from the "they're all the same" dept.

One day before Canada heads to the polls to select a new (or old) government for the next few months or years -- and there is little hope.

In my riding of Vancouver South I was (I voted in the advance poll) faced with the following choices:

[ ] Liberals -- Candidate Ujjal Dosanjh. This guy is an example of what I don't like about politicians. Worse, he's a turncoat. A member of the terrible BC NDP during the Fast Ferry and scandal years, he became the premier of this province. Then, seeing his days were numbered, jumped ship to the Federal Liberals. Nice convictions. And not much of a choice.

[ ] Conservatives -- Maybe in a couple of years these guys will get their heads out of their asses. But I cannot support a party that is so pro-American (not the people, the U.S. Government) and wants to revisit an issue that is not an issue: same-sex marriage. Regardless of your view on the subject, there is no reason that it should surface during the campaign. There are more important things to worry about. How could I throw my support behind a party that can't see the forest for the trees? Hello healthcare, education, taxes, economy! Same-sex marriage?! Get over it.

[ ] NDP -- ah... the used car salesman with the cheesy mustache. There's one reason not to vote for them. Here's another: as much as I think society needs to take care of its own -- and social programs are good -- we have to pay for them. We can't just spend willy nilly without regard to the bottom line. Do what the BC Liberals and the Ralph Klien have done: get the financial house in order, then start adding programs. Treat government like a business, not a pot of money to grab from without regard to the costs.

[ ] Marxist-Leninist: While I like most things former-Soviet, I'm not quite convinced that Marxism is a good idea. In fact, its not. I am a capitalist through and through... and that don't jive.

[ ] Green: Here's the thing. Everyone complains that there is no choice on our ballots. The main parties are essentially the same. There is much truth to that. So then people talk about voting for one of the alternative parties, like the Greens. Two seconds later, they come to the realization that a vote in that direction is a wasted vote. Is it? On the surface, maybe -- because it is doubtful a Green candidate would ever win. However, enough people who are frustrated with the current choices chimed in and cast their ballots differently, then a vote for a "fringe" party wouldn't be a waste. It would be a wake up call.

Can you guess how I voted?

And regardless of your political stripes, get out there and VOTE. It's your right, and, believe it or not, it CAN make a difference.

Cheers!