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Brace yourself world, I have a THREAD about POLITICS, but it's okay because it's CANADIAN STYLE... (that's it for the caps, I promise)
I live in BC, Canada.
Back in March (early Covid) I asked my wife, “Hey, who’s the Premier of BC these days?” She didn’t know either.
I asked “What party is in power?”
We had to look up both. /1
Back in March (early Covid) I asked my wife, “Hey, who’s the Premier of BC these days?” She didn’t know either.
I asked “What party is in power?”
We had to look up both. /1
If you have any sort of strongly held political ideology, you’re probably enraged by this (and a lot of other things!) but to me that’s a sign of a system working. /2
Turns out it was a coalition government.
I prefer coalition and minority governments and I often vote strategically for them.
Governing parties have to arrive at some sort of consensus to get anything done. It’s hard to wreck anything. /3
I prefer coalition and minority governments and I often vote strategically for them.
Governing parties have to arrive at some sort of consensus to get anything done. It’s hard to wreck anything. /3
We had an election a couple of weeks ago. I voted (I always do) but I didn’t know who I was going to vote for until the day before.
Three days later I said to my daughter “Hey, who won the election?”
She told me. The result was acceptable.
In time I will forget it. /4
Three days later I said to my daughter “Hey, who won the election?”
She told me. The result was acceptable.
In time I will forget it. /4
There’s a debate about whether Trump’s strong showing in this US election is a referendum on his character, with many of his supporters adamant it is not, and almost everyone else adamant it is. /5
It occurs to me that the average American probably has a more strongly held political ideology than those outside the US, certainly the average Canadian.
And absent any strong ideology, the character of the politician is higher on their principle stack. /6
And absent any strong ideology, the character of the politician is higher on their principle stack. /6
I think that’s where a lot of the friction is. The character of an individual is important to most of us, but for some of us their ideology is more important.
I suspect the two-party system forces ideology up the stack. /7
I suspect the two-party system forces ideology up the stack. /7
In my life I have voted for four different parties across the whole political spectrum. That doesn’t include a vote accidentally placed for The Marijuana Party (true story). /8
I don’t define myself by any political ideology. I value a liberal’s kindness and inclusiveness, a conservative’s pragmatism and responsibility and a libertarian’s view that government shouldn’t always see itself as the solution to the problems it creates. /9
While my vote is up for grabs for almost any party, I have developed only one rule: I won’t vote for someone who is intolerant of their opponent’s point of view.
I don’t vote for angry politicians, even if I myself am angry about something. /10
I don’t vote for angry politicians, even if I myself am angry about something. /10
But I count myself lucky to be in a parliamentary system where there have always been three or four parties that could form part of a government.
There’s always a level-headed choice or two to be found. /11
There’s always a level-headed choice or two to be found. /11
I can’t imagine not having that choice; having “Bernie or Trump” forced on me.
“Which of your angry grandpas do you want to have over for Thanksgiving dinner, honey?” /12
“Which of your angry grandpas do you want to have over for Thanksgiving dinner, honey?” /12
I’m not conflating anger and lack of character—I know they’re different— I’m just pointing out that, lacking an ideology, other things weigh more heavily in one’s voting decision. /13
Of course every ideologue will cite their opponent’s lack of character—it is the stick both sides beat each other with—and they drown out the open-minded moderates who truly value character over ideology. /14
It’s looking like Biden will narrowly win the presidency, with Republicans barely holding the senate and Democrats barely holding the house.
A person of good character at the top who can’t get much done without building consensus across party lines. /15
A person of good character at the top who can’t get much done without building consensus across party lines. /15
Some call this a divided government.
I call it perfectly Canadian.
Congratulations America.
(I now await your ideological rage.)
16/16
I call it perfectly Canadian.
Congratulations America.
(I now await your ideological rage.)
16/16
