What kind of voter are you?

So Canada is heading to the polls in May it seems.

What I find cool is that CBC has a survey application on its Web site where you answer a bunch of questions and it tells you where your views sit in relation to the various parties.

I have to say I was impressed that CBC included an FAQ about Vote Compass, because one might be tempted to think the survey was some effort associated with the political parties to collect data on voter attitudes (which it is not).

I was also impressed that CBC offers live television coverage on the Web (thankfully I dumped Rogers and switched to TekSavvy so I was able to watch the feeds and not worry about how many gigabytes I was using in doing so).

Anyway, I'm not sure how accurate the survey app was. According to the results my views are closest to the Liberal party. Which surprised me because I though when all was said and done I was more conservative than liberal.

I don't really affiliate with any of the parties though. I'm fiscally conservative but socially liberal, which basically means no one really represents my interests.

I don't believe in hand-outs, but at the same time I don't believe in leaving people out in the cold (hence the importance of job creation).

I believe in developing an underlying system that supports an economically vibrant society, not one that seeks false growth through shifting tax burdens and manipulating regulatory policies.

None of the parties to me really embody what I think is a broad, growth-for-all strategy towards Canada's future.

I can honestly say I'm undecided this time around. Rising food and gas costs, the debacle of UBB and the CRTC, a heavy emphasis on jailing more people versus lowering crime rates through social initiatives, and a pathetic stimulus spending strategy that didn't help anyone who was unemployed (in my opinion) are all reasons I may very well not vote for the Conservatives.

Then again, do I want Ignatieff as a Prime Minister?

I will say this for the Liberals, their Web site and communications is top notch this time around. I'm really impressed and if they run their campaign the way they are running their Web site I think this election could be up for grabs.

I thought they did a good job on Ignatieff's 'get to know' video, the message of hope (while a bit risky after Obama's failure to deliver) is still a good message that resonates if people perceive the message delivery as being genuine. I also thought the little part about him being self-employed was brilliant because a lot of Canadians today are realizing that more and more people will be self-employed in the future and they want someone that understands the realities surrounding that.

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