rabble.ca Canadian federal election blog

Elizabeth May be Nader?

by Beisan Zubi

http://www.voteforenvironment.ca/may-surge-could-make-difference-between-harper-majority-and-liberal-minority

It seems that strategic voting has reared its head again.  The overwhelming fear that another Conservative government (and potential Haper majority) might take place on Tuesday has lead “Vote for Environment” to subtly encourage supporters of Elizabeth May’s Green party to be shrewd with their votes in certain ridings.

It seems so counter-intuitive that a website dedicated to the environment, and espousing environmental policies that only the Greens have come close in completely representing would at once praise the Greens for their popularity and vision as well as backhandedly suggest that they would be responsible for the Conservatives winning in close ridings, such as Oakville’s.

This hypocrisy smacks of the whole Ralph Nader debacle in 2000 and reminds me of his retort, when accused of taking the votes that would have made the difference: “Why don’t you start blaming the people that voted for Bush?” Why are we, as a country, focusing on the left wing and telling them how to vote, instead of being more critical of those who put and keep Steven Harper in government?

There comes a point when all of this halt-Harper-ism stops being for the benefit of the environment and the arts and actually starts fostering a genuine fear in the electorate.  This is further proof that until we have proportional representation, nobody will be free to vote with their hearts.