[BLOG] Some Canadian election links

There's some posts quite worth sharing.

• After a post expressing hope that the Conservatives would lose significantly in this election, the next morning Andrew Barton at Acts of Minor Treason is not happy with a Conservative majority, even with a much-strengthened NDP.


• Jeff Jedras of A BCer in Toronto describes how, even though the Liberal campaign in the riding of Vancouver Island North ended with the Liberals in third place, he feels positively about the experience as one that helped him learn and the local party organization improve.


• James Bow argues that the NDP successes mean that there's a very sizable chance the party could form the next government in 2015, recommends that the Liberals immediately hold a party convention so as to define themselves, and suspects that the Bloc Québécois' defeat may not mean the NDP's indefinite success.


• Guest-writing at The Intersection, Kevin Ng argues that the Conservative majority government will not be good for Canadian science, what with a lack of scientific literacy, its politicization of climate change, et cetera.


• Slap Upside the Head strongly opposed the Conservatives based on their lack of support for same-sex marriage early last decade.


• Torontoist's Carly Conway has a sympathetic account of Ignatieff's speech announcing his resignation from the Liberal Party.

[LINK] "A political manifesto for more civilized times"

eveglass has it down perfectly.

I was concerned about the vitriol I was seeing last night as I watched the election. I present to you a counterpoint.

- I will not assume that just because someone believes differently than me, that they are an idiot, a moron, or evil.

- I will not assume I have the full story, especially when it comes to the beliefs of someone who disagrees with me.

- I will assume that someone who supports a different party or takes a different stance on an issue from me has come to that decision through a reasoning process at least as involved as my own.

- I will listen -- really listen -- when someone disagrees with me, and try to see their side of the issue, even if I still disagree with it.

- I will not try to force someone to change their mind without listening to their position first.

- I will assume that for every lie I can trot out about the party I dislike, a person who believes differently from me can trot out a lie about the party I support. All politicians skew the truth; the party I like does not necessarily hold the moral high ground.

- I will assume that no matter how much I dislike a party, they have probably done at least a few things right during their time in power.

- I will assume that no matter how much I like a party, they have probably done at least a few things catastrophically wrong during their time in power.

- I will remember that stories and feelings often trump reason. I will remember that this is as true for me as for the person I disagree with.

- I will frame differences of belief in terms of positives, not negatives. Belief differences often stem from a choice between two positive, potentially conflicting values, such as liberty vs. security, or individual choice vs. public welfare. Both sides of the issue have benefits.

- I will remember that no matter what my priorities are, they are not universal.

- I will appreciate the fact that I live in a democracy where I can vote without duress, and where others can do the same.

- I will appreciate that if I do not like the party who has power in my country, the law states that in four years I will have a chance to try to elect the party I like. I will appreciate that Canada has no lifelong dictators.

- I will assume that in an era of personalized news feeds and social media, most people receive one-sided news that supports their own beliefs and ignores the opposing beliefs. I will assume this applies to myself as well, and I will actively seek out views I disagree with to challenge my own beliefs.

- I will remember to be respectful, attentive, and civil, even if I disagree with someone. Especially if I disagree with someone.

- I will remember that in a democracy, if I really care about an issue, there are many ways to become involved in the political process. If I care deeply about an issue, I will try to do something about it before the next election cycle.