An OpEd in the Star (http://bit.ly/iuV91i )suggested several reasons, all based on direct self-interest, why lower income Canadians voted Conservative.
To my mind the article missed some significant factors.
First, having less money doesn't make you less Canadian. And most lower income Canadians do not consider themselves "poor". The factors that influenced the general population equally affected lower income Canadians.
Second, and this is based on what I saw canvassing, religion played a major role in why lower income Canadians voted Conservative.
As I went door to door in areas where people clearly had lower incomes but were employed -- the houses were small but tidy, the cars old but properly maintained -- one question was asked repeatedly "are you saved?". Perhaps more than in wealthier areas, and certainly more than in very poor areas, religion was an issue.
People told me "Stephen Harper is a Christian and that matters to me". Our phone banks often had people say that their vote was going to be based on religious issues.
Now, Oshawa is the centre of a number of evangelical groups so perhaps religion plays a bigger role than in other places but I'm not so sure.
I think religion was a factor in the national Conservative win and we Liberals have to recognise this and let people know (1) the Liberal Party is open to people of faith and (2) Liberals are religious believers.
Most Liberals I know do believe; but never (or almost never) say so in public. It is right and proper that deeply religious people support political parties they see as being sympathetic to their views -- we should not hide the very facts that religious people look for in deciding who to support.
7 comments:
The abortion issue is a classic example although an extreme one.
It is quite reasonable for someone to believe that gender selective abortion for example, is something that is morally wrong. It would be reasonable to suggest that it ought not to be funded with tax dollars. The Libs imply that any restrictions on any abortion is an attack on women. Privately, I think people find this position (or strategy) offensive.
This discussion about "separating church and state" is an odd one as well. Many leaders are people of faith and it is quite impossible for them to not consider their faith when making decisions in the way they govern.It is part of who they are.
That op-ed piece links to Future Shop ???
@anon1
Religious beliefs (or lack of) are part of what makes an individual, that's fine. I will never accept a government that uses the Bible as a legislative guide. Gender selective abortion is unacceptable even to most atheists but how do you prove the motivation behind an abortion ?
anon 2;
The bible is used as a legislative guide, even today.
In courts witnesses and jurors in a case often choose to swear on a bible.
The bible should not be in the courtroom but even "progressive" politicians won't go there.
As far as I am concerned if a politician is a "devout" (fill in the religion) then you have to assume that their beliefs will guide them to some extent.Eg. war, prostitution, abortion funding etc.
Most of our laws are in place in large part from guidance from religious ideology.
Re; abortion;
You are right it is probably impossible to prove. Even if you could prove that an abortion was based on gender the law allows it to take place with full funding. Any suggestion in changing abortion law is considered an attack on women by many a politician.
I is religious, I can haz own abortion issue. Teh stoopid is too much. I thought it was a 'given' that Liberals like the NDP or any other political org. respects religious views, sheesh.
I think there is another contingent (I wont call them a "bloc") of people (myself included) who are drawn to the Liberals because of the party's secularism that you risk alienating by cozying up by pandering to the religious. When I hear that Liberals should emphasize to voters that they're religious I have to ask "why"? Are you implying that religious values will be taken into consideration in policy development?
The Liberals will have to decide whose votes they're more interested in.
Very good insight James.
You got to know Oshawa.
Some Liberals do give respect. Dan McTeague, and John Mackay come to mind.
While another will show a disdain to Harper asking for God to bless our country.
Ken Dryden:
"Prime Minister Stephen Harper's governing style; the rhetoric; "God Bless (delete "America," insert Canada" — ugh!) at the end of some of Harper's speeches; and (double ugh!)"
http://urbantoronto.ca/forum/showthread.php/101-Ken-Dryden-on-Canada-s-role-The-voice-that-s-missing
What it is is that there is left of center mindset that looks down on religion, unless it is a non western faith.
The religious are told to keep their faith private, which is in itself...arrogance. Evangelical Christians, and regular Mass going Catholics are very aware of this.
The Conservative Party, on the other hand have made them feel welcome and at the table.
This article was very well written, from someone who did his due diligence in working to get elected, but fell short.
Liberals should heed to Mr. Morton's advice and not "KC".
The Liberal tent should make people of faith feel welcome, and not looked upon with suspicion as "KC" would have.
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