Nov. 17, 2000: THEY FUCKING PRINTED IT.
I am writing in response to the man who, in a letter to the Cape Breton Post recently, pleaded with all of us to vote for the Alliance on the basis that they had yet to screw up the country. I felt the need to refute this logic. No matter what the other parties have done so far, nothing could be as bad as what would happen if Day won the leadership.

Reading from the Alliance's Policy, it's very easy to see what they stand for:

The Alliance is FOR Private Health Care, Private Pensions, Charity instead of Social Programs, Corporate Tax Cuts, and the Wealthy paying less tax - at same rate as middle-class and working people.

The Alliance is AGAINST First Nations land claims, Fair Refugee Hearings, Gay and Lesbian Equality.

Stockwell Day has said, "I believe that the Bible is the infallible word of God and every word in it, cover to cover, is true." Does that mean the misogynistic parts as well as the love your neighbour parts? The sections where race-, gender- and sexuality-based discrimination is accepted? Don't forget the parts about sacrificing animals, taking up serpents, and keeping kosher. Oh, and how we're all unclean for five days if we give birth to a male child. Two weeks if it's female.

Do we really want a country as widely diverse as our beloved Canada governed by a man who believes the garbage alongside the beautiful parts of the bible?

What about the rest of the country who don't believe in the bible - how can you possibly be represented equally by this party?

The CA also has, by far, the smallest percentage of female representatives in the House of Commons.

The Globe and Mail has outlined some secret policies of the CA, on Tuesday, November 07. They apparently somehow obtained a copy of the document, which reputedly goes into specific details on issue standings.

"For example, the Alliance has proposed national referendums on contentious issues if there was sufficient public interest, without defining how that interest would be measured.
The policy overview, however, sets a specific target of "3 per cent of the total number of voters who cast ballots in the last election" as the minimum number of names needed on a petition to force a referendum on capital punishment or abortion."

Three percent. To force a referendum to decide whether the government has the right to control who dies and who lives. To decide whether the government has the right to control women's bodies and their personal choices.

This is not a party I want anywhere near my country, let alone leading it.

Even if you don't agree that these things are evil, as I obviously do, you have to find out for yourself which party you can call your own. I want you all to do your research for this election. Call your candidates. Check out their websites. Ask questions.

Don't vote for someone just because they're new and different and they have shiny hair and a nice smile. Don't vote for a person or a party because your parents do, or your spouse does, or because it's what you've always done. Vote for a person and a party who is going to support your beliefs and do the best for your region and your country. Think for yourself. And then vote.

If you don't know where to start, I suggest the following URLs:

http://www.marigoldzine.com/suff/sc-action-parties.htm
Links to each of the party's websites. Each of these should have information on their platforms and how to contact your local candidate.

http://politicswatch.com/vote_selector_quiz.htm
It includes a series of questions about issues such as gun control, taxation, health care and education. You rate how you feel on each of the issues and the results will rank the parties and their leaders according to which ones agree with you. It certainly isn't perfect, but it's a definite start to learning more about which party might be for you.

But however you start, please, just start. Don't take my word for it - Educate yourself. Remember, whoever we elect is ours for four years. Be sure of what you want.

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