On Tuesday, November 4, Americans will go to the polls in what is called a "Mid-term Election." This is one which falls halfway through a presidential term. Every two years, the entire House of Representatives of Congress is up for election; one-third of the 100 member Senate (two from each state;) numerous governors and other elected officials face the voters. As an American citizen living "abroad" I am eligible to vote by absentee ballot in the election. This election, I had only one election that I was eligible for: U.S. House of Representatives.
So, I mailed in my ballot the other day. One vote for a guy who will probably have no trouble being re-elected. I still voted though as I have for at least twenty years by absentee ballot. I have voted in almost every election that I can since I turned twenty-one. There was a period that I did not vote as I was not aware that I was eligible, living in Canada. Since then, I have not only voted but I've helped other ex-pats vote, including a ninety-five year old woman who had never voted in her life.
Some Canadians are convinced that what happens in the States has no bearing on what happens here. I think they are wrong. There is a chance that the Republicans can take over the Senate while they retain their majority in the House. This would make the gridlock even worse than it already is. President Obama has to work very hard to implement his platform/promises to the American people because of the opposition in Congress. Some Republicans are still trying to repeal the very popular Affordable Care Act that is still nowhere near as good as the Canadian universal health care.
I do hope for the best for my native country, but I'm still glad I live in Canada.
We have seen a number of issues in Canadian polotics come under pressure from American interests especially when the Bush gang were in the house. Softwood tarrifs, violations of the free trade agreement and others. We currently have a Conservative federal government in Ottawa, the equivelant of the Repub's in Wash. You can see their pro stanse on military actions as proof. Used to be proud to be Canadian when traveling. Now we dont say. Probly never will. We look like a lapdog country now. Buying all our army stuff from the US too, $$$ adios.
ReplyDeleteI know of a couple of people in Crystal Beach who outright state they don't vote. One said he didn't complain either. It sickens me when others lay down their lives to protect or fight for democracy. I don't know if these people are simply lazy or ignorant. You can't live in a vacuum. One man that I spoke to had a small son.
ReplyDeleteHere in Crystal Beach my concerns are to preserve a waterfront area for future generations. Governments don't yet get that environmental protection and biodiversity is crucial to our well being.
we can kiss Bay Beach for future generations good bye as this new council with 5 out of 6 in the Chamber of Commerce's back pocket, will sell it off for their short term profit as fast as they can.
DeleteWe also have a soon to be ex-mayor who is gleefully waiting his back door stipend from this as well as the east end thuggery who fully support the insane idea that an apartment block on a beach will magically pave our streets with golden easy jobs. .....all absolute BS and lies to hide their collective short term and short sighted greed.
Welcome to Fort Stupid where if you're not dirty you're not nothing (and a developer can buy an election with the threat of a lawsuit fully supported by it's mayor)
Of course US elections are important to Canadians. But other than Foreign Policy concerns we stay out of it. Domestic Policy is none of our business.
ReplyDeleteGood point from CHE, watch if you already havent noticed, what a Conservative driven group is going to do to our local politics. As if you needed any proof of where Conservatives stand in terms of listening and then acting on the wishes of the voters. Enviromental issues? Conservatives? Lakeshore is fair game as well as any other patch of land water or air where a dollar can be squeezed out. Even the arctic is being eyed as the ice melts, making it possible for oil tankers to plow through. Harpers veins run with Alberta crude. Get ready for the bigges sell out in this countrys history and the example it will set for people worried about our quiet lakefront.
ReplyDeleteI find that people do have an extreme case of myopia , case in point we did water pressure tests on our water system in Black Creek , mainly to find out about what we already knew, a serious lack of water during summer months,In the event of fire we have fiveteen minutes of water,pointing this out to people they say we have a fire hydrant there, but they cant wrap their mind around that the fire hydrant is much like a movie set , for display purposes only,nobody here knows that their sewage gets dumped into the creek for months on end, every year by the Town of Fort Erie,just like they have been doing in Crescent park for over 40 years, the Globe and Mail did an article in their paper 20 years ago about that dumping, but nothing shames our Town Council, Our Lake Erie is filled with toxins and blue/green algae, Haldimand ,Jarvis and Hagerville declared an emergency this summer as the water was declared off limits, so they do not give a damn about water or sewage treatment, but they are expressing alarm about many little children dying of cancers,here, I have been beating this drum for years, they do not care, The dumbing down of North America is well on it's way, Our Mayor says outrageous things and the people are so gullible, they believe it hook line and sinker.In the U.S of A the first time ever , everybody can aquire health care insurance,, will that help Democrats? people will believe the lie,that is the biggest.Women in the United States have the most to lose in this election, Republicans want to set equal rights back to the dirty twenties, when your party has an agenda that mirrors the beliefs of ISIS and Al-Quaida when it comes to the treatment of women, Then this whole election depends on the female voters to get out there and defend their hard won rights.The Supreme Court of the US ( dominated by Republican Appointees) have just reversed the rights of millions of poor and black people along with Latinos to express their desire to vote.The Republicans do know that their base, old stupid white men are being replaced by Latinos and very, well educated Asian people. I watch Bobby Jendal of Louisiana having to suspend common sense with dumbness , so as to appease the cretinous people of his own Party.Fort Erie could face a polluted water from Lake Erie next year, if the wind blows in the right direction ,blue/green algae the most toxic stuff in the lake will hit us, will Wayne know what to do? I don't think so,I have preached to the Council and the feedback from the likes of Rick Shuler , is, they are not going to do anything.to prevent sewage runoff.My opinion is that people should learn how to have their own water supply ready when the use of water is banned for health and safety reasons. If you are depending on Council for any kind of leadership,you are a believer in the tooth fairy.
ReplyDeleteUnfortunately, there is so much corruption in our town and the mighty dollar does not help. Nevertheless, maybe we can figure out a way to sue the Molinaro's and sue the new councilors who are in favor of selling the public beach and surrounding parking area to a developer. Goodness, would that stick at the OMB? I guess that if all of us who voted for our "Beach Guardians"; put $10 each; we can raise enough money to take anyone to court in favour of selling our land. It rightfully belongs to the people of Crystal Beach, Any thoughts?
ReplyDeleteI am sure that the Town insurance lawyers see the Molinaro law suit for what it is.
ReplyDeleteThreats don't always work, do they?
I hear that The Four are fully covered in the Molinaro suit by the town's insurance carrier. The truth is that the lawsuit will either be dismissed or withdrawn and, once again, the voters were misled into thinking that their taxes would go way up as a result of this lawsuit.
DeleteThe Molinaro Group will back off, Who can be sued, is the new Mayor , but it has to go to the Court system, maybe the Supreme Court of Ontario,,eventually, that is he did on 4 occasions broke a ruling of an OMB Judge Chapman, registered votes yet, when they unilaterally voted to nullify that Judges ruling not to allow any extensions to the new sewer system put in by and mostly paid for by the MOE, at that time I had been under Chemo treatments and just getting through a day was a chore, glad to say that I am now in remission, and on low dose suppressive drugs, I am now able to take on all dragons out there, I did make one submission to his former council,and gave them all pages of documentation, which went in one ear and out the other, Anne Marie the was only person on council, to vote against breaking Ontario law decisions,We now know that everything that we warned them of, has happened and cannot be undone, did Ed Lenshynshyn ? of Park Lane Homes give generous campaign contributions to Wayne Redekop campaign? I don't know, did he give money to Waynes campaign this time we shall find out soon, Park Lane Homes gained building permits to build in an area that the OMB had termed off limits,there was no water or sewage service already in place,there,, only infilling along the original MOE paid for lines, could be built upon, The City of Niagara Falls Mayor, Ted Salci, was given a package of complaints that affected a cess pool that is located within the borders of Niagara Falls, he never contacted me about this. silence is golden under his leadership. The Willoughby Fire Hall was filled by people who reside in the Willoughby area, fishermen told him that there are no fish to be caught along the banks of the Niagara River.We are going to demand some money, be spent in our ward, to rectify this dangerous safety issue..
ReplyDeletePorgey- great diatribe but the new Mayor is Not going to be sued. Park Lane homes most certainly is given a little or a lot of latitude but let me tell you the development on Schooley is being given a wide berth. NO Garages in a $500,000 plus home & only a single drive even Park Lane homes couldn't get away with this plan. My Question is who the hell is watching from the Town Building & Planning Dept. have they just ignored this development? Gee no councillors to watch during an election so are we looking at a Gap in scrutiny??? How about the demolition of 2 grand dwellings on the Queens Circle who thought that was OK certainly NOT the local residents or the Town councillor. Questions need to be asked abou who on Town staff is going along with this agenda!
ReplyDeleteFunny you should mention that. There is definitely something odd about those homes. The places on Queen's Circle have been stripped down and one is now gone. The other seems to be ready to come down as well. Price for the house that on that property is near $1,000,000. (With amenities) Also a three story building with 12 apartments and commercial space on the ground floor is scheduled to be built "in Fort Erie." Start date and location: TBA.
DeleteThose pricey townhouses on Schooley are a joke! No one in his or her right mind would pay that for one, not in comparison to the nice homes offered by Marz. Went to "Riverside Homes" the builder of the ones on Schooley. Fugly houses IMHO. Nothing like the character of other homes in Crystal Beach.
Planning in this town is non existent. In fact get rid of the whole department as we don't need warm bodies to say yes to every submitted building permit application that comes through as long as .......drum roll please.............YOU PAY THE BUILDING PERMIT $$$$$$.
DeleteThat is all they are interested in, SELLING $$$$$$$ as many permits as possible to pay for a bloated over paid, under worked, non accountable town staff from criminally mismanaged coffers that are near empty. They will gladly change by-laws (hmmm Bay Beach for 1, with ALL kinds of other examples)or gladly turn their heads to whatever any builder wants no matter how wrong, as long as you PAY $$$$$$$. And this town just elected a group of people who will do nothing to stop this process but believe that accelerating it is good.
Welcome to Fort Stupid. We deserve our well earned reputation.