Strategic voting in SSM riding

[KDawg]

Why weren't they allowed to speak at the debate? Or is this an assumption?

The public reason is that the Green Party doesn't hold a seat in the parliament.

[Huggy85]

The public reason is that the Green Party doesn't hold a seat in the parliament.

I have nothing against the Green Party, having a minimum of one seat seems like a reasonable criteria for participation. If everyone that were able to get a couple percentage points of voters were given a pass into the debate, the whole thing could turn into more of a farce than it is now.

[dancingqueen]

I have nothing against the Green Party, having a minimum of one seat seems like a reasonable criteria for participation. If everyone that were able to get a couple percentage points of voters were given a pass into the debate, the whole thing could turn into more of a farce than it is now.

So, people that don't have any supporters should not have the right to try and voice their position in order to get supporters?

[Huggy85]

So, people that don't have any supporters should not have the right to try and voice their position in order to get supporters?

As wonderful as the Green Party platform may be, do we want to open the door for all "fringe" parties around that table? Do we make space for the CHP, the Marijuana Party, the communist party, the Natural Law Party, and the Marxist-Lennonist Party while we let the Greens debate. It should only be fair!

[KDawg]

I don't know anything about the legal technicalities of elections. The debates being a joke or not aside, what would be the harm in having 5 or 6 leaders involved?

[dancingqueen]

As wonderful as the Green Party platform may be, do we want to open the door for all "fringe" parties around that table? Do we make space for the CHP, the Marijuana Party, the communist party, the Natural Law Party, and the Marxist-Lennonist Party while we let the Greens debate. It should only be fair!

Is it unreasonable for all parties to have an equal voice?

[Huggy85]

95% of Canadians voted for the top 4 parties in the last election. This, in fairness, 95% of debate time should belong to those 4. Let the other parties split the other 5%. That might buy the Greens.....what, 1 question?

95% of Canadians really don't care what the fringe parties have to say because they won't vote for them.

(Of course I'm only making up those numbers, but based on the vote count, that's a logical assumption, I think)

[Huggy85]

http://www.ottawacitizen.com/story_p...39999&sponsor=

[Barry Morris]

Is it unreasonable for all parties to have an equal voice?

No, it's not reasonable. Every kook would come out of the woodwork if this was allowed.

Permission to be heard is dependent on support.

[dancingqueen]

No, it's not reasonable. Every kook would come out of the woodwork if this was allowed.

Permission to be heard is dependent on support.

So how do you get that support if you don't have permission to be heard?

[dancingqueen]

95% of Canadians really don't care what the fringe parties have to say because they won't vote for them.

I wonder if the reason nobody will vote for them is because they don't get the same opportunity to be heard.

[yoda]

I am curious about Elizabeth May

[Barry Morris]

So how do you get that support if you don't have permission to be heard?

Ask the NDP. They got started somehow. Or the BLoc. Or the Greens.

[Barry Morris]

I wonder if the reason nobody will vote for them is because they don't get the same opportunity to be heard.

Nope. It's because democracy is at work.

[Huggy85]

I wonder if the reason nobody will vote for them is because they don't get the same opportunity to be heard.

I ask you again - should we ensure that every fringe party (which is what the green party still is) has the same opportunity to be heard, even if history has shown that nobody wants to hear what they have to say? It the Greens should have a seat at the debate, why not the Marxist Lennonist or Marijuana Parties? How much of a farce should the debates become?

[dancingqueen]

I ask you again - should we ensure that every fringe party (which is what the green party still is) has the same opportunity to be heard, even if history has shown that nobody wants to hear what they have to say? It the Greens should have a seat at the debate, why not the Marxist Lennonist or Marijuana Parties? How much of a farce should the debates become?

I thought my opinion on this was obvious, yes, yes I think everyone running for office should be heard.