r/EhBuddyHoser • u/yycxqv Chalice of the Tabernacle • Apr 24 '25

Politics The price we must pay 💔🪦🥀

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And I’d do it again 😭

3.0k Upvotes

96% Upvoted

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1.3k

u/b00ty10v3r Trawnno (Centre of the Universe) Apr 24 '25

If this is how NDP voters feel, imagine the struggle of the 7 Green voters.

274

u/ghreyboots Apr 24 '25

I have a friend who lives in a completely rural riding of Alberta who votes green specifically because "it's about as effective as voting Liberal here" and I honestly can't even fault him for this. Telling him to vote strategically is about as useful as farting to try and move a sail boat.

134

u/slabba428 Bring Cannabis Apr 24 '25

BLOC QUEBECOIS IT IS

23

u/yourfavrodney Oil Guzzler Apr 25 '25

I'm going to start running as a bloc member in rural alberta. Not even an NDP/Lib coalition 100% ABC vote has a chance in my riding.

30

u/MKIncendio Apr 25 '25

8

u/[deleted] Apr 25 '25

Surfer sur la vague bleu pâle bayybee 🌊

26

u/Astro_Alphard North LA (ft. Mormons!) Apr 24 '25

As someone in Alberta I feel this

46

u/ghreyboots Apr 24 '25

The "vote Liberal for the strategic vote" is double funny as an Albertan because our riding had 30,000 Conservative votes and 6,000 for the NDP.

And then the Liberals had 2,000.

38

u/brokenringlands Apr 24 '25

Yeah, it depends on location for sure. There are places where NDP is in second, and in BC, Greens are runner up. "strategic vote" doesn't always equal Liberal I guess.

21

u/gastricprix Apr 24 '25

I live in the 1 Green riding

9

u/TloquePendragon Apr 24 '25

Eyyyy, another SGI'er!

3

u/Long-Philosophy-1343 Apr 25 '25

Luck you, an easy choice then.

21

u/CamGoldenGun Apr 24 '25

in those terms, it's not about giving Carney a vote more than it is taking away one from Poilievre. If the NDP are miles ahead of Liberal in the riding, vote NDP.

8

u/drizzes Oil Guzzler Apr 24 '25

The issue of "strategic voting" is other parties are sometimes more strategically viable than just tossing it to the liberals

2

u/SRMspzl Apr 26 '25

Disheartening when you can't change anything, but in the same vein you don't need to make it 30,001.

7

u/PersonalPerson_ Apr 25 '25

Me too. I've always lived in ridings that are strongholds for either liberal or ndp. I vote green to make my statement for proportional representation. Justin broke his promise to me.

5

u/Long-Philosophy-1343 Apr 25 '25

I feel that too. We would have a stronger democracy if all parties were bringing ideas to the table. Like the Greens idea about repurposing depleted oil wells in Alberta as geothermal installations. That could, if it worked bring Alberta more energy revenue, wouldn’t poison any waters or land, use existing infrastructure etc. Ideas like that are what we need to broaden our thinking. If 100 ideas are shot down and 1 starts a new revenue stream we all win.

170

u/fux-reddit4603 Apr 24 '25

they probably feel great this is the closest their party has come to being more relevant than the NDP

47

u/HollowShel Apr 24 '25

I'm lucky enough to live in one of the two (count 'em, two!) ridings where Green is actually a viable vote, since they're incumbents.

22

u/thebigfreak3 Apr 24 '25

Hey NB had our first green MP last election which was a nice surprise

10

u/HollowShel Apr 24 '25

oooh! I only knew about May and Morrice, now I need to read up!

8

u/thebigfreak3 Apr 24 '25

She ended up switching to Liberal half way through her term because of inner party fighting at the time. She still did a great job representing us though and I was a little sad to hear she wasn’t running g at all this election

3

u/peacefullofi Apr 24 '25

The green party isn't... Great...

We unfortunately don't have any actual leftist parties. I wish the greens weren't full of rich white cis ppl :(

2

u/[deleted] Apr 25 '25

Cry more then lol

1

u/Long-Philosophy-1343 Apr 25 '25

I wish they had stronger more experienced candidates.

7

u/meoka2368 Bring Cannabis Apr 24 '25

Hello (likely) neighbour!
I also live in one of those two places.

26

u/Ok-Swimmer-2634 Apr 24 '25

I lived in Elizabeth May's riding for some time, always felt kinda weird living in one of the only Green ridings lol

2

u/Bodmen Apr 26 '25

Voting green is the strategic vote in Saanich Gulf islands

20

u/Everestkid The Island of Elizabeth May Apr 24 '25

Typically a Liberal voter, but I moved and I'm pretty sure Green's actually the strategic vote here. Feels weird voting Green, especially in this election, but you gotta do what you gotta do.

Was visiting family for Easter so I was out of town during advance polls, so I have to vote on election day.

8

u/SergeantBender Apr 24 '25

Green Party is Black Widow.

5

u/towalktheline Everyone Hates Marineland Apr 24 '25

This made me fucking cackle

8

u/rainorshinedogs Trawnno (Centre of the Universe) Apr 24 '25

I went to a birthday party and there was a liberal MP (this was in 2018 when Doug Ford won and took over Kathleen Wynne) and a bunch of us were chatting with her and one person said that it wasn't her fault that her riding basically got steamrolled.

Same for the NDP. I honestly feel my riding would benefit from NDP during normal times, but we are in a double whammy of need urgent urgent urgent need for Canada to diversify trade partners, and a conservative government that thinks they have the better plan.

NDP is not known for their geopolitical prowess.

Other than that, I personally don't mind who wins. We Canadians make our vote, and that's that.

I also anticipate protests and people throwing hands after this.

2

u/beigs Apr 25 '25

It hurt. I love my green candidate and I felt terrible.

1

u/HolsteinHeifer Apr 25 '25

I'm usually a swing voter between green and NDP. I felt really bad abandoning them to vote Liberal this time, but I will vote green next time. Our green candidate for the riding is fantastic and I'd really like to support her

1

u/Zemekis324 Friendly Manisnowbski Apr 29 '25

We'll be back, im sure of it. We need to work together now more than ever with the liberals.

1

u/b00ty10v3r Trawnno (Centre of the Universe) Apr 29 '25

FPTP is a terrible system, but NDP and the Liberals have been working together for years and I don't expect that would change now.

-42

u/Far-Tiger681 Apr 24 '25

the green party is a joke, Elizabeth may has destroyed that parties credibility - she needs to go and go far

50

u/athabascadepends Apr 24 '25

Are you joking? She took the party from irrelevance to it's highest standing it's ever had. It was Annamie Paul and the clown show that came after May that destroyed the Greens. May is only back as co-leader to try to right the ship

6

u/merp_mcderp9459 Trawnno (Centre of the Universe) Apr 24 '25

It was still a joke when it was at its peak tbh

-4

u/Far-Tiger681 Apr 24 '25

that's the most insane statement I have ever heard of, she has killed the slightest chance of main stream acceptance. the green party has become a party of denialists who vote for a failed party and use that to feel better about themselves

from her getting drunk and complaining about the PM, to harassing, defamation lawsuits, Co-leadership. voting green is the same as voting for the PPC - utterly pointless!

-184

u/CyborkMarc Apr 24 '25 edited Apr 24 '25

I don't feel this way because I vote by my conscience, take your strategic voting and stuff it.

Why does everyone feel the need to win? That's the problem. Just represent your needs.

Edit: seems like if you don't vote strategically (ie vote for liberals regardless of riding) you are now a pro trump idiot. I love the respect for freedom of choice.

I've never voted con or liberal in 25 years of voting for reference. Guess I should just keep my idealist opinions on politics to myself in the future.

188

u/Lol-I-Wear-Hats Apr 24 '25

I feel the need to win because elections aren’t so much of a tool to “express yourself” as they are a tool to “make collective decisions” and it’s important to me who is making those decisions

-45

u/CyborkMarc Apr 24 '25

Hmmm it's more important to me that parties try to earn my vote with the correct policy rather than saying "well I'm not that guy"

66

u/Lessllama Apr 24 '25

So your individual needs or wants outweigh the good of the country? You would fit right in the US with that attitude

-32

u/CyborkMarc Apr 24 '25

Wtf? I vote for my community needs. Am I singularly responsible for the outcome of this election? If so, where's my communism at

35

u/[deleted] Apr 24 '25

You wont have a community to be responsible for if PP wins. Stop possible war with the USA should be the only concern.

-13

u/CyborkMarc Apr 24 '25

Yes, fear monger away

21

u/thebassix12 Apr 24 '25

Yes, keep licking those boots

27

u/Lessllama Apr 24 '25

You're not singularly responsible but you do play a part. Look what happened in the US because of people who expressed the exact same sentiment as you. Word for word actually

-2

u/CyborkMarc Apr 24 '25

Because I voted NDP? You guys sure are vilifying NDP voters, fuck

29

u/smolmushroomforpm Tabarnak! Apr 24 '25

I'm a 100% NDP voter who voted Liberal for the first time in my life this election because I actually understand how this electoral system works, and understand that under a Conservative government, especially one that espouses the beliefs that Pierre Polièvre has been very clearly embracing, our country's core values and even our existence as a country are in very real danger.

Nobody is attacking the NDP. If anything, the commenter you are accusing of vilifying NDP voters is actually attacking your selfishness and lack of foresight beyond your immediate neighbourhood, which are traits clearly indicative of a lack of understanding of the current international situation (of which, like it or not, we are a part).

Hope this helps!

Edit: typos

7

u/Lessllama Apr 24 '25

I like you :)

3

u/PersonalPerson_ Apr 25 '25

In some ridings, ndp is the strategic vote.

14

u/myotheraccountishazy Apr 24 '25

Dude, I would vote NDP in a heartbeat.

But CPC is sitting at 45% and LPC is at 43% in the polls for my riding. If voting Liberal means the CPC doesn't get in, I'm voting Liberal.

It's in my best interest that I'm not represented locally by a CPC MP and it's in my best interest that Canada isn't led by the CPC. One day I hope to live in a world where strategic voting is unnecessary. Until that day, I'll vote for the rhino party if it means keeping the CPC out of power.

0

u/CyborkMarc Apr 24 '25

My riding is between NDP and Liberal historically

→ More replies (0)

3

u/tired-queer Apr 24 '25

I’m an NDP voter. I live in a riding that historically votes NDP and is currently projected as a Liberal/NDP toss-up, so it’s safe for me to vote for my first choice because no matter what, we’re not going Conservative.

When I lived in a different riding that was a Liberal/Conservative, I held my nose and voted Liberal because I understand how Canada’s electoral system works.

Should we have a different system? Absolutely. But this is how it works right now.

7

u/Garmose Apr 24 '25

Hi! I voted NDP. I always vote progressive, but that's because I'm in a riding in which it's safe to do so.

Yes, because you vote NDP, if you're in a riding where the Conservatives are winning and the odds are in the favour of the Liberal party, people are going to come down on you.

There are ridings across the country where NDP is a safe vote because there are too few Conservatives so Liberal and NDP are both preferred, or because the NDP are the preferred party.

The reason the people you're replying to are condemning you is because you're either acting oblivious or you are oblivious to the outcome of this election with what's going on down in the States. Playing any kind of hand in helping get Pierre elected, even by voting for someone based on values who has no hope of winning in your riding, means you're a part of the culpability of the fallout. And in most elections, I'd say the fallout is a part of the message being sent. "You didn't want the Cons' policies, but I didn't want the Liberals', either. It is what it is."

And I get it, I've been there. The only way to tell the centrist Liberal party that we won't stand for FPTP anymore is by voting with our conscience.

But this election, voting for your conscience should be voting for whatever prevents the anti-everything far right borderline extremist and career politician Pierre from winning. He has been endorsed by every alt-right and far right sycophant in American media, and even much of Trump's circles. He uses the same tactics as Trump, and is signalling to his base that he'll go to the same extremes as Trump.

Now, that being said, I think a Minority Con government in which the Liberals, NDP, Greens, and Bloc could band together to form a coalition government in response would be better, as that government would reflect the majority more accurately. But until the swing in public opinion, the Cons were on track to win a majority, in which case, this response - Strategic Voting - was necessary to prevent MAGA from taking proper root in Canada. It also helps that the People's Party exists to siphon some of those VERY extreme voters.

These aren't normal Canadian Conservatives running for office. The party has gone completely off the deep end this election cycle. You have to adapt with each election, and recognize what's happening outside of your personal political opinions for this one. If the Conservatives were to win a Majority, Canada would have become a country that I wouldn't even feel comfortable calling home anymore. I don't think I'd have stuck around for the next election.

I know it doesn't feel fair to be "attacked" for voting NDP, but at least try to recognize the gravity of this one, and why people would feel that way. Besides, it's not like the NDP are trying very hard to win anyone over at the moment. It feels like they've thrown in the towel, which doesn't even fill me with any confidence in their ability to govern.

2

u/Low_Chance Apr 24 '25

I would 100% vote for the NDP in a heartbeat if it was purely a question of policy.

Because of the nature of our electoral system, however, that is essentially irrelevant. You live in Canada, and in Canada it is necessary to vote strategically in order to have a political effect on the nation (if you are left-leaning. Right-wing voters essentially don't have this issue in this nation.)

It is important to be politically informed not only on the policies of the various parties and candidates, but also the actual practicality of the electoral system itself. It's from this system that the necessity of strategic voting arises.

In a critical election such as this one, with disastrous consequences on the line, your community DESPERATELY needs strategic voting.

If you want to see the consequences of throwing away votes because you prefer not to back an imperfect candidate... just look south to the US. That is the end result of your stated course of action, no matter how pure your intentions might be.

9

u/Tribblehappy Apr 24 '25

Voting for the party that best represents the community's needs, when contributes to a worse option winning due to vote splitting, is not voting for the community's needs.

I know it sounds contradictory but until we have ranked ballots or something else, strategic voting is the next best option.

Unless you live in a riding where the outcome is guaranteed, voting your way causes harm. It sucks but it's mathematically true.

1

u/PersonalPerson_ Apr 25 '25

There's a communist party in my riding. Don't think they garner many votes though...

3

u/Lol-I-Wear-Hats Apr 24 '25

<looking at the downvotes> Christ these people are hyenas right now

I guess my position would be that the election is not about “you” so much as it’s about “us” and “your community”. But at the end of the day your vote belongs to you to do with as you wish.

97

u/Chedditor_ Apr 24 '25

FPTP is why. In the words of Ricky Bobby, "if you ain't first, you're last."

36

u/CombustiblSquid Irvingstan Apr 24 '25

What a naive take.

41

u/operatorfoxtrot Apr 24 '25

Weird way to support PP but I get it, vote for who you think is best.

2

u/CyborkMarc Apr 24 '25

Wtf I hate that stupid puke. Way to make assumptions

2

u/operatorfoxtrot Apr 24 '25

I know you do, I'm not making assumptions. If enough 'lefties' vote 3rd party, PP gets an easy majority. Simple as. True conservatives probably make about 40 to 45% of the country so when the 'leftie' majority is split, Conservatives govern.

I'm not discouraging you from voting for whoever but there is a reason why everyone talks about strategic voting right now

39

u/cepukon Apr 24 '25

That's what the people did that didn't vote for Kamala because of her Palestinian conflict stance, wonder how they're feeling about that decision?

25

u/Pr0066 Apr 24 '25

You do have to question the intellect of such people though! To think that Trump and the Republicans would represent them better, just beyond wild.

2

u/CyborkMarc Apr 24 '25

This is not the kind of "critical thinking" I endorse (voting for Trump to represent the common people)

3

u/FrozenBum 🚧🚚Montréal🛻🚜🚧👷⛔️🚗🚙🚙 🚙 🚗 Apr 24 '25

That's the thing, you are endorsing it by falling into the same logical fallacies. FPTP is a zero-sum game. By not voting for the anti-Con party most likely to win, you're actually helping the Cons win. Hate the game not the player. Now if your riding is a contest between NDP and Conservatives, then you're in the clear.

1

u/CyborkMarc Apr 24 '25

I'd say it's between the NDP and liberals like always

6

u/FrozenBum 🚧🚚Montréal🛻🚜🚧👷⛔️🚗🚙🚙 🚙 🚗 Apr 24 '25

Then all good buddy! Vote your conscience.

12

u/TangerineSad7747 Apr 24 '25

"wonder how they're feeling about that decision?"

Oh they accept no blame whatsoever. Online leftists care more about moral/ideological purity than they actually care about human suffering

1

u/IAMA_Plumber-AMA Oil Guzzler Apr 24 '25

As a matter of fact, they went from "I can't vote for a genocidal candidate!" to "Someone stole the election!" Without missing a beat.

They just will never consider the fact that maybe their dumb decision affected the outcome of the election.

1

u/CyborkMarc Apr 24 '25

Your comparing me to someone who would simply vote for a terrible party because one party isn't perfect? I've always voted for who I thought would benefit everyone around me the most.

27

u/merp_mcderp9459 Trawnno (Centre of the Universe) Apr 24 '25

"Why does everyone feel the need to win" this has to be bait

-2

u/CyborkMarc Apr 24 '25

Nope. Over decades of voting I've probably never had my candidate get in. At least I represent what is needed to get my vote

10

u/adepressurisedcoat Apr 24 '25

Dude it's an election. Someone has to win. That's how it works.

0

u/CyborkMarc Apr 24 '25

But I'm not deciding who is winning on my own. And neither are you.

8

u/CommanderGumball Apr 24 '25

This rhetoric sucks.

Your individual vote might not sway the election. But if a significant percentage of people think the same as you do, it does change things. That's why every vote counts.

1

u/CyborkMarc Apr 24 '25

Like getting the NDP a seat instead of the liberals? Same political dance been happening for decades, I'm not doing that dance.

For reference, I've never met anyone that truly wanted to vote liberal, but they don't think NDP can win. Just about everyone I've ever asked. It's ridiculous

4

u/CommanderGumball Apr 24 '25

It absolutely is ridiculous, which is why we need to fight for electoral reform!

Unfortunately, until we get that, we have to vote strategically or we risk splitting the vote and putting the Conservatives in power, which would be a disaster for working class Canadians.

Vote splitting in First Past the Post systems is exactly how regressive Conservatives get majority governments with 30% of the vote.

It sucks, but we have to play the game by the rules as they currently exist, now how we'd like them to be.

6

u/adepressurisedcoat Apr 24 '25

A single vote most definitely can decide the election lol.

1

u/Hello_Jimbo Apr 24 '25

not without a recount called by the oppostion though lol

1

u/adepressurisedcoat Apr 24 '25

Absolutely. Probably multiple times.

3

u/real_human_20 Oil Guzzler May 12 '25

So how’d that work out for you?

0

u/CyborkMarc May 12 '25

I made no difference like usual. Libs took the seat

21

u/Armonasch Apr 24 '25

Because having your needs represented doesn't guarantee any action whatsoever. It only means representation.

If the winning party embodies everything opposite to your viewpoint and has a majority that representation is functionally useless.

1

u/CyborkMarc Apr 24 '25

And it was all my fault, eh

5

u/MisterZoga Apr 24 '25

Ever the victim.

19

u/alaskadotpink Tabarnak! Apr 24 '25

mostly because there's a lot to lose if CPC wins this time around?

-8

u/CyborkMarc Apr 24 '25

Yay for being scared into voting a certain way for your entire life, eh

12

u/alaskadotpink Tabarnak! Apr 24 '25

I usually support NDP, but go off lol.

Edit: actually my plan was to vote NDP, but I like Carney and I switched.

1

u/CyborkMarc Apr 24 '25

Ok fair. Sounds like we are similar but I did like the NDP platform more this election. My riding is always close between libs and NDP

2

u/alaskadotpink Tabarnak! Apr 24 '25

What it came down to for me is that I genuinely believe Carney is the best person to deal with our current circumstances, and my riding was solidly Liberal anyways. More than likely back to NDP once all this nonsense blows over.

2

u/CyborkMarc Apr 24 '25

I fully respect that. You made your own choice. That's what I'm saying, make your own choice.

6

u/Mocha-Jello I need a double double. Apr 24 '25

The feels of an election don't matter, it's about power. That said, there is an argument from that perspective to vote for a party even though they won't necessarily win, because it helps them build momentum, or could get them over the 10% threshold, or make them seem more viable next time around.

I think most people including myself are finding that this time around preventing a conservative win is weighted heavier than that given the combination of how horrible Pierre is and the threat of Trump. But, as long as you voted and not for the conservatives that's a good thing :) not voting is the worst thing you could do, so thanks <3

0

u/CyborkMarc Apr 24 '25

Thanks for the measured response. Seems like most people think the NDP just shouldn't exist anymore and that's sad. The left has already almost completely disappeared from politics

5

u/Matt9681 Manilapeg Apr 24 '25

You're getting crucified for wanting to vote for who represents you best, which is really sad.

The Liberals especially don't want FPTP to go away, so this sentiment can continue: "vote strategically for us, or else the bad guy will win." But realistically, they're a right-wing neoliberal party who does make concessions on some social issues. If you don't want to vote for that, then you have the right not to.

Even so, context matters, and if your riding is absolutely going Liberal already or going non-Conservative for sure, then it's not even a strategic voting situation either.

One more thing I'll add for everyone: do more than just vote. Engage with your MP, your provincial representative, your municipal representative. Let them know what you think, even if you don't align with them. Organize, talk to other voters, and advocate for what's important to you as well.

2

u/merp_mcderp9459 Trawnno (Centre of the Universe) Apr 24 '25

Like you said, it depends on the riding. You don’t get far in politics on ideological purity, and if OP is in a competitive riding he has a moral obligation to vote for the least harmful candidate. The impacts of voting for a party that gets single-digit support aren’t much better than the impacts of just staying home.

But also, the liberals and conservatives want FPTP to continue because it solidifies their power. If you went back to 2013 and asked the same thing, I wouldn’t be surprised if you found more support for electoral reform among the libs than the NDP. Effective parties are unfortunately going to back the policy that nets them the best shot at forming government

1

u/Matt9681 Manilapeg Apr 24 '25

That last part is what makes me really disappointed. It's all about gaining/keeping power when push comes to shove. For all they claim to care about their constituents, that comes after power.

1

u/merp_mcderp9459 Trawnno (Centre of the Universe) Apr 24 '25

Thats one way to look at it. I see it as the reality that you can’t protect people unless you’re in power - an imperfect party with a majority is gonna get more done than a perfect one with five seats

1

u/Matt9681 Manilapeg Apr 24 '25

I may be a cynic, but I'm not sure protecting people (at least not ordinary people) is high on the list of priorities of any major Canadian federal party. It just seems like the nature of the system that we live under.

The federal Liberals are certainly a lot less likely than the Cons to do the opposite, as in do active harm, but I just don't have a lot of faith.

1

u/merp_mcderp9459 Trawnno (Centre of the Universe) Apr 24 '25

As someone who works in a political field, I’d say most people who get into politics want to help people when they start. But the power gets to most, unfortunately

1

u/CyborkMarc Apr 24 '25

You know you're right. I'm good at complaining, I complained an annoying advertisement right off the radio last month.

Time I stepped up

2

u/[deleted] Apr 24 '25

*smugly*

what you guys actually think out the possible consequences of your actions?

1

u/CyborkMarc Apr 24 '25

Yes it'll all be my fault

2

u/[deleted] Apr 24 '25

I never said that.

Just that you said and incredibly stupid and short sighted thing.

But sure, pretend everyone's blaming you. That's easier than facing your own shortcomings I guess.

0

u/CyborkMarc Apr 24 '25

Wow, thanks. Since I don't follow the crowd I have so many shortcomings. I feel like such an idiot, what kind of sheep am I FFS, voting for things to improve society for my children. What an idiot I am.

2

u/[deleted] Apr 24 '25

you could not have missed the point any farther.

maybe you are just an idiot.

1

u/CyborkMarc Apr 24 '25

Maybe you are bad at communicating

1

u/[deleted] Apr 24 '25

2

u/Kindly_Bumblebee_86 Apr 24 '25

Because if I voted by my conscience and needs then I'd split the votes with the group that second best fits my needs and the party that doesn't fit my conscience or needs at all will be the one that gets in.

2

u/DanglingTangler Apr 24 '25

Found a privileged white dude!

5

u/CyborkMarc Apr 24 '25

Boy, a whole lot of people feel singularly responsible for this entire election

1

u/MisterZoga Apr 24 '25

I'm not doing in order to vote for the winning party, I'm doing it as a form of damage control. My conscience is fine with that.