Along with writing more on this blog, I have also started to write more on my other blog: The Circle of Music. So if you like this blog, and you also like music, you might like The Circle of Music too. So please check that out every so often.
Go to: http://thecircleofmusic.blogspot.com/ to check it out.
Thanks.
Sunday, November 30, 2008
Saturday, November 29, 2008
Some Political Numbers
OK, I know, I haven't written on here in a while. I am very sorry, but I have been extremely busy, what with school, swimming, and other events.
There have been some interesting developments in Canadian politics lately. I'm sure most of you have heard about the possibility of a coalition government in Canada. And some of you may have heard about what Jim Flaherty said a couple days ago in response to this new idea. Pretty much what he said was: This is the government that Canada has voted for. Well, I'm sorry Mr. Flaherty, but you're wrong. Over half of Canada didn't vote for Stephen Harper and his government, and I've got the numbers to prove it. I will talk more about the coalition government idea and what it means later, but first, here is some proof that Canada doesn't want the Conservatives in government.
Well, because of Canada's lack of proportional representation in the way we choose our MPs, there are some unfair things going on. Here is a short table of the parties in the last election, the seats they got, the percent of the vote they got and the number of votes they got. Canada's population is 33,442,000, but only 13,832,972 votes were actually cast. This is because of the amount of eligible voters, and the amount of people who actually chose to vote.
There have been some interesting developments in Canadian politics lately. I'm sure most of you have heard about the possibility of a coalition government in Canada. And some of you may have heard about what Jim Flaherty said a couple days ago in response to this new idea. Pretty much what he said was: This is the government that Canada has voted for. Well, I'm sorry Mr. Flaherty, but you're wrong. Over half of Canada didn't vote for Stephen Harper and his government, and I've got the numbers to prove it. I will talk more about the coalition government idea and what it means later, but first, here is some proof that Canada doesn't want the Conservatives in government.
Well, because of Canada's lack of proportional representation in the way we choose our MPs, there are some unfair things going on. Here is a short table of the parties in the last election, the seats they got, the percent of the vote they got and the number of votes they got. Canada's population is 33,442,000, but only 13,832,972 votes were actually cast. This is because of the amount of eligible voters, and the amount of people who actually chose to vote.
| Party | Seats | % of Vote | # of Votes |
| Conservative | 143 | 37.63 | 5 205 347.3636 |
| Liberal | 77 | 26.24 | 3 629 771.8528 |
| Bloc Quebecois | 49 | 9.97 | 1 379 147.3084 |
| NDP | 37 | 18.2 | 2 517 600.904 |
| Independent | 2 | 0.65 | 89 914.318 |
| Green | 0 | 6.8 | 940 642.096 |
| Other | 0 | 0.51 | 70 548.1572 |
So that means that 8 627 624.6364 votes in the last election were against the Conservative's 5 205 347.3636 votes. So Mr. Flaherty, not all of Canada voted for the Conservatives in the last election.
Something interesting you may notice is that there were 2 Independent seats voted for in the last election, but there were only eighty-nine thousand, nine hundred fourteen votes. But there were no seats for the Green party, even though they had many more votes than the Independents, nine hundred forty thousand six hundred forty-two votes. Same thing with the Bloc Quebecois and the Green party. The Bloc Quebecois only had 3 percent more of the vote than the Green, but the Bloc had 49 seats and the Green none.
As I said, I will definitely write more about the possibility of the coalition government, but right now, there are some numbers to try and wrap your head around.
Sunday, November 02, 2008
Tomorrow...
First of all, I am very, very sorry for not posting in more than 2 weeks. I was just very tired after all those posts about the election. And of course, I was very busy with school, swim meets and other stuff.
But what I'm going to talk about now, is tomorrow. Tomorrow is another very important election. For all of you people who don't know (how could you not), the US election is tomorrow. Of course, that is the political race between Democrat Barack Obama and Republican John McCain. Last time when George W Bush won by 51% over Democrat John Kerry. When George Bush won that election, people just went crazy. How could George W Bush win again?!
I'm hoping after this election there wont be another website like this: http://www.sorryeverybody.com. Yes, after the last election, many Americans were so ashamed that George W Bush had won that they felt they needed to apologize to the rest of the world for what they had done, or rather what the people who voted Republican had done.
Now for this election, there is another big political race. For this one, many people are saying that it will be a landslide victory for Barack Obama, but could that really happen. Well, I can't vote, and I'm not an American anyways, but if there are any Americans who can vote who read this blog, please vote for Barack Obama and the Democrats tomorrow.
And if you need anymore reason to, watch this video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jjXyqcx-mYY. (It is also posted on the right hand side).
So, just like the Canadian election, I will be blogging about the election tomorrow. Definitely not as much because A. it's hard for me to get the results over the computer and B. I don't know a lot about American politics.
But still vote and tune in.
But what I'm going to talk about now, is tomorrow. Tomorrow is another very important election. For all of you people who don't know (how could you not), the US election is tomorrow. Of course, that is the political race between Democrat Barack Obama and Republican John McCain. Last time when George W Bush won by 51% over Democrat John Kerry. When George Bush won that election, people just went crazy. How could George W Bush win again?!
I'm hoping after this election there wont be another website like this: http://www.sorryeverybody.com. Yes, after the last election, many Americans were so ashamed that George W Bush had won that they felt they needed to apologize to the rest of the world for what they had done, or rather what the people who voted Republican had done.
Now for this election, there is another big political race. For this one, many people are saying that it will be a landslide victory for Barack Obama, but could that really happen. Well, I can't vote, and I'm not an American anyways, but if there are any Americans who can vote who read this blog, please vote for Barack Obama and the Democrats tomorrow.
And if you need anymore reason to, watch this video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jjXyqcx-mYY. (It is also posted on the right hand side).
So, just like the Canadian election, I will be blogging about the election tomorrow. Definitely not as much because A. it's hard for me to get the results over the computer and B. I don't know a lot about American politics.
But still vote and tune in.
Tuesday, October 14, 2008
Pulling Ahead!
I am very sorry for only posting about my riding Edmonton-Strathcona so far, but it is very exciting. Linda Duncan is in the lead right now by a full 1% and 400 votes exactly. It is very close and anything could happen, but I'm hoping for the best.
In some other ridings, the results are as follows (both are close races between NDP and Conservative):
In Saskatoon-Rosetown-Biggar Conservative Kelly Block is winning by 0.8% over the NDP Nettie Wiebe.
In Vancouver Island North Conservative John Duncan is winning by only 0.2% over NDP Catherine Bell.
On a different note, it looks like this is the lowest voter turnout in Canadian election history. For Canada there was an overall voter turnout of 58%. And in Alberta, unfortunately it was even less.
In some other ridings, the results are as follows (both are close races between NDP and Conservative):
In Saskatoon-Rosetown-Biggar Conservative Kelly Block is winning by 0.8% over the NDP Nettie Wiebe.
In Vancouver Island North Conservative John Duncan is winning by only 0.2% over NDP Catherine Bell.
On a different note, it looks like this is the lowest voter turnout in Canadian election history. For Canada there was an overall voter turnout of 58%. And in Alberta, unfortunately it was even less.
Some Close Races
In which the Conservatives could lose!!!!!!!!!!!
Saskatoon-Rosetown-Biggar: NDP Nettie Wiebe is winning by only 0.14% over Conservative Kelly Block.
Vancouver Island North: NDP Catherine Bell is winning by only 2% over the Conservative John Duncan.
Western Arctic: NDP Candidate Dennis Bevington is winning by only 4% over the Conservative Brendan Bell.
Those are all only ridings where the winner so far is only labeled as "leading". But also it looks like maybe Linda Duncan may have a chance. (this is me being very, very hopeful) Oh wait! Linda Duncan is now 0.4% ahead of Rahim!!!!!!!!!!
More update soon!
Saskatoon-Rosetown-Biggar: NDP Nettie Wiebe is winning by only 0.14% over Conservative Kelly Block.
Vancouver Island North: NDP Catherine Bell is winning by only 2% over the Conservative John Duncan.
Western Arctic: NDP Candidate Dennis Bevington is winning by only 4% over the Conservative Brendan Bell.
Those are all only ridings where the winner so far is only labeled as "leading". But also it looks like maybe Linda Duncan may have a chance. (this is me being very, very hopeful) Oh wait! Linda Duncan is now 0.4% ahead of Rahim!!!!!!!!!!
More update soon!
Sorry Everyone
Blogger was down for an inconvenient time at 9:00 for 25 minutes. So I was unable to post. All I know is I will go cry as Linda Duncan was not elected. And I have heard that she will not run again in the next election because she has been working hard since the last election to win this one. Now that she didn't it is all very depressing here at Who's Left and Who's Leading headquarters.
Time to go cry.
Time to go cry.
Time to Start Crying
Yes, I just got home from my swim practice and looked at the sad results. It looks like another Conservative minority, but a bigger minority. That unfortunately is my blogs prediction: a bigger Conservative minority.
Here are all the things to smile about:
1. All of NFLD is Conservative free.
2. uhhhh....
3. ummm....
Yes, unfortunately, there is not that much to smile about so far.
Here are all the things to cry about:
1. The Conservatives have gained many seats in Ontario.
2. Elizabeth May lost.
3. The Liberals so far hae lost 26 seats.
Sorry but that's all I have so far.
I will be live blogging more soon, now I just need to collect more information...
Here are all the things to smile about:
1. All of NFLD is Conservative free.
2. uhhhh....
3. ummm....
Yes, unfortunately, there is not that much to smile about so far.
Here are all the things to cry about:
1. The Conservatives have gained many seats in Ontario.
2. Elizabeth May lost.
3. The Liberals so far hae lost 26 seats.
Sorry but that's all I have so far.
I will be live blogging more soon, now I just need to collect more information...
Vote, Then Tune In!
Don't forget to vote today! To figure out where your nearest voting stations is, go to elections.ca
Then, come back and watch the results and tune into my live blogs of the election. I will be at swim practice until 8:00 PM but then when I get back I'll get right on the live blogging.
I will try to focus and write about the closest races in one riding from each province.
These are probably the ridings that I will be focusing on:
BC: Vancouver Island North - In the last election the NDP candidate Catherine Bell won by less than 1% more than Conservative John Duncan.
AB: Edmonton-Strathcona (My riding) - This is one of the closest races in Alberta. Last election the NDP Candidate Linda Duncan lost against the Conservative Rahim Jaffer by 9% but in some latest polls it shows Linda Duncan gaining some votes.
SK: Desnethe-Missinippi-Churchill River - This is a VERY close riding! In the last election Liberal candidate Gary Merasty won against the Conservative by only 0.43%!
MB: Saint Boniface - Liberal candidate Raymond Simard won by only 3.5% over the Conservatives Ken Cooper.
ON: Parry Sound - Muskoka - This is definitely the closest riding I have seen so far! The Conservative candidate Tony Clement only won by 0.04% against the Liberal Andy Mitchell.
QB: Ahuntsic - This another close riding involving the Liberals. The Bloquebecois candidate in the last riding, Maria Mourani, came in a bit more than 1% more than the Liberal candidate.
NB: Tobique - Mactaquac - Conservative Mike Allen won by only 0.70% over the Liberal Andy Savoy.
NS: West Nova - Liberal candidate Robert Thibault won by a little more than 1% over the Conservative candidate Greg Kerr. I will of course also be focusing on Elizabeth May's riding but I do not have much information on that riding right now.
PEI: There isn't exactly a close riding in PEI, it's all Liberal. I will though be posting if PEI turns out again to be all Liberal.
NFLD: Random-Burin-St. George's - This is the closest riding I could find in Newfoundland. The Liberal candidate Bill Matthews won by 5% against the Conservative Cynthia Downey.
ARCTIC: The arctic too isn't really close. But it's all Liberal and NDP! I'll let everyone know if it stays that way!
Now let's all sit back, relax and enjoy the election. Well at least try to, then celebrate after you see the results. (hopefully)
Then, come back and watch the results and tune into my live blogs of the election. I will be at swim practice until 8:00 PM but then when I get back I'll get right on the live blogging.
I will try to focus and write about the closest races in one riding from each province.
These are probably the ridings that I will be focusing on:
BC: Vancouver Island North - In the last election the NDP candidate Catherine Bell won by less than 1% more than Conservative John Duncan.
AB: Edmonton-Strathcona (My riding) - This is one of the closest races in Alberta. Last election the NDP Candidate Linda Duncan lost against the Conservative Rahim Jaffer by 9% but in some latest polls it shows Linda Duncan gaining some votes.
SK: Desnethe-Missinippi-Churchill River - This is a VERY close riding! In the last election Liberal candidate Gary Merasty won against the Conservative by only 0.43%!
MB: Saint Boniface - Liberal candidate Raymond Simard won by only 3.5% over the Conservatives Ken Cooper.
ON: Parry Sound - Muskoka - This is definitely the closest riding I have seen so far! The Conservative candidate Tony Clement only won by 0.04% against the Liberal Andy Mitchell.
QB: Ahuntsic - This another close riding involving the Liberals. The Bloquebecois candidate in the last riding, Maria Mourani, came in a bit more than 1% more than the Liberal candidate.
NB: Tobique - Mactaquac - Conservative Mike Allen won by only 0.70% over the Liberal Andy Savoy.
NS: West Nova - Liberal candidate Robert Thibault won by a little more than 1% over the Conservative candidate Greg Kerr. I will of course also be focusing on Elizabeth May's riding but I do not have much information on that riding right now.
PEI: There isn't exactly a close riding in PEI, it's all Liberal. I will though be posting if PEI turns out again to be all Liberal.
NFLD: Random-Burin-St. George's - This is the closest riding I could find in Newfoundland. The Liberal candidate Bill Matthews won by 5% against the Conservative Cynthia Downey.
ARCTIC: The arctic too isn't really close. But it's all Liberal and NDP! I'll let everyone know if it stays that way!
Now let's all sit back, relax and enjoy the election. Well at least try to, then celebrate after you see the results. (hopefully)
Monday, October 13, 2008
For All Those Who Want Harper Out
Here's a fun mix tape that I made on MixWit. It's full of great Canadian music for you to listen to while reading all my live-blogs of the election tomorrow night.
Here's a track listing of the tape with a description of why the songs are important this election.
1. The Reasons by The Weakerthans. There are lots of reasons this election. Reasons why you picked the person you're voting for. The reason why you even chose to vote!
2. Autumn's Here by Hawksley Workman. Autumn is here this election and I feel this song is all about how it's OK to cry, no matter what reason. Just like this election I might just cry if the Conservatives win a majority... And of course there's that reference somewhere in the middle about Stephen Harper's sweater.
3. 7/4 (Shoreline) by Broken Social Scene. Broken Social Scene is a collective of many talented musicians. In this election it is more important than ever before to work and think together in many ridings if you want to kick the Conservatives out.
4. Real Estate by Cadence Weapon. The title says it all really. Real estate and affordable housing is a very important topic in this election. And also as many of my readers are from Edmonton they will be interested to know that Cadence Weapon is actually from Edmonton.
5. Bad Time to be Poor by Rheostatics. Once again, the name says it all. Staying on the topic of affordable housing and the poor, as these are very important issues in this election, this song is once again very important.
6. Comin' Home by City and Colour. This isn't exactly about the election but it talks about places all across the country. I think that elections are a special event that includes the whole country so this kind of fits...
7. The Butcher by Final Fantasy. Owen Pallett is very different, he started doing this kind of stuff when he was quite young. Personally, I think that he is a very good role model, but sadly he's probably the kind of person Stephen Harper doesn't seem to value.
8. Iron Grey by Geoff Berner. This song once again doesn't have that much to do with the election but Geoff Berner does. I've met him and seen him perform many times. I always think it's amazing how brave he is to speak out about the government and issues that matter to him.
9. Archaeologists by Wintersleep. One of my latest things that I've posted was about how none of the Conservatives answered questions for Make Poverty History. Well I think that the chorus really speaks for those Conservatives as they sing: "don't speak to me now!"
10. Strange Days by Matthew Good. Matthew Good is very outspoken about his thoughts about politics through his blog. I think that also the title of this song reflects what's coming for us in the future, some truly Strange Days.
11. Where and When by Hayden. I hope everyone knows where and when to vote tomorrow!
12. If Rap Gets Jealous by K'Naan. K'naan is from Somalia and this song talks all about the struggles and what he had to go through when he lived there. He now lives in Canada and tells everyone about how we need to help the people over there. (Sorry about all the swears)
13. Blood's Too Rich by Luke Doucet. I don't really know about this song, about what it's got to do with the election. It's a great song though by a great artists who's lived all over Canada!
14. You Have a Choice by Various great Canadian artists. No explanation needed. My favourite line though is: "Not just dressing it up in a sweater."
So now just kick back, enjoy the election (or well, maybe not enjoy depending on the results...) and listen to some great Canadian music.
Here's a track listing of the tape with a description of why the songs are important this election.
1. The Reasons by The Weakerthans. There are lots of reasons this election. Reasons why you picked the person you're voting for. The reason why you even chose to vote!
2. Autumn's Here by Hawksley Workman. Autumn is here this election and I feel this song is all about how it's OK to cry, no matter what reason. Just like this election I might just cry if the Conservatives win a majority... And of course there's that reference somewhere in the middle about Stephen Harper's sweater.
3. 7/4 (Shoreline) by Broken Social Scene. Broken Social Scene is a collective of many talented musicians. In this election it is more important than ever before to work and think together in many ridings if you want to kick the Conservatives out.
4. Real Estate by Cadence Weapon. The title says it all really. Real estate and affordable housing is a very important topic in this election. And also as many of my readers are from Edmonton they will be interested to know that Cadence Weapon is actually from Edmonton.
5. Bad Time to be Poor by Rheostatics. Once again, the name says it all. Staying on the topic of affordable housing and the poor, as these are very important issues in this election, this song is once again very important.
6. Comin' Home by City and Colour. This isn't exactly about the election but it talks about places all across the country. I think that elections are a special event that includes the whole country so this kind of fits...
7. The Butcher by Final Fantasy. Owen Pallett is very different, he started doing this kind of stuff when he was quite young. Personally, I think that he is a very good role model, but sadly he's probably the kind of person Stephen Harper doesn't seem to value.
8. Iron Grey by Geoff Berner. This song once again doesn't have that much to do with the election but Geoff Berner does. I've met him and seen him perform many times. I always think it's amazing how brave he is to speak out about the government and issues that matter to him.
9. Archaeologists by Wintersleep. One of my latest things that I've posted was about how none of the Conservatives answered questions for Make Poverty History. Well I think that the chorus really speaks for those Conservatives as they sing: "don't speak to me now!"
10. Strange Days by Matthew Good. Matthew Good is very outspoken about his thoughts about politics through his blog. I think that also the title of this song reflects what's coming for us in the future, some truly Strange Days.
11. Where and When by Hayden. I hope everyone knows where and when to vote tomorrow!
12. If Rap Gets Jealous by K'Naan. K'naan is from Somalia and this song talks all about the struggles and what he had to go through when he lived there. He now lives in Canada and tells everyone about how we need to help the people over there. (Sorry about all the swears)
13. Blood's Too Rich by Luke Doucet. I don't really know about this song, about what it's got to do with the election. It's a great song though by a great artists who's lived all over Canada!
14. You Have a Choice by Various great Canadian artists. No explanation needed. My favourite line though is: "Not just dressing it up in a sweater."
So now just kick back, enjoy the election (or well, maybe not enjoy depending on the results...) and listen to some great Canadian music.
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