11779 replies to this topic

[jonny]

Fair enough but I was referring to cruise ships in general and not just the ones operating near Victoria harbour. City council is falling over themselves to welcome new ships and help pay for upgrades to support them while ignoring the fact that they are enormous polluters. Here is a breakdown:

https://www.theguard...llution-problem

Politicians are enormous hypocrites. It's no wonder voter turnout is forty someodd percent.

[spanky123]

Changing the channel back to City Hall shenanigans, notices this week on the council agenda include changing the municipal voting age to 16, and allowing non-citizens to vote. Given that the vast majority of youth self-identify as socialists I can see the personal benefit to the council members promoting the motion, but are these issues that City hall should be focusing on given that they have no jurisdiction in the matters. 

 

https://pub-victoria...ocumentId=31378

https://pub-victoria...English&Item=18

Edited by spanky123, 05 February 2019 - 07:14 AM.

[Victoria Watcher]

has not stopped them before. non citizens should not vote.

[Mike K.]

A new week, a new social justice pursuit. It's like clockwork but hey, it's also fodder for local radio debates and Facebook posts.

[Rob Randall]

Mike, you and I both have gotten to know politically active teens over the years and my observation is that they mirror the rest of the population in their views. In fact, some were quite moderate and kept a wide berth from the radicals.

[Mike K.]

Oh I get that, but having Rhodes Scholars in our midst doesn't mean that everyone ...you get the point.

 

16-year-olds have no business voting. They're still learning how not to crash dad's Lexus into buildings. If it were up to me the voting age would be pushed back into the 20's when most individuals admit they've finally settled into their life and accept who they are, what they represent, and have some sense of direction in their life beyond institutionalized education and mom-and-dad's directives.

[Rob Randall]

16-year-olds have no business voting. They're still learning how not to crash dad's Lexus into buildings

 

 

 

The local voting demographic crashes their own cars into buildings. 

[Mike K.]

And they've earned that right!

[Mike K.]

Here's the thing, though. 16-year-olds are viewed by the corrections system as children. They're children when committing crimes, but adults when heading to the polls? The two don't jive.

[rjag]

Most 16 year olds are more interested in getting laid than anything.

[Victoria Watcher]

let's just leave it around 18 where at least a few of them if not many start paying income and other significant taxes.

Edited by Victoria Watcher, 05 February 2019 - 08:26 AM.

[sebberry]

I’m ok with taxpaying permanent residents being able to vote.

[spanky123]

I think the goal is to broaden the base of voters who don’t pay municipal taxes directly. If you are not paying taxes then you are less concerned about what council is spending.

[North Shore]

I’m ok with taxpaying permanent residents being able to vote.

 I agree.  Mrs. Shore is a PR, and has been so for 30ish years. She helps to pay municipal taxes, uses the roads, parks and rec centres, so why shouldn't she have a say in their responsible operation?

 

I suppose that you could extend that out to Provincial and National elections, also, but I do feel a difference between local issues that directly affect her as a resident, and national ones that aren't as direct.

[Victoria Watcher]

why has she not applied to become canadian?  keeping options open?  taking advantage of other benefits of being whatever nationality she is?

 

my issue is this.  if you want to vote become canadian.  show your commitment and we'll give you the benefit.

Edited by Victoria Watcher, 05 February 2019 - 10:59 AM.

[North Shore]

Oh I get that, but having Rhodes Scholars in our midst doesn't mean that everyone ...you get the point.

 

16-year-olds have no business voting. They're still learning how not to crash dad's Lexus into buildings. If it were up to me the voting age would be pushed back into the 20's when most individuals admit they've finally settled into their life and accept who they are, what they represent, and have some sense of direction in their life beyond institutionalized education and mom-and-dad's directives.

 Couldn't/shouldnt we restrict older people from voting, also?  Their cognition declines, they're  vulnerable to coercion to vote a certain way, and statistically, they are likely to die in their early 80's.  Perhaps we should place a sunset clause that limits voting to age 80?

[Bob Fugger]

why has she not applied to become canadian?  keeping options open?  taking advantage of other benefits of being whatever nationality she is?

 

my issue is this.  if you want to vote become canadian.  show your commitment and we'll give you the benefit.

 

I agree.  This is one of the few benefits that citizenship provides.  Why remove it?  She can either join the club - which for her would present a remarkably low bar of entry - or remain an ex-officio member.

[sdwright.vic]

Unfortunately the US doesn't allow for dual citizenship like a lot if countries do.

Thus if you paid into Social Security for x number of years, you lose that by becoming full on Canadian.

So, like if you started working at 16, left the US and then became a Canadian citizen, you don't get those years in your CPP calculation for working x number of years. x number of years calculates you CPP benefit payable. If you stay a PR, you can still collect that Social Security as well as the CPP that you are eligible for.

As well to denounce your US citizenship starts at $6K.

[Victoria Watcher]

it’s free to denounce.

[spanky123]

Couldn't/shouldnt we restrict older people from voting, also? Their cognition declines, they're vulnerable to coercion to vote a certain way, and statistically, they are likely to die in their early 80's. Perhaps we should place a sunset clause that limits voting to age 80?

If your cognition and/or mobility is so low that you can’t manage yourself then it is unlikely that you can make your way to a polling station to vote.