[evandyk]

One can only imagine why thinking of the general public as toddlers who need to be guided in the right direction might not be a winning strategy...

They are. The secret sauce is doing it without revealing that's what you're doing.

 

[T3G]

They are. The secret sauce is doing it without revealing that's what you're doing.

I'm sorry, but I find this to be a horrible attitude. Politicians are not some super enlightened "other" that came to us from another reality, they are the products of the society in which they live. Just like the general public has people who are good and who are selfish and self-interested, so too has the political class. One needs only to look at how many of them are utterly corrupt and beholden to big business interests to dispel any kind of mythology of politicians as teachers showing us sheeple the right truth.

Furthermore, this argument could very easily be used to justify abolishing democracy itself - that the people can't be trusted to know what is good for them and need to be guided along. Just saying.

 

[Northern Light]

They are. The secret sauce is doing it without revealing that's what you're doing.

I'm with @T3G here.

Don't get me wrong, there are lots of uninformed folks in the electorate. If we're being honest, I think a clear majority. That includes many well educated people who might perceive themselves as 'mature, responsible, adults'.

Uninformed people will benefit from having an idea explained to them, and given appropriate justification.

That doesn't require condescension or a demeanor of scolding. It does require a knack for being able to sum up complex ideas relatively succinctly and with a minimum of nerd-speak so that most people can get what you're on about.

There's nothing wrong with then doing an extended more detailed talk, for those more interested and knowledgeable. But its important to be able to get your ideas over and get buy-in.

****

In respect of 'hiding' what you're doing....as a government. I really disagree. Invariably, one does not press release every policy change or modest infrastructure investment (though it can seem that way). So stuff will move under the radar even without intention.

In matters of diplomacy, trade negotiations, military deployments and such, some degree of real-time secrecy is a necessary matter. But this is not the case for the vast majority of what government does.

Needless secrecy serves to increase mistrust of politicians, institutions and government writ large. It feeds conspiracy theorists and has everyone assuming everyone on their TV/Phone is a grifter of some kind.

That's not the society I want to live in.

I think government can persuade people to make sacrifices and difficult choices, if they get out there and sell / explain them. I think they even get people to endorse lighter jail sentences for sometimes serious criminals, if they discuss how much more effective Denmark's penal system is at rehabilitating people, and the cost of prison, and alternative forms of punishment and public safety assurance.

Convincing people with a condescending tone, and excessive simplification is a much harder task.

 

[evandyk]

I think you guys are taking a little joke a bit too seriously. However, I am saddened by the extent to which lowest-common-denominator "sound bite" politics works with the electorate. Just one example, they'd rather chase someone thundering "Ax the Tax!" than anyone would could intelligently discuss the merits of different forms of regulation in reducing carbon emissions.

 

[Mihairokov]

Leger QC Federal Poll:

LPC 29%
BQ 29%
CPC 24%
NDP 12%
GPC 3%
PPC 3%

Mostly notably from this poll, with Carney as leader the LPC stretches out to 38%, which is higher than what the LPC gained in the province in 2015.

 

[Richard White]

Mostly notably from this poll, with Carney as leader the LPC stretches out to 38%, which is higher than what the LPC gained in the province in 2015.

Which is odd because Mark Carney is from Fort Smith NWT and speaks limited French. If he is doing that well in Quebec, it makes you wonder how well he will do elsewhere.

 

[Towered]

Which is odd because Mark Carney is from Fort Smith NWT and speaks limited French. If he is doing that well in Quebec, it makes you wonder how well he will do elsewhere.

Hmmm...the LPC might be on to something with Carney at the helm (if he wins the leadership). Perhaps a PP Prime Ministership is not a forgone conclusion after all?

 

[Midtown Urbanist]

Which is odd because Mark Carney is from Fort Smith NWT and speaks limited French. If he is doing that well in Quebec, it makes you wonder how well he will do elsewhere.

I think there are unique Quebec factors in play here. This is the result of a surge of Canadian patriotism in Quebec in light of recent events.

Canadian pride is on the rise in wake of Trump's tariff threat - especially in Quebec

Two new polls suggest Quebecers are feeling pretty good about their relationship with Canada these days.

www.cp24.com

If those polls about Quebec's feelings towards Canada are an indication, it is Bloc voters breaking for Liberals for at least this election cycle.

 

[adma]

Leger QC Federal Poll:

LPC 29%
BQ 29%
CPC 24%
NDP 12%
GPC 3%
PPC 3%

Mostly notably from this poll, with Carney as leader the LPC stretches out to 38%, which is higher than what the LPC gained in the province in 2015.

Admittedly, despite Justinmania, a lot of that wouldbe 2015 Lib vote was still vestigially parked in the Mulcair camp, with all of those sitting NDP members.

 

[Mihairokov]

 

[Admiral Beez]

Perhaps a PP Prime Ministership is not a forgone conclusion after all?

 

[christiesplits]

Parkdale-High Park MP and Minister of Justice Arif Virani will not run for re-election, as per his Twitter post.

The riding was expected to be a close race between Virani and the NDP candidate, former MPP for the area Bhutila Karpoche.

 

[JoeParez]

Parkdale-High Park MP and Minister of Justice Arif Virani will not run for re-election, as per his Twitter post.

The riding was expected to be a close race between Virani and the NDP candidate, former MPP for the area Bhutila Karpoche.

I thought Bhutila already ran for federal MPP? Shows how much I know! :-D

 

[Richard White]

I thought Bhutila already ran for federal MPP? Shows how much I know! :-D

She was an MPP which is provincial. I don't believe she ever ran federally.

 

[Jonny5]

RUH ROH!

Ruby Dhalla kicked out of Liberal leadership race after 'extremely serious' violations: party​

https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/ruby-dhalla-liberal-leadership-1.7465430

The statement goes on to say the the party is concerned Dhalla may have violated the Canada Elections Act, as well as "certain other election finance matters, non-disclosure of material facts and inaccurate financial reporting."
The official statement came after CBC News first broke the details of the vote earlier Friday afternoon.
A source, speaking on the condition they not be named, said Dhalla was also accused of failing to disclose the involvement of a non-Canadian citizen in her campaign, which the party alleges would amount to foreign interference if it happened during an election period.