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BC provincial election

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kimmy:
We're at it again. 

After last time, it would be foolish to write off Christie Clark's chances of winning. I live in a more conservative part of BC, and my feeling is that people are fairly satisfied with the provincial government here.  I think that BC is doing pretty well.  That mood might not be shared in the Lower Mainland, where most of the voters are.

My own primary concerns are issues that are actually a result of things going *too* well... things like skyrocketing cost of homes and rent.  BC is doing well economically, lots of people are moving here, and growth brings its own challenges.


Last time around, Christie campaigned on the promise that Liquified Natural Gas was going to create an energy windfall for the province. Nothing like that actually happened, and it turned out to not matter because the economy has done well regardless.

This time around, Clark's Liberals (who are actually the "right" here in BC) are casting themselves as the economy people, while John Horgan's NDP are casting themselves as the affordability people.  I think BC's "Conservative" party is some college kids doing this as an extra credit party or something. It's a pretty rec-league operation at this point.

The NDP "affordability" ideas seem to focus on costs that are in-your-face, like toll bridges and medical services premiums. I think these issues tend to have some traction with voters because the bill for them is in your face every month.  But the costs are there whether you see a bill or not. The NDP released a cost analysis of their promises this week.  They promise balanced budgets, based the idea that they will create billions of new revenue, combined with "eliminating waste".

Personally I think affordability sounds great.  I'd love to see my MSP premiums eliminated.  I think a lot of the ideas the NDP are presenting have some visceral appeal. But nothing is free.

 -k

wilber:
I would like to see the Liberals get a time out or a minority to relearn a little humility. 16 years in power has made them arrogant and entitled. Clark herself has turned out to be a real political animal, who's actions while in government have turned out to be the exact opposite of the positions she used to take on Liberal party policies as a radio host.

kimmy:
I kind of agree about the arrogance... I'm just not 100% sure about the alternative.

The NDP platform looks REALLY EXPENSIVE to my eyes.

The stuff Horgan is talking about on his TV commercials does strike an emotional chord with me.  I'm concerned about the things he talks about. Affordability. All the fees and tolls and premiums we pay.   I feel terrible for people who live in areas where they have to pay a toll every time they want to drive anywhere. The cost of housing in the populous areas of this province is completely through the roof, and I don't think the Liberals remotely give a crap. That concerns me.

Some of the ideas they're presenting seem good, but I am concerned about the overall tab and whether their projections are reasonable.  Of course, as Horgan goes about promising things that will make peoples' lives more affordable, Christie is now running around after him saying "me too!"  She is also now apparently very concerned about affordability, quite suddenly.

-k

wilber:
Yes, he will need to explain how he is going to pay for it all. I'm waiting for the Greens to put out their platform. If it looks fiscally responsible, I think I'll give them a try.  Wish we had a good independent like Vicki Huntingdon running in my riding but even she is quitting for health reasons. She has endorsed another independent to succeed her though.

kimmy:
I guess the good thing about the NDP platform is that it makes Christie pretend she cares about affordability once every 4 years.

With really just two viable options, that are almost polar opposites of each other, we really do kind of need some balance that's sorely lacking between the two parties.

 -k

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