, but I will state that I have become more civics minded, and I do attend the city council meetings in my area - sometimes I even speak! I vote my ass off! I write letters and make phone calls. I speak out publicly against the policies that I object to, and am a constant bug in Arnies ear about cutting his big government.
Fuckin pisses me off that all these programs(infra-structure, alt. energy, and transportation mainly) are getting cut, and the schools are loosing funds, etc., etc.; yet there were NO CUTS to the state capitols benefits, salaries or retirements - hell no; they'll get a fucking raise - and no one will say anything, at least not enough to register on the radar - many of them dont even bother to register to vote...

As fucked up as it may be, its my government. Illegal as it may be, its STILL my government.
If I'm gonna see change in this steaming pile of shit that IS my government, I'm gonna try to VOTE it in first; If that doesn't work, then I'll try to be in the revolution that (should) rise to take it back. As I was reminded a little while back: "The American Revolution was fought by a few that many could be free.". I was amazed at that. I had always thought that EVERYONE participated in their freedom-fight: I see how wrong I was.

"The pen is mightier than the sword" - lest its never picked up.

ummmm ethan?

ok screw it ...I will expose myself if I have to.....dammmmmmmm

and its a pain to get new sign ups all the time...u know

but...taa daaaaa
its me shavluk...I know ...I know...bizarre how disguised I was an all...eh??
no one knew and it was great while it lasted

just for you buddy..LOL

I hope you realize its just me and my style...hey did you even read those links?


heres the last one I just said there


Good for you
Submitted by John Shavluk on 1 August 2009 - 2:03pm.
I would add a few things that I would like to see ....

How about councillors elected who can stay sober during at least part of a national convention.

I would like to elect councillors who do not let our provincial wings fall apart in their own provinces and under their guidance and watch.

I would like to elect councillors who actually respond to people in their province so my phone stops ringing where I provided hundreds of members.

Want more?

All of you running .....YOU REPRESENT THE MEMBERS FIRST!!

NOT YOURSELVES AND NOT E MAY !!



Maybe think about why you are running in the first place if you can not stay on track or even with our own approved ....policies.

We became a joke in the last election....just with broken promises.... and poorly thought out blunders...what is this ""no plan "" stuff being spewed to media?

If the leader makes a promise that millions are waiting to see happen then protest all over the country to get her in the debates to complete the promise ...then she ignores them...well...we looked stupid and the polls reflected it as we would have won seats !!

I am sorry but the games being played in this party tell me we have a lot of work to do still and all candidates for council should make a pledge to follow our constitution faithfully so they do not end up sued for breaking their words.

Can we add that ?

Cheers All

(disclaimer:do not be confused and think shavluk is the green party talking...hahha) http://shavluk.com/ http://whyprohibition.ca/ juror.ca
edit reply 1 point



http://greenparty.ca/blogs/74/2009-08-01/council-matters-3#comment-10359

------------------------------------------


Hey I can only be me


anyhoo lighten up man

Ok so who do you think I should be next?...LOL

Now that I have exposed this huge secret....LOL

Cheers

I personally think that if you think that if you have to choose between the lesser of the evils and don't want to vote, you should go in and write that on the ballot. Your vote won't be counted but if enough people went in and wrote on the ballot that they are not choosing anyone because they are all corrupt and out to line their pockets and do nothing for us, maybe, just maybe we might get the point across.

In the movie Brewster's Millions, the "candidate" urges voters to vote for none of the above. I like that.

In USA both Democrats & Republicans vote for 800 page bills that are un-Constitutional, w/out reading them. Perhaps what is needed is a new bill, that would limit bills to 1 page. This might encourage politicians to read them. Amendments could be added 1 page at a time.

There is a great website for USA voters who seek info on candidates www.votesmart.org GWTJ

I think ....like australia is should be against the law to not vote....but then of course they now have a green party government

I would give everyone who showed up at the polls $10 dollars....or some prise the sheeple all want....
like monogrammed toilet paper...etc...LOL

can you just see the line ups?

And I would allow internet voting
the only reason we are not allowed to do internet voting now.......is because we would!!

Its the view of the two of you that has been systematicly grown by our public school systems......on purpose

A lot dont vote....a lot like that very very very ...much

to me its insane but most are unaware of human history and I see why they dont

to me its like this

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L0yQunhOaU0



the dumbing down is going very nicely I see

yes there is something to be said by spoiling your ballot .....but both of you ....dont seem to see why...
here in canada it deprives the party you would have voted for of the two bucks per vote in tax payer money

Great
but only if we are allowed to place our two bucks in a general fund...yes... that hires lawyers to keep on the ass's of those elected with lawsuits over their lies done in the campaign !!

if you dont vote....you are irrelevant.....completely

less than a sheeple


my 2 cents

Actually, I voted for Cynthia McKinney (Green Party) & she got about 0.2% (?) of the vote. Even Ralph Nader, no party this time, got more votes. In his previous runs, he did better as Green Party than as independent. I guess maybe name recognition is somewhat more of a factor than party or lack of party.

I considered voting for Ron Paul. He said he dropped out, but his fans said he did not. So I'm not sure if votes for him would have been counted if he won. GWTJ

Oh ...please dont even start me on your.......ehem....LOL...system

maybe watch that movie I posted
as its beyond help it is ....your system


I am sure your founding fathers would if they could see what has happened in todays day and age have some of their slaves shoot some of you guys

corruption so entrenched its beyond the pale......

excuse me while I calf laughing as you were f cked over with phony fear tactics on the long long awaited national health plan

its just too bad you guys are in such an obviously poor country as people and can not even get a health care system as good as cubas

seems some of you think if you have a lot of bombs your people wont not be hungry ....LOL

yes I have never seen such rampant ignorance in my entire life as I see in the ...LOL...united(my ass) states

at least you voted though....good for you .....

I thank you for being in the smartest .2 % of your country


(anyone else seeing this site moving at a snail pace??)

I don't vote, because I don't like any of the parties or candidates. We simply don't have any really charismatic politicians in Canada. I will certainly never vote for Conservative, Liberal or NDP because they all supported C15. Why would I vote for somebody who wants to put me in prison? That sort of thing really rubs me the wrong way.

I might vote for the Green party, if they stop calling themselves that and got a leader that I actually recognize. I just went to the Green website to see what their platform was and saw some lady pictured as the leader of the Green Party. I can't recall ever seeing her before that nor was her name familiar. If the leader of a party is so lackluster that I've never even heard of her, I figure they should probably get somebody else.

Take the best looking man in the party, preferably one who did some acting in college or has a background in public speaking, and have him play the role of the most charismatic politician in the world. That's what Obama did and it worked out pretty well. You just get this "possessed by the Holy Spirit of democracy" look on your face and act out the script written for you by somebody else with a background in screen writing and a minor in Political Science. This super politician droid will have the voters in the palm of his hand.

Incidentally, I said "man" because a new party is not the place to test out whether or not a female can successfully compete in politics yet. So far, it isn't working. People just naturally associate leadership with masculinity. Whether that's fair or not is immaterial. It's a natural characteristic of the species. Later on, sure, but now is not the right time.

Now, the name issue. Anything with the word "green" in it makes people think "tree huggers" or something that will cost people jobs in order to improve the world for future generations. The average voter only cares about this generation, and their practical time frame is about the next 2 or 3 years at the most. You can't come right out and tell them that you are an "environmentalist" party, or anything related. You can keep those same ideals but you just can't talk about them that much, if you want to get elected. Those should simply be presented as part of the overall plan to responsibly govern the country...in subsection 157f of the platform. Once you get seats then you can do the environmental stuff quietly in the background. Just get a normal political sounding name, like the New Labour Party, then maybe I'll vote.

Look at the conservatives in Kamloops. They dragged some woman in from Alberta a month before the election. No one had even heard of her before and she won. Go figure that one out. Course, this town is packed with rednecks.

OMG!!!! they did the same thing to us with Jimmy Carter!

Have no idea who Ethan is; sorry.

Didn't mean for you to 'expose' yourself either...

I am just an American that has nothing to do with Canadian politics, other than the fact that I think EVERYONE should participate, regardless of how "broken down" the system may be.

I'm not saying it's impossible to win an election with somebody who 99% of the population doesn't know exists, just that it's a bit harder. I suppose you could say it's my fault for being ill informed but who really searches around for new political candidates to make sure they know them all? I don't recall any memorable TV ads with what's her name saying or doing anything that would cause me to remember her. I admit to having heard of the Green Party, but I never felt an urge to find out what it was or who leads it. It's their job to get that information into my sphere of awareness without me having to actively look for it.

Now like I said, if they get a memorable leader and drop the wacky green stuff as the prime focus of their platform and as their actual name, I might be inclined to lend them an ear and possibly even cast a vote for them. The stage is wide open for somebody to come along and present a desirable alternative to the three standard idiotic money grubbing self centered parties, and get all those uncast votes from people like me. Sadly, nobody has done that yet so I just don't even waste my effort going to the polling stations. It never matters if the country is governed by the Conservatives or the Liberals, which appear to be the only two parties that will ever get into power. They simply take turns at screwing the country up some more and oppressing the underclasses with arbitrary laws based on nothing other than what they think will win them the next election. As of right now, I don't believe there is one damn person in the country who is worthy of my vote. I literally cannot think of one politician I even have the slightest respect for, much less would want as a Prime Minister.

naked guy I am referring to ethan eriliac (sorry) one of the founders of the saskatchewan marijuana party..some one who walked the streets for months collecting the 2500 signatures to have a party

the party is head quartered in my old home in saskatoon

bob........
if you dont vote....you are irrelevant.....completely

less than a sheeple


my 2 cents



as I said

maybe a guy like you should maybe....step up?

lots of room in the party...lord knows we can use a man like yourself...what will you do to help us....sir?



has anyone here watched idiocrasy?


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u8yoSAiwY18&feature=related

Irrelevant or not, I refuse to vote unless I actually endorse a politician and their party. I don't endorse any of them. To cast a vote for someone I don't even like just because I like the other ones even less just doesn't seem right to me. That's like voting for Mussolini instead of Hitler. I don't even endorse the form of government in this country. What is the result of the parliament system we have? Look at the parliament channel or whatever the hell it's called. It's a bunch of really stupid rituals, the end result of which is something extremely inefficient and incredibly dull. It's like going to church or something, only more boring, if that's even possible.

I feel good enough voting people OUT of office. And realize, the reason government is boring to watch? Fewer people watching, less oversight.

yes you are correct OCNORML
the ""mister speakers"" and the crazy rants ...yes..do add for me
but yes it can put you sleep...

and maybe that is their point

bobcajun thinks ignoring them will make them go away sadly

he thinks that maybe if more are like him the bullies wont get more powerful

its not your fault bob...its been inbred

those of us still cognizant of the real reality will just have to redouble our efforts just to take up the slack for our obviously fallen wounded comrades...OK?




they count on those like bob not using their power to stop them...they count on it and think we are something called potheads.....who do not vote

I like surprise and will continue to vote

And that's exceptionally unfortunate. I think it's your own disadvantage if you choose to filter some one's message simply because they have not voted.



Write ins in Canada are not counted. Write in votes in your nation are largely futile. I can see the point but I wouldn't generally participate in that exercise. But honestly, who's to say that the person actively making a descision to not vote isn't participating? If some one thinks that voting lends illegitimate leaders legitimacy, why would you expect them to vote? Isn't the active non-voter in this case participating by boycotting the system? If I boycott Kellogg products because of the Michael Phelps incident (I do) should I have no criticisms for the company as I refuse to have anything to do with their products?



Who said anything about being silent? You said something about not listening to those who wish to have a voice without voting but i don't recall anything about being silent. To me, the lives of those lost were cheapened already by largely illegitimate leaders of nations.



You probably fail to see it because no one has advocated it.

I explained why i think the situations are simmilar briefly. Perhaps you missed it?



Ah, you didn't miss it. Here's a trick, let's assume that you're born in the amusement park. People don't simply walk out of the womb into the nation of their choosing. How about being drafted into the military? One need not necessarily make out as though this is all a voluntary system which is based in a legitimate philosophy.

You're equating (quite heavily) failing to cast a ballot with staying silent. I think you're suffering a bad case of tunnel vision as though casting a ballot is the only way to democratically express yourself. I don't see why casting a ballot is a superior form of expression as compared to say publishing a newspaper editorial or even simply posting your thoughts online like we are doing now.



I agree that simply talk isn't enough but I don't think simply casting a ballot is good enough either. In nations which experience high levels of voter turnout, they also experience the same types of fraud, corruption and lack of public response/representation as we do. I simply don't see the value of casting a ballot in the mainstream sense because whether or not voter turnout is high, I think our representative systems of government experience the same problems that most every other representative system of government does.

The problem with your position from where I stand is that it can be easily reversed. You're telling me that a ballot counts and that it's the best way to convey our democratic voice. I say that the vote is a proven futile exercise. In fact, beyond being futile, I can easily sympathize with the position that it makes a bad system worse by encouraging its further propagation. A system that I see as inherently damaging to the population at large should not be encouraged to become ever more bloated, unwieldy and powerful.



I don't understand why failing to cast a ballot robs an idea of credibility. The truth is that as you may choose to become more and more involved with the government and your local administrators, I am experiencing a desire to distance myself from that structure more and more. The way I have developed my political philosophy means that I see government as more and more counter-intuitive. Perhaps that's not the right term but certainly it seems to me as though it's hardly needed and largely unjustified in its largess.



And why should people be inspired to participate in this system. It always seems to result in a select few getting a free ride on the backs of every one else. People aren't generally attracted to systems which don't do a lot for them and take a great deal from them in return. Government is only allowed to exist because people seem to accept it as a fact of life.

"It is as it has always been and likely will continue to be so why bother getting rid of it?"

I'm not a big fan of maintaining the status quo simply for the sake of maintaining its historical relevance in the present.



You accept the legitimacy of an illegal government? Really? What makes it yours anyway?



Now there's something I can agree with. Revolution is something people shouldn't be so hesitant to instigate. The only problem is what the revolutionaries often replace the system with.



I'm sure you realize how far your government has strayed from the original vision and experiment. Care to point to a single government structure anywhere in the world that has not progressed along the same path as yours?



The pen is a powerful tool yes. I would say it's even mightier than the ballot.

Cheers

I've been working. I have time to peruse these threads now as the paving crew has been rained out and I'm stuck in the thriving metropolis of Weyburn for now.

I'm sure I'll be back to fiddling with hours of service laws in just a couple of days.



I'm pretty sure banning you is an excercise in futility at this point no?



Well since it was just for me, I'll express some appreciation for it I suppose. lol



I have not yet read those links.

Your style is difficult for me to understand all the time and you come off as perhaps something you don't intend to be. These misunderstandings are easy to realize in text based chat.



I frankly don't care if a politician is drunk as a vodka soaked goose so long as they do a good job. Some people function quite well while intoxicated but generally, it's somethign to be avoided yes.



Alright.



One of the problems with the type of system we have is that as representatives gain influence, there tends to be far less time available to constituents and more time for those who can actively lobby for the government to use its power to organized interests.

A government that is meek and subservient in any case (or even a political party for the matter) is able to represent people. Give the government the power to determine who can sell a particular item for instance and those who sell the item get their time with government.



I kinda went off on a tangent about government when we were talking about the green party I suppose. Unfortunately, your statement is born of hope and not reality I think. . The party system has destroyed any hope of Canadians being represented by elected representatives. We are represented by salesmen and women who come by every few years to give us the ultimate pitch RE: their party's ideas. As any salesperson, they'll often let us down by overselling to our expectations and under delivering.



Pretty much agreed with that. You see why people like myself are not enamoured of the green party though hmm?



I'm quite lightened up. I can be as happy as all get out and still be confused by what I interpret to be an attack.



I think perhaps "Ozmodiar."



The CIA are probably clucking their tongues at you now. They could show you how to keep a secret for...heck...months maybe.

Cheers

But what about some one who just doesn't think the system should be lent any sort of legitimacy?



Yes, that would be me.



Oh come come now. You think voting when a system becomes completely wrecked is still a good idea? Want to vote for any candidate except a communist one in China?

Cheers

hey welcome back Psycho

I understand
I just can not understand though the view of not voting but I will leave it to those who don't as their choice obviously....

to me the alternative plays right into their hands ...without even a fight

as I said though it should be much easier to vote
and if they can spend 300 million dollars doing an election ...well thats $10 bucks for each and every one of us....I want my moneys worth

I don't disagree with a need for electronic voting on the web so long as a paper trail can be produced to verify each and every single vote cast. If you one must vote, they should at least be confident that their vote will be counted against other valid votes and not mythical votes.

As I have mentioned, I don't refrain from voting but again, you can rest assured that if I'm voting for you, it must almost certainly mean you won't be winning your seat. Not voting may play into some one's hands but voting for unprincipled liars who are incapable of resisting the urge to take advantage of the electorate (rather than serve them) seems to be playing right into their hands as well.

Cheers

If anyone got an education about slime balls I sure did in the ndp....imagine us on the train and some bigwigs come over and tell us we should not go on.........ugggggg

sven robinson stole a fricken $50 thousand dollar ring and yet he was and is better than a kirk tousaw ....to the ndp...

and kirk is still one of them !!!!!!

the world is very strange indeed

I am probably wasting my time
but I can not ....not try... you know?

Sitting there rotting in a cell ...for some thing I really did not do ....with no freedom .... impossible to see my kids
as still temporarily a millionaire on paper ...no benefits..or even legal aid

while on the outside as I finally got telephone time between phone bullies I learned all my hard earned assets were being raped and stolen while not even in arrears ...yes it changes a man

as it should ...I guess

if there was another way I would try it...too

I am often tempted to advocate armed resistance but in the end, that does more harm than good. It's unfortunate that there is no simple solution.

Cheers

I would vote if there was a party worth voting for. No point voting Conservative, Liberal or NDP. None of those will change things to a noticeable degree. They're pretty much the same except for their names. Voting Green is pointless because there is no way that enough supporters of the three main parties are ever going to switch over, so there is no way they will ever get anything but a meaningless tiny percentage of votes anyway. Simple fact is, the Liberals and Conservatives have so many people locked in to them by being financially dependent on the status quo continuing that they really can't get out and vote for any other party. All those government employees are not going to suddenly vote for a party that is likely to make significant changes in the way government works.

We are literally helpless to ever get out of the Liberal/Conservative/NDP merry go round. Unless you are part of, or support, one of the parties, or slightly modified forms of parties, that were established in the early days of the country you will never get anywhere in politics. We're literally at the mercy of those three parties. They really are that entrenched. It's basically just one big political party with three factions, because their policies vary only in small ways. It's rare for the ruling party to propose draconian and stupid legislation and any of the other two parties to want to resist it in any substantial way. C15 proved that.

That's why I don't vote. It's completely pointless. Politicians are very crafty, being mostly lawyers, and they have managed to gain complete control over Canada and the US. They have a very extensive military that they can use to enforce their control of the country. They keep things running just well enough that the entire population will never feel compelled to start an armed rebellion against their control. We are literally helpless and at the mercy of the leaders of those parties and will be for eternity or until the space aliens take over. Until then, they can act like 5 year olds in the House of Commons, they can vote to pay themselves hundreds of thousands of dollars in salaries and benefits and they can do pretty much whatever the hell they want. I mean, come on, does the House of Commons look like people who are answerable for their behavior? If people watch and say "hey look Mildred, the Canadian House of Commons is like an Animal House food fight without the food", it doesn't matter.

Yes, the House of Commons is a clown show of the lowest order and there's nothing we can do about it but watch and cringe and tell our children not to act like that because it is very unbecoming and people will think we are raising baboons.

I won't go as far as to say its a "good idea". It (voting) is kind of like our (the United States') Constitution - a symbol of something once great: I think "token" maybe 'fits' better, in the case of voting.
I won't deny that the 'popular' vote is pretty much obsolete as evidenced by its manipulation in courts, or out, in the last few elections; or "discounted" to the electoral college votes.
Trust me, each time I visit the booth, I feel like I'm voting "against a/the machine", but I still do it.
I also do it out of respect for all the lives lost n the name of freedom - regardless of the ACTUAL cause of (any) war.

good point Raceneked420






Bob


"""I would vote if there was a party worth voting for. No point voting Conservative, Liberal or NDP. None of those will change things to a noticeable degree. They're pretty much the same except for their names. Voting Green is pointless because there is no way that enough supporters of the three main parties are ever going to switch over, so there is no way they will ever get anything but a meaningless tiny percentage of votes anyway."""




THERE IT IS !!!!!

THE PART YOU DO NOT GET !!!

its you !!

nothing more than u required.....all the u's and their 10 friends in their circle


now I will explain

look at the numbers


http://www.elections.ca/scripts/OVR2008/default.html




we were the only ones to go up with the most ever spent by the others in the worst turn out in history


YOU ARE THE KEY !!


WE DID IT BY ATTRACTING ......""""ONLY NON VOTERS """"" !!!

42 % did not vote.........


42 % is 6% more than what harper has...and we got 7% ALREADY !!!



WAKE UP AND DO YOUR PART AND WE DO NOT NEED THE ENTRENCHED HYPOCRITES IN THE OTHER PARTIES !!


but I am sure we will even get some of those as well...

I mean if you do your part !!!!!!!!!!!!



WAKE UP BOB !!!

I AM JUST YOU TOO

IT WILL WORK AND I HAVE PROVED IT ALREADY

IT YES DOES TAKE FAITH ...BUT SO WHAT DOES NOT THAT IS WORTH IT ?

And while I agree, the green party, or any other small party will never get catapulted to majority, an election with 3-4 ridings will spur everyone else into believing they can do it. The next election may be 8, years later a minority or majority.

Sitting idle and throwing your hands up will not change anything!

Okay, fine, I'll vote Green next time just to see what happens. I suggest all others on this forum do the same. I don't think it will make a difference but I guess it's better than doing nothing. At least I will know that I made an effort.

Activism isn't just "doing it", that's voting. Activism is convincing people and changing minds.

I agree, very well put Afka, I might just have to quote you on that
**************Mouse*************

Thank you Bob !

I would not knowingly lie or mislead any of my comrades from the cannabis movement.....never

I promise

ask dana what I do....
yes.. when the party itself turns out to be full of shite and cowardly ...with game playing etc
its all here from 2006
or maybe even tries to turn on us

and as some still want to just "hang out " cause they have long term asperations for themselves...LOL
....yes while their video's to the ndp look like horror stories

well....sadly

they think someone will still think them relevant!! ...LOL

Its PURELY ABOUT THE CAUSE FOR ME !!

yes.... I sat rotting in a jail ....

when I got out
I left saskatoon immediately and did not want to even be canadian I was so disgusted with a corrupt judiciary

I worked for 8 years educating myself .....researching....

wax on
wax off ..(I know its corny and from karate kid but its true)

I worked with my bare hands
every day

after getting here from jail with absolutely nothing !!

I ended up building a 44 foot catamaran float home (vancouver is very expensive)homes and rent ....very resonable on water if you own it

I did it scrounging (yes my new wife had work...3 days a week)
but no one is more green with recycling


try to imagine touching every square inch of something 44ft by 20 ft and 15 ft tall ...as you live on nothing and like nothing is real or trustworthy again

6 am in 1991 I awoke with cops all over my house and disappeared with jail and bull shit filled betrayals and garbage ...and two years later before the intense preasure finally subsided even a bit....its along story..sorry

So I worked sanding every inch ...many times over and over and I thought.....studied....looked at and followed court cases .....studied politics....thought and thought and yes did decide certain truths

I have been here at CC for 9 years in one form or another....we had bcmp chat or some such thing before I realized this was here

its been a hit or miss semi organized so called movement you do understand

anyway...people can see what I have said....for a long time


I thank you for the leap of faith Bob and say I do not know of another way to really effect something like this issue except at its source!!!

and I believed its why I was attacked on september 4 th and know it now obviously based on who personally attacked...harper being involved etc....

everyone knows but the greens themselves how big an issue it really is....the ndp for sure do and as they meet next week in halifax I have given them more initiative to try to even duplicate the greens .....as they know how stupid they now look to many and yes do read somethings I say...actually a lot

its their issue to loose ....next week...and I think they will

and when they do cower out as I think....yes..only because the greens got their guts first...

I see them screwed big time NEXT ELECTION !!

I hope some of you have read the green party.ca blogs to see how it is done and why we need to be there?


wow
I get chatty with cannabis...sorry


and I should go ..

I guess Bob's post kinda restored some of my faith in our kind !
its been a long road
cheers

So there you have it folks !!!

The now done party(ndp)
just announced its policy topics for halifax

the issue with 12 EDA's bringing drug resolutions....were all put so high they wont make it to the floor


yet someone putting in some thing about dog food with only ONE resolution...PLACED LOWER ON THE LIST AND MAY GET THERE !!!!!


hahhahahhahhaha

seems the biggest issue for them is whether to drop the NEW from the party name !!!!!!!!!!!!


I TOLD YOU SO !!!!!

lets hear from these so called now done party people who have continued to lie and bambooozele you guys

and I dont mean you larsen

if you post here I demand equal time in the endpro threads !!!!!!!!

A lot of people in Australia still don't vote, all they have to do is not register, lazy bastards in my opinion.

I think if you're too lazy and don't vote, then you have no right to bitch when the government is taxing you or making policies that you don't like.

Still i think it's the best thing that it's compulsory
to vote here.

As your name states, OhYesWeCannabus!

Oh yeah, and to answer the main reason of this thread, yes i do vote.