Puzzlepieces – tag ‘politics’

The Democrats Are Doomed, or How A ‘Big Tent’ Can Be Too Big « OkTrends - I’ve had this open for over two weeks with the intention of blogging. I think I remember what I wanted to say.

For one thing, this shows how the variety of people who vote Democrat is considerably broader than the variety who vote Republican, and I think if you look at their stats and understand some of the politics in the U.S., it’s clear that this is a source of a lot of the problems.

Beyond that I wanted to point to the OkTrends blog, which despite being the blog of a dating website is full of extremely well-done statistical work on a variety of subjects, not to mention incredibly well done information graphics, which is a real rarity. The only thing I wish they’d added to this post is a note that they are assuming an 18-year-old in their database now will behave like a 28-year-old in their database in 10 years. It may be a good approximation, and it’s the best they can be expected to do given their data, but it’s something to note

Tories and Liberals trade barbs over environment - it’s funny how things change. When I was in grade 4 (’93-’94), we had some group work on determining political party issues and campaign platforms, or something like that. I vaguely recall that I didn’t really know what issues were big, but I figured stuff like the environment, maybe education. Then I found that it was actually things like healthcare, which I would have never guessed.

Fast forward to 2006, and the Conservative government reduces environmental spending, and pretends that global change doesn’t exist. Now it’s 2007, and all the major parties are trying to out-green each other, or at least pretend that they are. While I’d rather have a non-Conservative party handling things, this will (and is) certainly improve matters.

I never do quizes. And political party ones are innaccurate, of course. nevertheless

• Jack Layton Leader of the New Democratic Party of Canada (100%)
• Paul Martin Leader of Liberal Party of Canada, Prime Minister of Canada (88%)
• Gilles Duceppe Leader of the Bloc Quebecois (77%)
• Stephen Harper Leader of the Conservative Party of Canada (27%)

and of course, in Canada you vote per-riding, not for the party leader (well, unless they’re in your riding). oh, and since I don’t live in Quebec, I couldn’t vote for the Bloc. Although the riding I’m voting in also has Green and Marxist-Lenninist and an independant. Via mattt

NDP talking about tax cuts… Conservatives talking about child care….

so all the parties are going to win over voters from the other parties by being more like them… that’s a good plan, right?

since there are three main parties… and the leftmost is moving right and the rightmost moving left… everyone’s a Liberal? Seems like a good way to defeat the Liberal party, uh, right?

World Processor - incredible gallery of around 200 ‘globes’, each with a different geopolitical theme. Via The Map Room.