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BC Elections: NDP supporters in for rude awakening


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It's not a secret that the BC Liberals are at odds with various public sector unions (BCTF, BCHEU, BCGEU, BC Ambulance Services, etc). Suppose Dix and the BCNDP do win the upcoming election - how are they going to handle relations between government and unions? The same groups of people that year in and year out tell their due-payers to vote NDP/BCNDP will now find themselves at odds with a government that looks to limit spending. Good luck supporting that.

http://www.richmond-news.com/life/supporters+rude+awakening/8089014/story.html

A protest rally this past weekend served as another reminder that a whole bunch of New Democratic Party supporters are in for a rude awakening if their political party wins.

About 200 people gathered outside Premier Christy Clark's constituency office, demanding more government money for a comprehensive child care plan. If the NDP does indeed form the next government, I suspect a similar demonstration will take place outside leader Adrian Dix's constituency office.

That's because Dix has signalled he knows the government cupboard is bare, and has already indicated his plans for a province-wide child care program are dead in the water, at least for a while, because the money simply isn't there to fund one.

But the lack of an expensive child care system isn't the only issue sure to disappoint the various interest groups that support the NDP over the B.C. Liberals.

Teachers, for example, may get a slight pay hike from an NDP administration, but not one that comes anything close to what they've been demanding from the provincial government. And they'd be wise to lower expectations when it comes to funding for the classroom.

There will be some pro-union changes to labour legislation, but unionized public sector workers shouldn't expect any significant pay hikes any time soon.

And the NDP has decried the level of child poverty in this province for years, but again, I'll be surprised if much action is taken on that front for at least a few more years and the state of government finances improves.

Wait times in the health care system are not going to radically change no matter which party wins in May.

I suspect the NDP's election platform will commit more money than the B.C. Liberals' current budget, but even that amount will simply maintain the status quo.

One large constituency that usually supports the NDP may be particularly upset. That would be the environmental movement which, among other things, wants a ban on fracking to extract natural gas.

The NDP's energy critic, John Horgan, says his caucus has committed to a study on fracking, but that's about it. He's mindful of the vital role natural gas revenues play in paying for government services, from health care to education and I doubt an NDP government would do anything to stifle the money that can flow from that critical industry.

Governments of all philosophical stripes are becoming desperate for more revenues, which naturally sets the stage for a clash with environmentalists, as the extraction and sales of natural resources is the backbone of the B.C. economy.

About the only sector that might notice some significant differences between an NDP administration and the B.C. Liberal government is post-secondary education. Dix has made it clear he considers that skills training and student aid are his top priorities.

But that's about it folks. Things aren't going to change much after the May vote even if the party takes power.

The conundrum of what to do about B.C. Ferries is a good example.

The party's critic for that company was unable to offer any specifics for what the NDP has planned for ferry services in this province.

There was no commitment for increasing the tax subsidy for B.C. Ferries, or doing anything to reduce fares or make changes to service levels.

All of this means that, should Dix become premier, demonstrations outside his constituency office may be rather commonplace.

And those doing the protesting will be the same folks who voted for him.

Keith Baldrey is chief political reporter for Global BC.

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Political parties do not truly represent the people. They are whatever you want them to be. Yes, they will be do or say anything to get elected.

The money comes from YOUR pockets.

And while their job is not easy at all, saying that one party is 'preferable' over the other is silly.

NDP is not a better alternative to the Liberals IMHO. Not saying that I'd vote Liberals - I think it's time that these 'main' political parties lose. I'm not holding my breath though. I don't think a 'new party' could change any economic situation. All these 'promises' can be made by any party. Can they follow through?

No.

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Political parties do not truly represent the people. They are whatever you want them to be. Yes, they will be do or say anything to get elected.

The money comes from YOUR pockets.

And while their job is not easy at all, saying that one party is 'preferable' over the other is silly.

NDP is not a better alternative to the Liberals IMHO. Not saying that I'd vote Liberals - I think it's time that these 'main' political parties lose. I'm not holding my breath though. I don't think a 'new party' could change any economic situation. All these 'promises' can be made by any party. Can they follow through?

No.

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Political parties do not truly represent the people. They are whatever you want them to be. Yes, they will be do or say anything to get elected.

The money comes from YOUR pockets.

And while their job is not easy at all, saying that one party is 'preferable' over the other is silly.

NDP is not a better alternative to the Liberals IMHO. Not saying that I'd vote Liberals - I think it's time that these 'main' political parties lose. I'm not holding my breath though. I don't think a 'new party' could change any economic situation. All these 'promises' can be made by any party. Can they follow through?

No.

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The real worry is that a left socialistic leaning party might try to. In the process dragging us further into the unsustainable morass of European style unfunded liabilities. And for what? To try to please the insatiable demands of a society bent on the destruction of our childrens futures. How will we pay for extravagant programs like this when we protest and chase off every industry in the land who's revenues we desperately need just to keep our heads above water.

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I disagree. While I accept your assertion that under our current system the people are not represented, the tendencies of certain parties favour the working populace more than others.

In this case, that would be the NDP. Certain people on this forum will throw tired, failed economic arguments as to why the Liberal regime is better; the reailty is they cannot quantifyy these views or even articulate their views. They base their arguments on "intuitive" statements that have proven to be BS.

Call it trickle-down, neo-liberal, or human capital assertions etc. they are all BS and fail. I'd be willing to bet people like WetCoaster don't even know the theoretical foundations of the terms I just mentioned. Regardless, they continue to support said argiments. Why? In my opinion, it's because it serves them.

What I'm getting at is terms such as "responsible" government (balanced budget) is a false theory that needs to be examed. People can call me academic - the irony is their basis for attack is all based on false-academic assertions that have NEVER been proven. All they have proved is that the rich get richr, and people like me end up paying for the short end of the equation.

This short end includes the Olympics, the sea-to-sky highway, the convention center, BC Place and Gordo living in the UK.

It's a bloody joke and people need to wake up.

The best part is that some on this site (take a guess who) will cite laws articulated by these same people in an attempt to defend the status quo. It's a fracked up world we live in is all I can say.

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I think we just have to bite the bullet and give the NDP one term, while the centre-right party undergoes wholesale personnel changes from top to bottom and reemerges under whatever name the next election. Hopefully, we won't let our economy crumble to the ground under two NDP terms before we learn better.

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I think we just have to bite the bullet and give the NDP one term, while the centre-right party undergoes wholesale personnel changes from top to bottom and reemerges under whatever name the next election. Hopefully, we won't let our economy crumble to the ground under two NDP terms before we learn better.

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The ndp have been clear that they expect to find the province is in very poor economic health and this article fully supports that. Unionized workers for the most part in the public service will be thrilled to be able to bargain without one hand on their wallet and thier backs against the wall. To not having to ask what they will loose next - to actually having the same rights as a kid at McDonald's ( health is the only sector without successor rights ) - there is lots unions will be happy with that don't cost that they lost to a power hungry vindictive bc liberal government.

And if they do get elected I would like to see them apply a bc liberal ( you where stupid enough to believe them ) Tax so that tax payers clearly understand the devestation that the bc liberals have done to this province. The ndp left a surplus last time they where in office and the complete and utter rubbish and nonsense being pushed by the right wing needs to called out. This current government has spent the cupboard bare and tax shifted business and the wealthy's share to the working class. History will in time reflect on the last decade as one of the most distructive of this generations. I have this horrible feeling that when we do have a change that what will be found will be similar to what was found after grant Devine left office.

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As compared to the BC Liberal party constitution:

(2) The principles of the Party are:

(a) a belief in supporting the rights, freedoms and dignity of all British

Columbians and encouraging their responsible participation in forms of social

organization which articulate a common interest;

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I am just going to through away my vote, the Liberals and NDP have done nothing to earn my support. This province is screwed either way. We all lose. The NDP will win, as the Liberals are as good as dead.

You think the economy is bad now? Just wait how bad it will get in the next couple of years with the NDP in charge.

This province is sure going to stink for awhile.

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I am just going to through away my vote, the Liberals and NDP have done nothing to earn my support. This province is screwed either way. We all lose. The NDP will win, as the Liberals are as good as dead.

You think the economy is bad now? Just wait how bad it will get in the next couple of years with the NDP in charge.

This province is sure going to stink for awhile.

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Damn i was hoping that brilliant Ndp leadership will tap the magic money tree to make all of our services better again. And all union workers will be happy again. And everything will be super nice with hardly any government waste or scandal.

No, no, the union BOSSES will get a huge handout. Not the unions themselves.

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Damn i was hoping that brilliant Ndp leadership will tap the magic money tree to make all of our services better again. And all union workers will be happy again. And everything will be super nice with hardly any government waste or scandal.

No, no, the union BOSSES will get a huge handout. Not the unions themselves.

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No it makes more sense just to watch the Ndp collapse in on itself again.

Telling the leftist Ndp voting base to go frack themselves is a great start. What's next? Oh right. It's Dix. So nothing.

He'll be out before he even has a chance to establish himself. Question is if the Libs get their crap together by then. Not that it matters. By then everyone will have forgotten about 'the atrocities' they've committed while being so annoyed by the Ndp's inability to do anything and the myriad of scandals Dix and his crook cronies will be stuck in that even Christy Clark will start to look vote-worthy. (A stretch, i know.)

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