TheNewGirl's not gonna like this one from The Vancouver Sun :troll:
These guys make their judgments based on certain criteria. If their criteria isn't relevant to your situation, it's better if you don't vote that way. But I'm posting this for non-political ppl because there's way more honesty and integrity in their reasoning than 90% of what gets attention out there.
If not them to flush out the BS then who? This laughable thread? The political junkies took over and filled it with petty lying meant to mislead others to vote how you want them to vote. That may be how you guys operate, but there's others who don't do that shit. Making decisions based on lies built upon half-truths is a poor way to go through life. Quote:
EDITORIAL: Conservative majority needed to see us through turbulent times
Even when he’s singing Beatles tunes, Conservative party leader Stephen Harper comes across as stern and austere. His style contrasts sharply with New Democrat leader Jack Layton’s warmth and humour and Liberal leader Michael Ignatieff’s passion and erudition.
But an election is not about personalities; it is a collective decision about leadership. It is up to us to elect the leader and party best able to govern at this time, in these circumstances.
Over the last five years, Harper has kept a steady hand on the economy, steering Canada calmly through a global financial crisis from which many countries have yet to recover. Canada’s resilience through the economic storm garnered international respect. Harper acceded to opposition demands for $60 billion in stimulus spending but has quickly pared the resulting deficit to $28 billion and has a credible plan for restoring balanced budgets to which his party is firmly committed.
His government has maintained a competitive tax regime, building on the foundation the Liberals put in place in the 1990s, pursued bilateral and multilateral trade deals to further advance Canada’s economic interests and encouraged provinces to streamline their inefficient sales tax regimes under the harmonized sales tax.
The Conservative government has given Canada a leading role on the international stage, especially its speedy and generous response to the earthquake in Haiti and participation in military interventions led by the United Nations and NATO. Under the Conservatives, Canada has taken a principled stance on foreign policy issues, a dramatic departure from the “soft power” dogma of the Liberals.
Harper has re-established a close relationship with the U.S., which had eroded under the Liberals, allowing for productive negotiations on perimeter and border security. The Conservatives can provide the U.S. with the assurance it needs that Canada is a reliable bulwark against terrorism, thus preventing further thickening of the border, which would hurt all Canadians.
Some voters may be swayed by the promises of the Liberal and NDP platforms. But this is not the time for an abrupt, fundamental change in direction. Layton’s personal appeal cannot mask his party’s lack of fiscal discipline and Ignatieff, despite his remarkable career as educator, author and journalist, has run a poor campaign and has failed to demonstrate the leadership Canada needs to navigate the turmoil that surrounds us.
Although Canada has been relatively unscathed by the recession that devastated other nations, it is not immune from continuing economic chaos beyond our borders. Many European nations are mired in massive sovereign debt and face ruthless restructuring. At the same time, upheaval in the Middle East is altering the geopolitical landscape in unpredictable ways.
In the midst of this uncertainty, Canada must be seen as a safe harbour of constancy. Our reputation for steadfastness will attract the foreign investment and skilled immigrants needed to relieve the pressures of an aging population and keep the economy growing so that we can pay for social programs, health care and education.
For these reasons, the Conservatives should be returned to Parliament with a majority. A minority government will be unstable at a time when we need stability. Without a majority, Canadians will have no idea who their leader will be. The fact is that the opposition could defeat the government on the budget within a matter of weeks of the next sitting of Parliament. Then, either Ignatieff (or possibly his successor, whoever that might be) or Layton could ask the Governor-General to invite one or the other or both of them to form a government.
The Liberal leadership is in doubt because if the Liberals win fewer seats than in the last election, Ignatieff may be asked by his caucus to step aside, triggering a leadership contest.
Canada can’t afford an election that delivers a result with so much uncertainty.
That being said, the Conservative record has some serious shortcomings and some remedial work is required. For a start, the government needs to revisit its position on the strategy to improve the health of mothers and young children in poor countries — Canada’s signature initiative at last June’s G8 summit. The Conservatives ruled out support for a contraceptive proposal, supplies and information for the program, arguing that family planning has no part of any plan to save lives. Wrong. Roughly 600,000 women die every year due to complications of pregnancy, labour, childbirth or unsafe abortions. The exclusion of family planning from this project puts women in danger and is illogical.
The Conservatives also need to rethink their policies on crime, particularly on mandatory sentencing and building more prisons. Policy should be based on evidence, and the evidence shows clearly that such costly measures are ineffective in preventing or reducing crime.
On issues of governance, Harper and the Conservatives must show more respect for open government and parliamentary conventions. They are the bedrock of our democracy. In that vein, we expect greater transparency and accountability in budgeting. Parliament is entitled to full disclosure on the cost of all programs, including the purchase of fighter jets. MPs need to vet these expenditures; that’s their job.
Despite the Tories’ flaws, however, a Conservative majority is the only path that at this time leads us to a Canada that will remain the prosperous, peaceful and predictable country in which we are fortunate enough to live.
Read more: http://www.vancouversun.com/news/dec...#ixzz1L00A1tHz
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