Warning! Political
Jan. 17th, 2006 11:16 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
garnigalI haven't done the whole political post in the past. In large part because I find pushing my political views on the unprepared public to be obnoxious and rude, but also because I don't feel that I have a particularly strong handle on all of the issues.
Even now my intention isn't to explain my views. I know how I am going to vote. I know how I want the election to turn out. That isn't important. What is important, at least to me, is the issues.
Therefore, friends, what do you see as the most important issues in this election? Not only the issues that the ads and reporters tell you are important, but the things that really matter to you. What directions do you want to see the government head in?
For me, important issues are:
Education (increased funding to the provinces, increased funding for post-secondary)
Healthcare (continued and increased support for public hospitals, rural delivery of services)
Social Services (delivery of social assistance via the school system and increased attention/money on the low-income and marginalized groups that risk falling into crime)
Indian Affairs & Northern Development (related to Social Services, but there needs to be better delivery of services and education to the communities marginalized by distance and culture - it's a pet issue of mine)
What about everyone else? I'd be interested in getting the American perspective as well - what matters in your regions, what do you know about the Canadian election?
This isn't a poll. This isn't an attempt to subvert you all to my way of thinking. I just wonder if the campaigns and reporters really know what the people are interested in - because, God knows, the ads I've seen have left me cold.
Even now my intention isn't to explain my views. I know how I am going to vote. I know how I want the election to turn out. That isn't important. What is important, at least to me, is the issues.
Therefore, friends, what do you see as the most important issues in this election? Not only the issues that the ads and reporters tell you are important, but the things that really matter to you. What directions do you want to see the government head in?
For me, important issues are:
Education (increased funding to the provinces, increased funding for post-secondary)
Healthcare (continued and increased support for public hospitals, rural delivery of services)
Social Services (delivery of social assistance via the school system and increased attention/money on the low-income and marginalized groups that risk falling into crime)
Indian Affairs & Northern Development (related to Social Services, but there needs to be better delivery of services and education to the communities marginalized by distance and culture - it's a pet issue of mine)
What about everyone else? I'd be interested in getting the American perspective as well - what matters in your regions, what do you know about the Canadian election?
This isn't a poll. This isn't an attempt to subvert you all to my way of thinking. I just wonder if the campaigns and reporters really know what the people are interested in - because, God knows, the ads I've seen have left me cold.
![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
no subject
Date: 2006-01-17 05:04 pm (UTC)(Help, help, I'm being opressed)
no subject
Date: 2006-01-17 06:46 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-01-17 07:12 pm (UTC)Environmental Protection (habitat conservation, reduction of pollutants in air/water/soil, reduction of greenhouse gases, responsible and sustainable use of natural resources (forestry, fishing, mining, agriculture), energy conservation and promotion of clean/renewable energy sources, smart urban planning)
Protection for human rights and equality for minority groups (and yes, I consider GLBT people amongst the minority groups deserving equal treatment)
Fiscal responsibility and reduction of the national debt
no subject
Date: 2006-01-17 07:44 pm (UTC)I'm drawing a blank - what does GLBT stand for? I assume it's the Native population, but I can't figure out the acronym!
I kind of like separating Indian Affairs from the rest of Social Services. It has it's own Ministry (DIAND), and I feel that delivering social services to the northern and reservation populations is vastly different than integrating recent immigrants who tend to settle in more urban areas.
What is your experience with this, given your unique placement? Thunder Bay is a city, yet it's more of a frontier city - do you see any difference being in a northern urban area?
no subject
Date: 2006-01-17 09:06 pm (UTC)I think I'm closer to smallstar's list, but am not particularly concerned with the items on your list as election issues, aside from health care and it staying as a completely socialized system. I am actually pretty happy with the medical care I and my extended family have recieved in my lifetime. I feel whatever government is in power will handle the education, and natvie affairs issues very similarly. I have very little faith in the ability of any federal government to positively affect social programs, I think change in that comes from a much lower level.
I of course am avidly interested in what the f*ck will happen to childcare. Even if it's too little, to late for me, I think the Liberals are finally starting to make some progress in that area, and Harpers proposal insulted me.
I think top on my list is actually who I want representing my country to the rest of the world. And Harper sure as hell ain't it.
no subject
Date: 2006-01-17 09:30 pm (UTC)Amen.
no subject
Date: 2006-01-17 09:43 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-01-18 02:23 pm (UTC)I knew you'd have child care on your list. It's interesting, how closely I am guessing what everyone's hot button issues will be. I guess I know you all better than I thought!
Your last point is a very good one - Foreign Affairs. It could certainly go down an unpleasant path in the next few years. I'm going to have to read the political magazines and watch more news so that I can write obsessively to my MP.
no subject
Date: 2006-01-18 02:40 am (UTC)The other thing with indian affairs being separate is that health care for aboriginal people is actually paid for by the federal gov't, whereas for everyone else it's a provincial thing. It can get quite complicated when there are health care facilities serving both populations.
I can't give you much insight into the native experience in the north, since I haven't really had much exposure to them working here in Thunder Bay. The family doctor I worked with had a primarily caucasian practice. Obs/gyn was ineresting, because there was a significant percentage of patients who were native and had to travel fairly large distances from nothern reserves to access obsteric and gynecological care. An ongoing problem was the issue of getting their travel expenses covered - this was usually straightforward for the patient herself, but didn't apply to any family members. There were circumstances in which one was entitled to a family/friend "escort", but they really only involved severe physical or mental disability that prevented someone from travelling alone. The upshot was that we had a lot of young native women who left their partners and families behind, sometimes for weeks at a time, to come to Thunder Bay and have their babies all alone. It didn't seem quite humane, really.
I'll have more info next year once I actually start working in some small/northern/remote practices!
no subject
Date: 2006-01-18 02:31 pm (UTC)I spent a week on exchange in Alberta when I was 16. Not an age when individuals are all that concerned with people other than themselves, or all that aware of political climates. Not a length of time that really allows you to delve into the issues of another province. However, I was forcibly struck by how anti-native everyone I talked to in Fort MacMurry was. Partly it's because they were farther north and had a bigger native population. But I also found that everyone I was with focused on the problems in the native population, without any sympathy or suggestions for making things better. They truly believed in the stereotypical drunk and drugged out Indian (thier words).