Election Perception – Stephen Harper

I suppose, I like things neat and tidy. You’d never know it from how I keep house, but I like things in order. I love my routine, sort of, but in Politics, I like to KNOW who I am voting for.  I want to KNOW what I am voting for, what I can expect.

Stephen Harper and the Conservatives showed me that you CAN get elected, by sidestepping every single issue, by holding back from explaining what you plan to accomplish.

And YET the perception, that he generated, was one of a Commander, of a Cool Leader who had the answers, but wasn’t about to let us in on it. We had to trust him, or perhaps, trust the other leaders less.

With help from the Media, he created this impression that he knew what to do. He had the answers, and we just had to trust him. When questioned, and not answering, he gave us the impression that it didn’t matter, because we weren’t, well, smart enough to understand the subtle nuances of the problem.   And so many of us, bought into that bullshit, that we gave him our vote.

Maybe I am to cynical, but honestly, out of all the politicians, he gave the least about his plans, than the others. He talked in generalities, yet made it sound like a sermon from the mount.  Yet nearly 40% of voters, took the perception of him as a leader, as a good leader, to heart & voted for him.

Maybe it was the persona of the Attack Ads, that had a bigger impact on our decisions, or maybe it was that he didn’t appear in those ads?  Somehow we seemed to actively disassociate him from the mean spirited ads, that he ran.  We condemned them, yet gave him our votes, because we bought into those ads.

Or perhaps the real perception was, that he wasn’t going to raise taxes,  wasn’t going to spend us into the poor house, and wasn’t going to break apart the Country. In other words, he created negative impressions, perceptions, of the others, so we just naturally eliminated them. It gave us the perception that he wasn’t as bad as the others, hence he got our votes.

Maybe it wasn’t that we had any real perception about him, just that he created a worse impression of the others, so we would accept him.   Guess it worked, given how he is the Prime Miniter, and that others are also rans.

Election Perception – The Media 3

Teach me for getting busy, but anyhow, wanted to finish this piece, about election perceptions.  And yeah, I know I have a hate on for the Media, but honestly, I think everyone should.  After all, don’t we all like to think for ourselves?

The media likes to pretend, it is telling us the news, but let’s be honest, they are now in the business of selling advertising. That is their one and only goal.  The higher rated their newscast is, the more they can charge for ads during the news.  Newspapers today, well, it is based on circulation, and the juicier the headlines, the more people will subscribe.

Least that’s the theory.

In this last election, the Media clearly had a bias for the Conservatives. They would report on ‘local all candidate debates’ and yet highlight the Conservative candidate more than the others, and in the case of CHEK 6, ( my local station ) they actually didn’t even bother to show the Green Party Candidate.

Like, uh, I didn’t know who our candidate was, and if I had relied on their report, I’d assume there wasn’t one. After all, out of sight, out of mind.  Right?

Why would they support one party over another?

Simple, the Conservatives under Harper have this Industry Police Thy Self mantra, which suits them just fine. By policing their own standards, they can do whatever they want, say what they want, pretend it is news when its bullshit, and not get into trouble.  Just like Maple Leaf Foods did with its tainted food.

The CRTC is gutted, thanks to Harper, and now we have four years where we can expect more of the same. So naturally the Media wanted him in power, it means they get to set the standards, not us, the owners of the airwaves.

Think just how much the Media has changed today. Back in the day, Politicians had access, to the Media, as a requirement for the Media using our airwaves. Today, they managed to swap that requirement by setting up CSPAN.  Their own little politicial network, that is just another means for them to slant the news. Sure, they may have to show Parliament, the Committee Hearings, but uh, they get to decide what we see, and for how long.

That isn’t free, in my books.

It is a rehash with the same biased pundits, to favor one party over another.  Frankly, if it wasn’t for one or two shows that Mom watches, I’d cancel cable. It simply isn’t worth it, nor is the news anywhere close to being accurate.  And after watching their 20 second sound bites this election, it just isn’t even close to being worth viewing.

What we need, is to neuter the Media Big Wigs. Each channel, should provide a set amount of airtime, to each political party to use as they wish. In addition, the local stations should allow campaign advertising to local candidates, for free.  Not a ton either, but say one per hour in prime time.  That would be four ads, given we have four national parties.

In other words, let us not limit the ability of other voices, to be heard. Let them use the free airtime, as they choose, and then it would be about the issues, not about who has the most cash to spend on bullshit attack ads.  It levels the playing field, which is the fair and Canadian thing to do.

It used to be that way, it should never have been changed.

Can We Survive More Of Harper

IF you believe the polls, Harper is enroute to Victory, but again, is that for real, or is it a stacked result?  I mean to be honest, I tend to not believe the polls very much, simply because the sample is just way too small.  That and the fact that today, polling is done in such a manner, that the answers may not be reflective of how people actually will vote.

Yeah I know, a bit Polyanna, but come on, I simply cannot believe that there are that many Canadians so frightened of their own shadows, that they’ll buy any more of the Harper Bullshit.

Nor do I think we are that gullible, as the media & Harper seem to believe. Myself, I’d like to see polling not be published during an election. In fact, I’d ban it, if I could.  Polling tends to help keep Voters at home. And that is one more reason why I find their results suspect.  It is BY DESIGN, to give the appearance that all is done, that really, we don’t need to show up and vote.

And that contributes to the Voter Apathy we have seen over the years, which is why I am hopeful that the unusually high advance voter turn out, is continued on Election Day.  It would say to me, that perhaps there are a lot more independent minded Canadians, who also want to see a return to the past glory days, of when elections were about issues.

I believe in Canada, and the spirit of us all. I don’t think this Harper Mentality can continue for much longer. I truly don’t believe Canadians appreciate the attacks, the lies, the deceit, the meanness.

I hope tomorrow I am proved right.

VOTE FOR ANYONE BUT THE MEAN SPIRITED HARPER CONSERVATIVE

Two Days to Go and

I think I’ll keep the radio and television off.   I am sick to death of the Political Party Attack Ads, most notably the Conservative LIES.  I hate how we have become inundated by the fear, the absolute lies, of Political Ads.

I mean, I know that when the Ad Council considers talking about how many ads are truthful, they IGNORE political ads, for one reason…   THEY ARE MOSTLY UNTRUTHS.

You would think, that the one area of advertising that would be held to a HIGHER STANDARD would be the ads by our Political Leaders.  INSTEAD they are held to the LEAST STANDARD OF TRUTH & ETHICS.

Just what does that say about our political system these days?

And who do I blame, the Harper Nut Jobs, who think it is better to win by lying, that win by having policies people can support.

ANYONE BUT LYING CONSERVATIVES

Is It Desperation or Just Harper’s Ego?

I really wonder, is Stephen Harper has just too much Ego, or is he really that desperate to win, that he ignores truth, compassion, & caring?   His snappish attitude towards any questions that are about what he has said, about his programs, makes me wonder, is he even in touch with reality?

If so many official agencies say his Fighter Jets will cost more than his public estimate, why is he hiding that?  Is it even possible that his price is right, and EVERYONE ELSE’S IS WRONG?

And all those attack ads, mostly about the Coalition, is well, like what the fuck?  I mean he tried to form one in 2004, couldn’t, so I wonder, is this just because he couldn’t do it, and Dion, Layton, Duceppe could?

That is just plain EGO, and is that what we want in a Prime Minister?

I believe in a lot of the things that many Conservatives do, but I have to say, under Harper they have spent a lot of money, without any accountability.  HOW IS THAT BEING CONSERVATIVE?