The Enlightened Savage

#ABVote gets #MyVote. @Carla add #yyc or #yeg (or...

2012-02-17T02:47:33.126-07:00

#ABVote gets #MyVote.

@Carla add #yyc or #yeg (or other hyper local community tags) to the tweet. Albertans on twitter will pick it. #FreeBeer helps as well...

I agree with you Carla. So I am putting a social e...

2012-02-16T23:05:42.596-07:00

I agree with you Carla. So I am putting a social experiment to the test. I just published a blog on community engagement including voting. I believe in changing the world, one person at a time. I am hoping my blog spreads, engagement spreads, and community activism spreads, as all will lead to more voters and hopefully informed voters. Check it out at eyeonCalgary.wordpress.com

James: I've seen at least a half dozen hashtag...

2012-02-15T13:08:34.867-07:00

James: I've seen at least a half dozen hashtags in use. Whatever consensus was reched, there are hundreds of twitter users and candidates who seem to have not gotten the memo.

Hopefully, this helps.

you're behind the times dude| the discussion t...

2012-02-15T13:00:30.861-07:00

you're behind the times dude|
the discussion that happened on twitter a couple weeks ago led to consensus for #abvote

Carla: Only thing we can do is spread the word. As...

2012-02-15T12:54:00.765-07:00

Carla: Only thing we can do is spread the word. As for making them care: That's the job of the candidates.

correction: how do we make THEM care? danged fing...

2012-02-15T12:51:15.819-07:00

correction: how do we make THEM care?

danged fingers have a mind of their own...

Bigger question is: how will you let the disengage...

2012-02-15T12:49:59.046-07:00

Bigger question is: how will you let the disengaged, nonvoter know the hashtag? How will we 'drive' them there? How do we make the care?

I am using #abvote because it is an action and cle...

2012-02-12T15:05:11.419-07:00

I am using #abvote because it is an action and clearer than the obscure #ab12 or #elxnab for Albertans and Twitter users who are not obsessed with politics (ie: most of Albertans and most Twitter users).

I'm a bit torn between #ab12 and #abvote. The...

2012-02-12T12:15:33.570-07:00

I'm a bit torn between #ab12 and #abvote. The former is shorter, but the latter has a clearer meaning when seen by a casual observer/tweeter.

Great post Mr. 0! I notice since your defeat you&...

2012-02-12T12:03:41.246-07:00

Great post Mr. 0! I notice since your defeat you've been less...well...savage! Even on Twitter where 'friends' like Shane B (who should have given you an endorsement BTW) 'rant' in stark contrast to their nice-guy image and PC MLA's turn positively into bullies, you're taken the high road. #lovethenewyou

Anon: Clever, but I somehow doubt the opposition p...

2012-02-12T11:49:34.841-07:00

Anon: Clever, but I somehow doubt the opposition parties and their supporters will want to use it, thus defeating the purpose. :P

I got a good laugh. Raj's disadvantage ia act...

2012-02-12T11:40:06.805-07:00

I got a good laugh. Raj's disadvantage ia actually lack of character, not lack of characters. Anyway, how about #11str8?

Via Twitter, TheInvisibleDan suggests "#ab12&...

2012-02-12T11:26:04.950-07:00

Via Twitter, TheInvisibleDan suggests "#ab12".

Short, to the point. It's on the ballot.

Thanks, Mr. Invisible! ;)

2012-02-04T16:31:00.519-07:00

This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

It can be a passion. I have been engaged for fort...

2012-02-04T13:29:35.460-07:00

It can be a passion. I have been engaged for forty years. Keep your chin up and always come ready to play. I lost my first nomination, won the second and lost the election, before winning the third time out. We serve in many ways, but it is a true privilege tobe elected to help capture and create that future that Albertans aspire to for their children and grandchildren. I'm sure your nomination was a great experience even in loss. Keep on pitching.

Great post Joey! Thanks for sharing such a persona...

2012-02-04T13:14:32.014-07:00

Great post Joey! Thanks for sharing such a personal post.

Matt Jeneroux won in Edmonton -South West last eve...

2012-01-31T14:50:26.952-07:00

Matt Jeneroux won in Edmonton -South West last evening. He defeated 3 other candidates to claim the nomination. Over 350 votes cast.

I'll just echo Mark's comments, as I was g...

2012-01-18T15:44:30.045-07:00

I'll just echo Mark's comments, as I was going to post almost exactly the same thing as he did!

I think democratic reform would be better served by the first two things you suggest, and by examining changes to the electoral system: preferential ballots, STV, prop representation, etc. That and ensuring that MLAs are able to vote freely, curtailing the iron-grip of the Preem/caucus leader.

I am always glad to see proposals for democratic r...

2012-01-18T13:49:43.762-07:00

I am always glad to see proposals for democratic reform, but I think your idea to cut the size of the legislature is ill-conceived. By doing this you either increase the geographic size (potentially massively) of rural districts served by individual MLA's, or you increase the under-representation of people in urban districts. We often fall for the "less politicians is better" idea but when you increase the number of constituents served per MLA, you necessarily decrease their ability to represent those constituents. How do you propose to deal with these issues?

Furthermore, I have a hard time seeing how cutting some MLA's will offset the cost of paying for a slightly smaller number of senators, who will require staff and resources just like MLA's, as well as the construction and maintenance of a place for those senators. Have you costed this idea?

I disagree, Joey. Ralph Klein was a servant, not ...

2012-01-17T14:28:31.265-07:00

I disagree, Joey. Ralph Klein was a servant, not a leader. A leader does what is right, not politically popular (though the two may occasionally coincide). A servant does what the people want, and generally, people choose the path of least resistance. Everybody talks about leaving a better world for their children, but very few are actually willing to pay for it or make any real sacrifice whatsoever. After eliminating the debt, Ralph did sweet f a, because Albertans didn't want to pay for it. And Ed Stelmach got to carry the bag when he acted like a leader and did the things that were necessary to make up for the benign neglect of Ralph's last nine years in office. I think history will be much kinder to Ed than to Ralph, and deservedly so. Ralph was an amiable buffoon, and you would do much better to be more like Lougheed, or even, God forbid, Stelmach. An MLA is not a "servant."

Fixed and semi-fixed dates are silly. It extends ...

2011-11-24T15:50:12.697-07:00

Fixed and semi-fixed dates are silly. It extends electioneering beyond the limits of human endurance.

See the 2+ year presidential "race" for living proof.

Savage, While fixed election dates sound like a n...

2011-11-21T11:30:27.705-07:00

Savage,

While fixed election dates sound like a nice idea, what happens in the situation where there is a sitting minority government that loses the confidence of the legislature? This would (and should) force an election to be called, which will more than likely be outside the fixed election date window. In my opinion, any electoral reform should not remove or muffle the voice of the opposition, especially in a minority parliament.

What do you do with the fixed date then? If you leave it as is, you cut the term of the incoming government, potentially to a couple of months. The other option would have to be one of fixing majority terms, or tying the hands of the governing party to call elections outside the window. Eg. something like "the upcoming election must be held on a date between 45-48 months from the previous election, except in such situations as..."

If I were to support somethign like this, it would have to have some teeth. We can't forget that the federal Conservatives eschewed the very legislation that they wrote, in the same governmental term that it was written in, the moment it became inconvenient for them. For all the good that law did, they may as well have just stayed at home for the duration it took to write it.

Like Brandon I understand your commitment to the P...

2011-11-17T12:24:53.199-07:00

Like Brandon I understand your commitment to the PCs; I also understand that the best chance of becoming an MLA is to run under that banner - a nomination almost (but not quite) guarantees a seat in the Legislature. I commend you for initiating the changes you think are necessary for the governing party.
Best of luck from a long-time reader and New Democrat.
Bob

I'd just like to say congrats again. I really ...

2011-11-14T14:04:29.219-07:00

I'd just like to say congrats again. I really respect what you're doing and I think you've got a great point of view on politics and the role of the MLA. In fact, it is a point of view which sounds more like my party (the Alberta Party) than yours!

But I do understand your committment to the PCs and your reasons for seeking a nomination under that banner; I guess I just don't share your belief that the PC party can be renewed from the inside and all the muck thrown out; even with Redford at the helm.

Anyway, best wishes again. Hopefully I'll be seeing you in the Leg sometime in the near future!

I will be surprised if Doug Griffiths does not end...

2011-10-11T19:58:07.965-06:00

I will be surprised if Doug Griffiths does not end up in charge of Education. It would be a natural fit. I also agree that Dave Rodney will likely end up with the Parks portfolio; again a good fit. I think that Jonathan Denis has proven himself and should end up with as Minister of Justice. If Morton sticks around, I think that he has to be in cabinet. He is a capable politician and an asset to the party.
I am very curious as to who will be appointed to Finance and Health. Those two portfolios (along with Education) are going to be the media focus over the next few months.
Great post, and I'm looking forward to tomorrow's announcements.