If you have no faith in politicians, how could politicians re-create it?

Question

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Answer 1

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They could start by changing the election legislation. I am sick of elections every second year or so, when the country constantly lives either in the pre- or in the post-election period, with constant promises from politicians but no real actions (especially, long-term actions). I am also sick of millions votes lost in every election and neverending strategic voting (since millions of people know that their vote may be lost if they vote for what they stand for rather than strategically). It is also not acceptable that the party supported by say only 40% of the Canadian population runs the country as if it was supported by the majority of Canadians. In my opinion, we need to have (a) fixed elections every five or six years; (c) a representation in the Parliament of all political parties that overcome a certain threshold of nationwide support (3%, 5%...); and (b) a coalition government in a case when no party receives more than a 50% nationwide support. No more current majority/minority nonsense. I want politicians to work, not to campaign.

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Thank you!

Answer 2

As far as American politics is concerned, I feel that politicians can win the trust in the public by agreeing to eliminate reelections. A longer one term period would be encouraging to the voter because I feel that politicians would not spend their time pleasing sides just for reelection.

Running for office should be a service, not a career.

Answer 3

For one,
stop pi$$ing around and get to work on our Kyoto commitments, give us a plan for the future instead of blaming others for our problems. I don't see alot of long term thinking in our govt. When I'm in Canada, I live in Calgary and it shocks me there is no high speed train between Calgary and Edmonton, we are so far behind the rest of the world, it's embarrassing, I lay that at the feet of our leaders who are happy with status quo while the rest of the world moves on.
I fear modern politics has become more about dividing your opponents and rallying your base instead of finding consensus and winning people over with a superior plan.

BTW good luck in taking down Peter MacKay, the guy's a chump

Answer 4

I doubt that they can. Politicians, all of them, bow to the people with promises they forget (selective memory) as soon as they are elected. Politicians cannot be trusted. They lie, big time. They are all about nepotism, cronyism and favoritism. I have never met a politician I trusted and I know a few having worked with some up close.

By the time they are in office they owe so many people that their debts are never paid in full. But, pay they do. The people who put them there are the ones they must pay back. It is never your ordinary, every day, average, middle-class working American. Those are just the people who have been lied to to get that vote. It is the ones who contribute money that makes an impression. I have work within an organization where there was a "job freeze" BUT if you had a friend (cronyism) whose son needed a job (favoritism) that "job freeze" would be opened for him. This is not hear-say, I was a witness to this more times then I care to remember.

I no longer believe or have faith in our American government or any of the political parties. We Americans cannot find jobs, we can no longer buy the amount of food we use to. There are no health benefits for us or our children. Gas prices are sky high, milk prices over the top. Have you seen the price on a box of cereal? How did that happen? Tainted meat, even pancake syrup was spoiled, how? I noticed one important thing here. All these products were from companies that were recently bought out and taken over by new companies. The new companies are not as stringent in inspecting their products as the old ones. Even the cans of food are a smaller size but the price on them have gone up. Consumer are not suppose to be aware of that fact and many are not. That is what the manufacturers are counting on.

Check out a can of say Campbell's Soup. Look at the size of the can and read the number. I have no problem with instructions on cans written in Spanish but I do object to the fact that the English language comes second. This is an English speaking country with Spanish as a second language. I happen to speak a little Spanish but the point is English first por favor. However, the companies buying out other companies are most likely of Spanish desent. And whatever happened to the FDA? One meat company that had been in business for many, many years had to close shop. Tainted meat was sold to consumers and some became very sick while others died. Whose is not doing their job! Could it be the government? Of cause it is. Bad celery, lettuce, tomatoes, what is going on America? Sanitation went out the window.

Complaining (I have) to your senator, congressman/lady, council member or mayor is a joke. Sending me a form letter stating you received my letter is not the answer I was looking for. Some of our representatives do not bother answering at all UNLESS IT IS ELECTION TIME! Politicians are not to be trusted and we have seen more of that in the last few years. Arrests, convictions and prison sentences are rampant. The people elected to represent us are the very ones being arrested for variable crimes. What does that say about our system? What is worse is the sentences are just a slap on the wrist. I no longer believe in our government. However, this is still my country, right or wrong and I am proud to be an American. I'm just ashamed of our political parties. None of them, in my opinion, are any good.

Answer 5

By following through on election promises. Another way would be to consider the wishes of all Canadians, not just those that support them. The prime minister is there to serve the entire electorate, so he/she should, especially since most majority governments are elected by a minority of voters. MPs should actively consult members of their constituency throughout their term, not just during the campaign. Also, one of the most important things Canada needs to do is establish a proportional representation voting system, so that the wishes of the electorate are accurately reflected in house of commons, instead of favouring regional parties. That would be one of the greatest improvements our democracy could see.
Edit: Oh one other thing. They should try to release their platform earlier then the week before the election.

Source(s):

I voted Green in the advance polls!

Answer 6

You already have! Good Luck:)

Answer 7

I do have faith in some politicians. Harper is one, Duceppe is another. I trust that Duceppe will do everything in his power to squeeze the rest of Canada for the sole benefit of Quebec. Harper I trust to do the best for Canada and Canadians.

Layton, Dion, Rae, Chretien, Martin - I wouldn't trust them to put my recycling out on garbage day.

Answer 8

Ms. May, honestly, you have renewed my faith in politicians! Maybe not in all of them... but in some. They could all take some examples from you.

Answer 9

By following through with what they tell people; I know its not always possible as when you do go into power you see another side of the coin.

With that said, I'm tired of scandals in politics, politicians should be responsible for their party and monitor things - there's too much in politics that has absolutely nothing to do with making a country better in all ways.

So cut the lies, scandals, and have your MP's respond to the community. My MP in Newmarket Aurora she was a dead beat, and didn't return letters, emails or phone calls on simple issues. The local community has to be able to feel that they have a say.

Answer 10

Honestly, the Green Party's Environmental platform is a tad unrealistic. However, she'd got a backbone and stands up to everyone and she's the only one I know of who lives her platform and LISTENS to people. For the first time in my life I'm thinking of voting Green - if only because there is no real alternative!

Answer 11

I have no faith in Left wing pols. The only way I ever would is if they quit for the good of the country

Answer 12

Tell the truth and keep your promises. Be accountable by listing all your platform promises and publish this list along with a monthly checklist of ones that you have kept so far. This should be a monthly one page add in a National Newspaper so Canadians can see clearly how you are doing!

Answer 13

Put your money where your mouth is. Set fixed spending limits on MP's wages and spending accounts. Get away from the frivolous crap that Governments take. Freeze wage increases for Politicans.

Answer 14

I do have faith in politicians. It's very easy to point fingers. Its also very easy to generalise and oversimplify by suggesting that "we have lost faith in politicians." Frankly, this is a cop out and a very cynical point of view. I will vote, as always, and base my vote on my opinion as to who is the best person for the job taking into consideration their qualifications and the current situation in Canada.

Answer 15

By being realistic in their platforms.

Answer 16

Stand up to the idiots in Quebec, and tell them to stop acting like 141 year old infants.
Don't say ridiculous Layton things like "We are gonna shut down Canada's biggest source of Revenue" (The Oilsands).

Stop pandering to special interest groups who want 14 year old murderers free again in 6 months, and repeat sexual offenders walking the streets of Edmonton picking up 7 year olds.

Bring back the rope for jerks like Vince Li.

Realize we are already taxed to death in this country, and we certainly do not need ANY more taxes.

Do what you say you are gonna do, and you will be the first Prime Minister since John A. to do so.

Good Luck with that.

Answer 17

Know what makes the country tick, be a good speaker, and know how to motivate people. Believe in what you say and stick to your policies. Please just NO MORE BS!

Answer 18

Global warming ended the year after Kyoto was signed and the Earth has actually been cooling since 2002 so none of the CO2 reductions make any sense and in fact have caused a world food crisis as well as putting pressure on energy costs.
Both of these are hurting the poor more than anyone else.
My support will go to the first party that opens up the scientific debate on climate and acts acording to scientific fact instead of climate alarmist self servinf propoganda.

Answer 19

By sticking to there guns. It seems like they preach something different from what they practice.
On Another point, I would vote green, but I fear that if I vote green the liberals will lose and the conservative would win the elections. I do not know how to resolve this dilemma.

Answer 20

By cutting out the extra 'fat', the multi-levels of bureaucracy just to get something happening, it's insane!

By setting realistic goals, and not being afraid to say "Look, this is really what we've got, here are our numbers", and follow through.

By being transparent!! Having all levels open to all Canadians so we can 'check up on you' to see where our money is going.

Answer 21

I beleive most in discours of elisabeth May coz we want jobs and industrial busnisses here in canada..

Answer 22

stop lieing or 'stretching' the truth - i.e. promise the moon and deliver nothing. Stay in touch with main street reality.
Regaining main street faith / trust will take years of 'walking the talk' and not just 'talking the talk'. e.g. the NDP sounded to good to be true when they were elected under Bob Rae, but they totally fumbled the ball when in power - by the way, there's not much difference between the NDP and the Liberals e.g. Rae swinging back and forth like Stronach.

Answer 23

They should practice what they preach. They should live up to their promises not do things opposite to what is said.

Answer 24

Ms. May, You impressed me very much during the english debates. If there were more leaders like you who tell it like it is, that would go a long way in having Canadians regain the trust of politicians.

Answer 25

The system needs to self correct. Voters deserve one more option on the ballot: "None of the above". Rather than spoiling a ballot, an active vote against the alternatives should be an option, and have consequences. If the proportion of "None of the above" is higher than a threshold amount, say 25% in any riding, the election for that riding should be voided and a run-off (preferably with new candidates) would be required at the expense of the parties.

Furthermore, if an election is called before the end of a government's term and there is no change (ie still minority). The party forcing the election should be demoted one place. If the government calls the election and gets a minority, they would be the official opposition.

Answer 26

I sent letters to each party wanting a direct statement on how you will handle services and resources surrounding the raising and care of children with disabilities... I am a single mother in desperation in a system that fails to see the value of me working and trying to raise my child who faces extraordinary circumstances.

If you want my vote, if you want to restore my faith in a failed governmental structure, first, have the courtesy of replying.... I do realize that you all have many questions to answer, but perhaps if I had an outline sent to me that would address major issues that we face - environment, economics, social programming - and it broke down how the parties stand on those issues and what their forecast is, I would have a better "visual" of what the parties are fully concentrated on. The problem with all politicians, and all parties is it seems to become a media celebrity showdown.... you have completely forgotten about the faces of the people you are here to serve and rather you focus your concentrations on your ticket to the top. Should you ever feel the desire to actually answer my questions, I am [e-mail] . I won't hold my breath

Answer 27

Elizabeth May
I trust you more than I trust myself.
If we were playing that old camp game, you know...the one where you close your eyes, cross your hands over your chest and fall backwards hoping that the person standing behind you will catch you - if we were playing that game i'd want you to be standing behind me.
If Harper was there
I'd have a sore tail bone.
Win the election.
Please. I don't want a sore butt!
K.

Answer 28

Do what you say and say what you do!

Enough with the riff raff!
It would be nice to see our politicians acting like the adult professionals that they are rather than a group of children blaming everyone else but themselves for the state that we are in.

Take the blame, admit when your bad idea has failed and stand up for those who stand by you.

Answer 29

Transparency. Publish your platform agendas in more detail, be legally bound to adhere to them, then let us vote on the facts (the politicians merely become the executors of their agenda). Politics shouldn't be about trust or personality - just the facts. It is almost impossible to get to this point when politicians spend so much of their time pointing fingers and talking trash.
Pretty sad when we vote for the "lesser of evils" rather than voting to promote the platform we support.

Answer 30

Elizabeth...you had me at hello! You have my vote, and you have my hopes in your hands too!! :)

Answer 31

I want to hear how the leaders are going to stop the oil companies from continually gouging the public by upping gas prices on long weekends, and by not lowering gas prices when oil drops, and by using excuses like....:well there is a hurricane coming that could cause problems to offshore drilling..."