[David A]

I just don't see the appeal for the LPC in Alberta when the NDP and CPC exist.

I'm sure it'll appeal to wealthier neo-liberals, but I can't see them attracting the average person when better alternatives exist for the typical split of Albertans.

I don't know any centrists in my age group. Everyone I hang out with is either a socialist, or in favour of complete free markets. I don't see how the LPC would get votes from younger people.

The NDP Federally in Alberta is considerably less popular than Provincially, I fell because they have been seen to be too anti energy development.

I wonder if people in Canada become more realistic and less ideological as they have more life experience.

 

[archited]

While counter intuitive, there is still a strong anti-Liberal anti-central government sentiment in the west that you’re seeing re-elected in these numbers.

Reminds me of this joke:
A farmer had a prize blue-ribbon pig that he took with him wherever he went. He loved that pig dearly. One day at the county fair the farmer was distracted and the pig wandered off. The pig happened to cross the CN tracks at the edge of town just when the main-line freighter was coming through and... you guessed it... bacon! The farmer was so incensed when he asked for compensation for his beloved animal and CN refused to pay that he vowed to get even with CN for running over his pig. So he struck upon this plan -- declaring loudly to the townspeople, "I have bought a VIA-rail ticket from Vancouver to Toronto and I am not going!" A smart-ass townsperson shouted back and said, "You should have bought a ticket from Vancouver to Halifax and really taught the CN a lesson!"

So the people of Alberta are holding a grudge against a central government party because they are anti-central government and, instead, voting for a party that they don't believe has a chance of gaining power just to spite the party that may be more aligned with their interests, knowing that that party is Canadian centric? Wow! Sounds like they should take up hog-farming.

 

[kcantor]

^
Cute but not terribly relevant…

We’re not talking about a farmer that lost a pig he wasn’t looking after. We’re talking about farmers that lost their farms, tradespeople that lost their jobs and lost their homes, business owners that lost their businesses and their homes, students who lost the ability to stay in school or pursue a career in Alberta.

These losses were commonplace and they were up front and personal and they were imposed by the same party you say represents their best interests even though that party has maintained many of those same policy goals and has continued to be controlled by the same people and their children.

What you're belittling is nothing more than a perfectly natural "once bitten twice shy" reaction.

Is Poilievre the right answer or the best candidate for Prime Minister? I don't think so but I understand the "any Conservative over any Liberal" approach to federal politics in the west that you don't seem to.

 

[archited]

Wow! Alberta must be a real disaster zone!

 

[kcantor]

^
Not cute and not accurate either.

You should spend some time here and maybe you’d understand better.

 

[archited]

Over and over again policies related to smaller government don't work; feeding economies from the top down (rich watching out for the poor) doesn't work; killing social networks just exacerbates social problems; and the division of income between rich and poor has a gap that continues to widen.

 

[kcantor]

If you’re saying that we need to implement trickle up instead of trickle down economics starting with a Universal Basic Income, perhaps we can agree on something.

Interestingly enough, it was probably that philosophy (in theory) with Lougheed’s PC’s that created Alberta’s glory days. We all believed we could accomplish whatever we set our minds to and in many cases we did. Then Trudeau and MacEachen et al gleefully (and I don’t use that word lightly) destroyed it for many of us.

 

[Airboy]

Great discussion guys

Ken, Unlike you and I, I find it that so few people I meet were in Alberta or were alive during that time. yet they bring the NEP up as there reason for being anti liberal. The Federal Gov backed a lot of the early oil sands investment to get it started. There were good things happening at the time but with the NEP and world markets tanking it got blown away.

I did move away for a year to work. but came back and used that opportunity to change the way we did business here.

We have had a number of conservative governments that said they were here for the west but did relatively nothing. I think it was Joe Clark's gov that did anything for Alberta.

Any PC or Alliance group that got in ended up getting the Ottawa disease. ( once you are in power you see where you can keep it and forget your roots).

Will Carney be good for Alberta , it's hard to say at this point but that is the same for PP , he may have been from Calgary but he now represents Ontario.
My only hope is I can find a way to get a good MP. (Mine is Michael Cooper).

 

[archited]

I have nothing (very little) to say negatively about Peter Lougheed's government and governing style; conversely there was much about PET's government that was retrogressive and his son -- especially over the past several month's -- seems to have governed without his heart and mind engaged. That said, I view Mark Carney as a breath of fresh air. Liberal parties (all political parties for that matter) take their cues from the head of the party (for evidence just look at the dramatic change in the GOP since Trump inherited the reins -- or should I say reign). Personally, I refuse to align myself with "Party"; rather I look at the direction coming from the leadership and who in that role has the most progressive, sensible plans of actions and how forceful they are in their implementation. For the moment my vote is with Mark Carney.

 

[Airboy]

I have nothing (very little) to say negatively about Peter Lougheed's government and governing style; conversely there was much about PET's government that was retrogressive and his son -- especially over the past several month's -- seems to have governed without his heart and mind engaged. That said, I view Mark Carney as a breath of fresh air. Liberal parties (all political parties for that matter) take their cues from the head of the party (for evidence just look at the dramatic change in the GOP since Trump inherited the reins -- or should I say reign). Personally, I refuse to align myself with "Party"; rather I look at the direction coming from the leadership and who in that role has the most progressive, sensible plans of actions and how forceful they are in their implementation. For the moment my vote is with Mark Carney.

I did vote for Carney. I feel he is more centrist and has the good of the country in mind. But that is limited. most politicians last at most 12 years before they reach their expiration date. Will he be good for Alberta I hope so.

 

[Airboy]

I did vote for Carney. I feel he is more centrist and has the good of the country in mind. But that is limited. most politicians last at most 12 years before they reach their expiration date. Will he be good for Alberta I hope so.

Now I have to get back to the business of bitching about developer, architects and engineers.

 

[archited]

^ On that account I find myself in complete agreement -- very few architects and engineers have their head on straight and their work speaks for itself. Even fewer developers! Oddly bad developers seem to align themselves with bad architects and engineers, all living under the flag of "money motive", seemingly unaware that good design can be profitable and, just as importantly, soul satisfying.

 

[David A]

Great discussion guys

Ken, Unlike you and I, I find it that so few people I meet were in Alberta or were alive during that time. yet they bring the NEP up as there reason for being anti liberal. The Federal Gov backed a lot of the early oil sands investment to get it started. There were good things happening at the time but with the NEP and world markets tanking it got blown away.

I did move away for a year to work. but came back and used that opportunity to change the way we did business here.

We have had a number of conservative governments that said they were here for the west but did relatively nothing. I think it was Joe Clark's gov that did anything for Alberta.

Any PC or Alliance group that got in ended up getting the Ottawa disease. ( once you are in power you see where you can keep it and forget your roots).

Will Carney be good for Alberta , it's hard to say at this point but that is the same for PP , he may have been from Calgary but he now represents Ontario.
My only hope is I can find a way to get a good MP. (Mine is Michael Cooper).

Yes, the myth of the NEP only seems to grow over time. As I recall (I was around but fairly young) there was a world wide economic recession and oil prices which were high declined quickly.

So, I don't think everything or even most of what that happened then economically was the fault of the Federal government at the time, but the story continues to get spread by people who weren't even around then such as some current younger conservative MPs.

 

[bodsbods9090]

I have nothing (very little) to say negatively about Peter Lougheed's government and governing style; conversely there was much about PET's government that was retrogressive and his son -- especially over the past several month's -- seems to have governed without his heart and mind engaged. That said, I view Mark Carney as a breath of fresh air. Liberal parties (all political parties for that matter) take their cues from the head of the party (for evidence just look at the dramatic change in the GOP since Trump inherited the reins -- or should I say reign). Personally, I refuse to align myself with "Party"; rather I look at the direction coming from the leadership and who in that role has the most progressive, sensible plans of actions and how forceful they are in their implementation. For the moment my vote is with Mark Carney.

Wasn't around for Lougheed's time in power (not born) but everyone I talk to about him very rarely has a bad thing to say about him and his government. And after reading about him, I can see why. He did a lot of good for Alberta.

 

[Airboy]

^ On that account I find myself in complete agreement -- very few architects and engineers have their head on straight and their work speaks for itself. Even fewer developers! Oddly bad developers seem to align themselves with bad architects and engineers, all living under the flag of "money motive", seemingly unaware that good design can be profitable and, just as importantly, soul satisfying.

When I started out, Testing, Balancing and Commissioning I hated everyone. Then I moved to consulting and I disliked the Contractors. Now I am with a Contractor and I am back to hating everyone.