With the coming elections in Canada we are starting to receive all sorts of campaigns for our vote. So today I received in the mail the ad for the Conservative party and the incumbent for my riding. Her name is Alice Wong (alice@alicewong.ca).
So I sent her an email with my response:
Dear Alice,
Today I received your Ad requesting for my vote in the coming elections.
Given the recent track record of Mr Harper and his government there is no way I will be voting for you. Today is the first time I hear about you and that you are running for an MP seat. Perhaps if I hear more about you and what you stand for I could think differently.
I also looked at the issues that you present in your ad. For example the section about "Fight crime" you are focusing more on policing instead of focusing at the root reasons. I mean does 6.00 minimum wage not tell you anything? or cutbacks on social programs and healthcare? Combine that with the recent tax cuts. Do you honestly think that cutting taxes make for a better living? I would agree with that statement for high income groups but for low income is a disaster and then you wonder why we have higher crime rates?
War on Afghanistan? etc.
I could go on and on for hours on all the wrong things this government has done. But let me tell you what I want in order to get my vote and most of my friend are on the same page.
1. Use the budget surpluses to reinstate the previously eliminated social programs instead of tax cuts which usually benefit more the very rich.
2. Move to even a more egalitarian society by
Socializing healthcare more (ie. no more P3s)
Make public transit free
Increase the minimum wage to 10 dollars minimum
Increase social housing
Increase day care spaces and make them free
Make tuition free at all levels, all the way to PhD.
etc
3. Get out of Afghanistan and revert our role in the world back to peace keeping as opposed to policing.
Impossible? Look at the scandinavian countries. They do this and more.
For details please refer to the Alternative Budget 2008 from the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives. Or the summarized version.
Not up for reading? Hear the recent CBC podcast on some of this issues. Look for the edition titled "Sick people or sick societies?":
If you pledge to make these issues yours then you have my vote.
Sincerely,
Victor XXXXX
(My address)
