What Would the Setbacks Do?
Email questions to advice[at]thesetbacks.com
Man, politics is rough...
May 31st, 2004
Jen Kitsman writes:
Hey guys, I'm from Hamilton and I figured since you guys are in Ottawa you can help me out with this politics question. I'm aware that the election was called a week or two ago and I think it's happening at the end of the month, right? Well, my dad is a hardcore Liberal and my mom has been a Tory since she was old enough to walk. This is the first time I'm eligible to vote and both of my parents are trying to convince me to vote for their party. I'm in a real tough spot cause I know I'll end up hurting their feelings no matter what I do. Is there any way I can vote for who I want AND keep them happy?
~Jen
 Trevor |
The thing to keep in mind is that it is a secret ballot. You don't have to tell anyone how you voted. That's the bottom line. Vote how you want, hopefully based on sound research, and feel good about your own personal decision.
One thing you should know about voting though (since this is your first time) is how to use the voting booth. Here are some handy tips that I wish someone had told me: 1. When entering the voting booth, always remove your shoes and put on the insulated, rubber soled voting slippers. 2. Make sure you aren't carrying anything that can conduct electricity, because doing so can permanently damage the booth and cause certain death for you. 3. Attach the voting electrodes to your head (not your genitals) and think hard about the decision you are about to make. Don't mess this up and think about sex, because the government stores all the data, and if the Conservatives get power, they will abuse this information. 4. You MUST remove the electrodes one at a time, failure to do so can cause permanent brain damage. Now you know all you need to know to vote. Now get out there and DO IT! It's completely absoludicrous the amount of people who don't actually vote. |
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 Steve |
Jen, as a service to you and other young voters in Canada I'm going to give you a quick rundown of your options:
Liberal Party These guys are currently in power and have been for the last 10 years. They're scandalous villians and you shouldn't turn your back on them for a second. Conservative Party This is the newly formed party from the merger of the Reform and Progressive Conservative parties. They decided to drop the "progressive"-ness, which was a bad move in my books. Being progressive is a good thing, so these guys are out too. NDP These guys are socialists, but they're sort of the lesser of three evils out of the major parties. NDP leader Jack Layton has a moustache, which is cool and macho - two important qualities of a prime minister. Green Party They're never going to win shit, but for young people like us they're the only ones that seem to make any sense. A vote for them is sort of like throwing your vote in the garbage, but it's also taking a vote away from one of the other crappy alternatives. ...and there's a bunch of other parties that suck so bad even the dudes in the Green Party laugh at them, so don't even bother voting for them. |
 Paul |
Awaiting wisdom... |
 Chris |
Man Jen, you are in a seriously ga....er...ahem.....I mean...difficult position. Tell your parents to chill out, and be nice. Generally I think politics is pretty ga....ARGHHH.....dumb. Whatever you do, do not vote NDP. They are extremely ga....DAMN!....I mean....different. They tend to align themselves with socialist views. If you like Birkenstocks and Trail Mix...then vote away. The conservatives are also very ga....I'm sorry...different. They are all from West Coast Canada, no matter what anyone says. They are not in favor of ga....ARGHHHHHH!!!!.....same sex marriage generally, although the party is kind of flip floppy on the issue. The liberals are another party, but them seem to be getting eclipsed by Dalton McStinky's ga.....apologies....bad budget that he screwed everyone over on in getting elected.
actually your parents are assholes. but you should research the party's platforms fully, take the bad with the good, and vote. |
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