So 25 years ago today the Trudeau government, fresh from the election win over the buffoonery of the Joe Clark government, slapped on the National Energy Program. Anyone who lived through that era knows it wreaked havok on the Alberta oil economy.
The fallout of that lives with us still. Since that time no federal Liberal party has ever won a seat outside of Edmonton in Alberta. Since that time the very name Liberal is a dirty word for many in our province.
The beginning of the end of Canada if it ever comes may find its birth, not in Quebec, but on October 28,1980 a date, to steal a phrase, which STILL lives in infamy.
Friday, October 28, 2005
Tuesday, October 25, 2005
Fall sitting coming soon
The Fall sitting is set to start November 15. Which means Paul's single weekly question will be on Monday this time.
There is a rumour flying around that the total sitting days will only be ten which would put us with exactly TWO questions in the fall.
Ah it is good to see that democratic accountability is secondary once more. It makes you really appreciate that prosperity bonus all the more.
There is a rumour flying around that the total sitting days will only be ten which would put us with exactly TWO questions in the fall.
Ah it is good to see that democratic accountability is secondary once more. It makes you really appreciate that prosperity bonus all the more.
Friday, October 21, 2005
UFA and the great change
Recently I was looking up some information on past elections in Alberta, basically I want to refute this notion that there are 150,000 Tory voters that magically did not vote in the last election.
Lets examine some facts...
There is an idea forwarded by some that the Tories lost 200,000 voters from 2001 to 2004 so there must be about 200,000 votes that could be got if we worked for them these disenchanted would return.
In 2001 there were 1,013,152 votes cast. 600,000 of whom went to the Tories.
In 2004 there was 890,635 votes cast and 416,886 went to the Tories.
So right there you are saying... wow look at that difference, people must have been really upset and stayed home.
EXCEPT....
In 1997 there was 945,713 votes cast, of which 483,914 went to the Tories.
In 1993 (when people were really motivated) there was 989,025 votes cast of which 439,981 went to the Tories...
So what I am I saying... It appears that Albertans consistantly do not get above 1 million votes. That 2001 is a anomaly is proven in that the regular Tory vote usually sits at 400,000 range.
So the question becomes, whose votes created the big vote... I would suspect it was Liberals and normal non-voters who may have seen Nancy MacBeth and came out to vote.
We should not chase these we should be chasing consistant voters not one time voters.
Just my thought on that...
But while I was looking at this I found another bit of news... The United Farmers of Alberta when the gained power in 1921 did it without winning the majority of votes or even finish first in votes.
The UFA got elected in 1921 with 38 MLAs on 29% of the vote... now there is a mandate. The opposition Liberals got 34% and 15 MLAs.
This goes back to the simple idea, strategic voting works best.
Lets examine some facts...
There is an idea forwarded by some that the Tories lost 200,000 voters from 2001 to 2004 so there must be about 200,000 votes that could be got if we worked for them these disenchanted would return.
In 2001 there were 1,013,152 votes cast. 600,000 of whom went to the Tories.
In 2004 there was 890,635 votes cast and 416,886 went to the Tories.
So right there you are saying... wow look at that difference, people must have been really upset and stayed home.
EXCEPT....
In 1997 there was 945,713 votes cast, of which 483,914 went to the Tories.
In 1993 (when people were really motivated) there was 989,025 votes cast of which 439,981 went to the Tories...
So what I am I saying... It appears that Albertans consistantly do not get above 1 million votes. That 2001 is a anomaly is proven in that the regular Tory vote usually sits at 400,000 range.
So the question becomes, whose votes created the big vote... I would suspect it was Liberals and normal non-voters who may have seen Nancy MacBeth and came out to vote.
We should not chase these we should be chasing consistant voters not one time voters.
Just my thought on that...
But while I was looking at this I found another bit of news... The United Farmers of Alberta when the gained power in 1921 did it without winning the majority of votes or even finish first in votes.
The UFA got elected in 1921 with 38 MLAs on 29% of the vote... now there is a mandate. The opposition Liberals got 34% and 15 MLAs.
This goes back to the simple idea, strategic voting works best.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
