SPEAKING OF LOCAL NATIONAL POLITICS
Ron Bolin: Oct.15, 2015
Let me start by saying that over the years I have been a member of the Conservative, the Liberal and the New Democratic parties at various times for reasons relating to the issues of the times and/or the candidates who were running. I have given up on parties, but am sticking to the issues and the candidates.
On Monday, Oct. 19, we will have a National election. National, that is, because it will take place all across Canada… Neither you nor I will be voting for a National leader. We don’t get that opportunity. That decision is made by the Parties to which our local candidates have pledged allegiance. What we do get is the opportunity to vote for a local candidate of our choice, who incidentally, if aligned with enough others across the country who have pledged allegiance to the same party to which our local candidate belongs -and if he or she wins in our local riding- will get to either form a government (if they hold enough seats in the House), or try to ally with another party to form a coalition government. In short, we in Nanaimo-Ladysmith will have the opportunity to elect our local representative. It is sheer bluster to believe that we will be electing a Prime Minister or a government and to do so trades your integrity for its lack in others.
Nanaimo has five local candidates on the ballot, each of which represents one of the following political parties: Marxist-Leninist; Green; NDP; Liberal; Conservative, representing political views that range roughly in that order from the left to the right of the political spectrum, though they are not equally spaced along it. For me the full political spectrum runs roughly from the sharing commune on the left to the heroic capitalist bankers on the right. My political tendency is leaning toward the left on the theory that, like the parts of our body, all have to work together to keep us alive even though our various organs have leading roles to play in varying situations. (See the story of the Battle of the Body Parts at the end of this post.) Of our local candidates I have known two for some time, I signed the nomination papers for one and have seen two in ads and at All-Candidates meetings. Of one I know nothing at all.
Of those candidates that I know or know something of, I have no personal qualms, but when I examine the platforms of the Parties which they represent, I lose one to a party which seems to me to be mired in 19th century heroic banker capitalism while the 21st century with its greatly changed population, environmental, finance, debt and resource problems demands changing strategies for the future. Of the others, I find the Liberals a little too centrist in more ways than one, the NDP a problem in local control and representation; and the Greens in my comfort zone. To be honest, I have already voted and voted for Paul Manly of the Green Party, not only due to their platform, but due to the interference of the NDP Headquarters in the selection of the NDP candidate. [I do not wish to cast any aspersions on the current N-L NDP candidate, as I know nothing concerning any actions relating to her involvement in the NDP HQ fiat declaration of ineligibility Of Paul Manly to run for the NDP.]
I do know that the move by NDP Headquarters to take Mr. Manly out of the running for Nanaimo-Ladysmith NDP candidacy stole the right of this, my constituency, to choose our local candidate and to do so on grounds that in my opinion were highly questionable and not appropriate for a Party which was built on principles of fairness and equity and was so well represented by Tommy Douglas who once walked the streets of Nanaimo. It has given rise to a problem which could darken the hopes of many on Oct. 20, if we awaken to the election of someone who neither the centre nor the left want to see because the parts of the body politic could not get along.
For further information on this problem see the following:
No Whipping: Paul will Not be Whjipped 001
New Democrats Supporting Manly
CBC Story on the Issue
Local Story on the Issue
http://richardhughes.ca/tag/nanaimo-ladysmith-ndp-eda/
Paul’s Statement on the Issue and Why he turned Green
The Battle of the Body Parts
One day in boredom, the brain began to ponder its superiority to all the other body parts, arguing that it provided the intelligence and guidance needed so survive. The eyes quickly argued back that they were the most important as the brain could not see the earth without them. The legs responded that they were indeed the real heroes as neither the brain nor the eyes could get to the things in the environment that were either needed or had to be avoided. The hands raised their voice to proclaim that they were the most important as they were the ones that shaped the tools and picked the food needed for survival. At this, the stomach bristled, pointing out that without it, the food needed for survival could not digested and distributed to the other body parts. The heart chimed in to note that without it, that nutrition could not be distributed to all the other body parts and therefore that is was the most important…
Then, in a thunderous burst of flatulence, the anal sphincter proclaimed: If you don’t all shut up and get along, I will close myself up tight and let you all drown in your own sh-t…
Arguing about who is the most important in a society is a lot like that.
Whatever you think about this election, or whatever Candidate you may choose to represent your views, do get out and vote on Monday. Your vote will represent or haunt you for the next four years (or possibly less), regardless of who wins the riding of Nanaimo-Ladysmith…. But you know who I suggest… ;-)
End
Posts and Comments on Nanaimo Governance 
Thanks for so articulately setting out the reasons I voted the way I did. Until the power wielded by the PMO is curbed we will live in a dictatorship with occasional manipulated elections. The behaviour of the opposition parties central committees is instructive in how they would act in government.
Good luck to Paul Manly and Elizabeth May in their tidings – we need their voices in Ottawa.
I like the Greens & Paul.
That said it’s a tight race so I have to bite my tongue and vote NDP.
Paul dominated the candidates meeting, last Wednesday, with his knowledge and quick wit.
We would be well served by him in Ottawa .
That said the thought of a self centred ex news editor paraphrasing his leaders wishes is not an option .
Well, Trailblazer, you managed to nullify my vote. Instead of having 2 votes in opposition to your purported editor, we now each have 0. If you find this utilitarian, so be it…. Others will make our decision for us.
As I stood on the Road at the corner of Aulds and the Old Island Highway this afternoon waving a Green sign with over a hundred of our supporters, I was reminded of this song from the 1940s which I think is appropriate, even though I have to apologize to our distaff members who, in this day and age, are every bit as active as the men…. Enjoy https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1vjqfvZVReM
I live in hope that after the ‘Harper’ years we will have to decide between the Greens or the NDP.
Both Ron and I are of an age where too many vote for the greedy bastards club! who are well established and mean to keep it so.
Is this too much to hope for?
Lest we forget
In 2011, the Conservatives were able to win a majority government (166 seats) with just 37% of the vote.
Similarly the NDP did the same thing here in BC.
It’s politics; it’s winner take all.
The more significant number is that less than one quarter of Canadians who were registered to vote in the last election gave Harper one hundred percent of the power.
I voted Green! My vote went to get Elizabeth May a partner in Ottawa. Paul Manly can do that. Fingers crossed.
An interesting evening and result.
All the polls were wrong.
The predominatley Conservative media were unable to effect the result.
A good voter turnout regardless of the ‘fair’ elections act.