DarrenBarefoot.com

Hi Darren,

I agree it’s a difficult decision. Politics doesn’t interest me much either. However, I do believe the Green Party is moving us in the right direction. A few years ago, people used to laugh at me when I said I was voting green.

“They’ll never win,” friends and family would say. However, I know that each vote helps a party grow. So, even if they don’t win… I’m showing my support and helping them gain momentum and funding.

Here is a quick snapshot of the Green Party’s platform off their website that sums things up nicely. http://votefortomorrow.ca/

Looking Forward

Most political parties base their plans on one looming event — the next election, and one aim — staying in power.

The Green Party is different. We look much further forward, and we plan for a far greater goal — a livable world, with enough for everyone, with healthy communities based on healthy economies; secure for future generations.

The most urgent threat is the climate crisis. We must move to a low-carbon economy and dramatically reduce emissions of greenhouse gases. We can do this in ways that enhance Canada’s economy and the wellbeing of Canadians.

We must also invest in peace.

And we must shockproof our society against unforeseeable events by building in resilience.

In energy, that means relying increasingly on decentralized renewable power and less on mega-project generators. In social policy, it means realizing that looking out for one another is as important as breathable air, drinkable water and healthy food.

The Green Party faces the major threats of our time – the climate crisis, economic instability, increasing militarism and a growing gap between rich and poor — with clear-eyed realism. It offers practical solutions — down-to-earth policies. We want to engage Canadians in the positive changes essential to bequeath a livable world to our children.

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I think the liberal have done enough damage in the last, what, 8 years? Living in Alberta I can tell you that BC (and being a former BCer) doesn’t need to be more like Alberta, and that’s where they’re headed. Privatizing public utilities like BC Hydro is unacceptable and it’s just the start.

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Voting for BC-STV is more important then your riding vote this time around in my opinion.

BC-STV will give you way more choice in future provincial elections.

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darren Reply:
May 8th, 2009 at 12:35 pm

I’m definitely voting in favour of the STV.

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In my opinion, BC’s had mostly miserable governments over the past 30 years with the current Campbell government being the only exception. Unlike all of their predecessors (especially in the NDP governments), they’ve been relatively free of destabilizing scandals and have brought this province back to a level of prosperity that we haven’t seen in a long time.

I think people forget way too quickly the things that were happening in this province in the 80’s and 90’s. But, I guess if you choose to forget about history, you’re always welcome to repeat it.

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I fully support the NDP. I also support the concept of “unions” and have belonged to the BCTF for 18 years. Unions are not “perfect” and have their problems, but so do private sector systems. I’ve seen far too many people be retained and protected by the union, when they should have been fired…. but I’ve also seen many members protected from discrimination, and in the case of teaching, class sizes have been lowered over the years because of the union negotiations.

Unions aside, I like that the NDP platform includes a moratorium on sale of BC rivers and streams. I worked for the GVRD parks department as a naturalist for 2 years, and I know the value of owning and protecting our rivers and streams.. huge.

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