BC Elections : Predictions Anyone?

[Cock Throppled]

How much did we pay for those Fast Ferries? How much did we sell them for in the end?

Most useless purchase of capital equipment ever in the history of Marine transportation ever. Industry experts warned the NDP Govt of the day that they were inappropriate for use in our costal waters because by the time they got up to a speed where they would save us money on fuel; it was time to dock again.

I worked for one of the Sub Contractors during that period. Those idiots would send us an email asking for a piece of equipment be delivered to the local yard for installation. All without a purchase order or an acknowledgment of our terms and conditions. We enquired where the paperwork was about them acknowledging our prices, delivery charges ex works EU and the Net 90 day terms they indicated they needed. No reply equalled no delivery from us. It put us on their shit list but in the end they bought and paid for the equipment plus an expediting fee because they dropped the ball.

It was clear that the people in a position of authority had zero business knowledge on how to build a ship. Sure they had a few guys with MBA's and someone who worked for Ministry of Transportation but bottom line was there were no personnel with Marine Experience on their team. Typical NDP Cluster Fuck of a huge magnitude. They hired all their University buddies to do the job without caring about the real experience factor.

When all was said and done, the fast ferries showed a net loss of $52 million on the books. Not great, but not anywhere near the disaster the Liberals paint it. Also, the ferries were sold off for a song by Gordon Campbell to make the whole issue look even worse and to score political points. It didn't help that Washington Marine Group, a big Liberal donor, scored the winning bid and re-sold them for a huge profit. The boats are still in operation in Abu Dahbi. The facts are, the Fast Ferries fiasco pales in comparison to the huge over-runs and waste of Liberal-overseen projects like -
1. Port Mann Bridge/Hwy 1 widening: came in 550%*over*initial*estimate.
2. BC Place Stadium roof upgrade: another 514%*over*initial*estimate. (This was a case, similar to the fast ferries, where people were in place who had no idea what they were doing.)
3. Northwest Transmission Line:*yup, you guessed it - 182%*over*initial*estimate.
4. Vancouver Convention Centre: oops - 178%*over*initial*estimate.
5. South Fraser Perimeter Road: seeing a theme?- 169% over initial estimate.
Now we've got $9 Billion committed to the unneeded Site C dam, which will undoubtedly become much more, and the same will happen to the equally unneeded $3.5 Billion Massey Bridge. These are supposed to be the best money managers?

 

[zigzag6984]

So, Horgan kind of rubs me the wrong way and there's something about him that seems sleezy. Perhaps it's PerbMod's assessment of the NDP.
Christy Clark, in addition to her awfulness, also pronounces 'schedule' by saying SHED-ULE. Fact: You cannot trust anyone who pronounces schedule the way she does.

Debate wise, I think the Greens have been most impressive, which is both surprising and quite telling how bad the other two have been.

I've never understood the concept of running a deficit. The province needs 0 debt & it needs savings, 100's of billions of dollars of it. That way it can float itself when times are tough just like a family would.

The thing is, especially these days, balancing the budget has led to extreme measures of austerity. If the masses go years feeling like their place has turned into a dumpster fire of no hope, you begin to see a lot of nut jobs being created. Just look around the world. Besides, there's a lot of public works that I'd like to see get done. In theory, families should have savings, but, isn't it like the average family is 2 weeks to 2 months of unemployment from being bankrupt/homeless? That has a lot to do with how difficult it is to live in BC and financially stay afloat, let alone have a large "rainy day" fund.

 

[papillion]

How much did we pay for those Fast Ferries? How much did we sell them for in the end?

Most useless purchase of capital equipment ever in the history of Marine transportation ever. Industry experts warned the NDP Govt of the day that they were inappropriate for use in our costal waters because by the time they got up to a speed where they would save us money on fuel; it was time to dock again.

I worked for one of the Sub Contractors during that period. Those idiots would send us an email asking for a piece of equipment be delivered to the local yard for installation. All without a purchase order or an acknowledgment of our terms and conditions. We enquired where the paperwork was about them acknowledging our prices, delivery charges ex works EU and the Net 90 day terms they indicated they needed. No reply equalled no delivery from us. It put us on their shit list but in the end they bought and paid for the equipment plus an expediting fee because they dropped the ball.

It was clear that the people in a position of authority had zero business knowledge on how to build a ship. Sure they had a few guys with MBA's and someone who worked for Ministry of Transportation but bottom line was there were no personnel with Marine Experience on their team. Typical NDP Cluster Fuck of a huge magnitude. They hired all their University buddies to do the job without caring about the real experience factor.

The fast ferries was a debacle, no argument.
As cockie has pointed out, made worse by gord campbell at our expense.
BUT you Want Debacle?
http://vancouversun.com/news/politi...pressure-on-b-c-policy-of-tolling-new-bridges

Again, liberals good with money? NOT!!!!!!!!!
LIBERALS GOOD AT LOOKING AFTER THEIR $UGAR DADDIES AT OUR EXPENSES? YES
https://thetyee.ca/News/2017/04/27/..._content=042717-3&utm_campaign=editorial-0417

 

[Wolfman_jack]

Usually polling is quite unreliable prior to any election with the people who really want a change responding to telemarketing polls. Silent majority will poke their heads up on election day.

Whether we like it or not, people do take note of what is happening in the USA with the orange haired dorrito pissing off people globally. You can also see it happening in France with their presidential run offs, and the Brits having an early election although with a huge Conservative lead now. I think the British election will be much closer in the final tally.

The Russians may have a hand in elections in Europe as they did in the US election. There has been many reports of fake news in France to date.

I am getting the feeling there will be a Global quantum shift in political spectrum towards the left because of the drivel coming from Trump on a daily basis plus the activity of the Russians to interfere with the political landscape.

Perhaps the same will happen in BC and maybe the NDP will form the next government? Right now, personally I feel its a toss up with neither having a serious scandal hanging around their necks.

You don't consider the millions on dollars the BC Liberals have accepted from foreign corporations and the subsequent handing out in billions in contracts to those same corporations to be scandalous?

 

[Cock Throppled]

The other thing to consider is the Liberal propensity to just outright lie, and/or make things up.
Does that remind you of anyone south of the border?

The last election was the giant whopper about LNG. This time it's complete fantasy stats about cutting child poverty, raising incomes, making life affordable, stating the head of the steelworkers union supports Trump's traiffs on lumber, counting multiple union donations as one huge donation,( a distraction from the millions they receive from corporation), saying the NDP will do things that aren't even in their platform.

A desperate attempt to cling to power at any cost, even spending $15 million in taxpayer money on all those pre-election ads. That's our money. How many nursing hours would that have paid for so my mother didn't spend 3 days and nights in a fucking hospital corridor with a broken ankle?

No party should ever be in beyond two terms. They owe too many favours and become too arrogant. I'm not a big NDP supporter, but the Liberals have really outlived their welcome.

 

[J-Dogg]

https://mobile.twitter.com/richardzussman/status/857761107024289793

That's the quickest evasion I've ever seen. If politics was boxing Christy Clark just pulled a Mayweather shoulder roll

 

[overdone]

You're implying the crusty clark gang is BETTER at managing the economy, that's a myth
BC is the most indebted province in the nation http://commonsensecanadian.ca/economist-thanks-liberals-bc-canadas-indebted-province/

talking about Myths

even with the supposed accounting number in that article, along with your actual debt of 66-67 billion

it's no where near the crooked Liberals in Ontario, who are around 313 billion in actual debt

and who would I assume based on your so called common sense economist, Ont would have similar type obligations when it comes to "future" debt to be counted

and being 3X the size of BC in pop, highly doubtful, BC is the most indebted province

 

[Bridge]

It is not easy being green!

 

[Cock Throppled]

Now the Libs are scrambling becuase one of them let slip they plan on bringing back the HST. Only they are just going to call it a Value Added Tax.

For Fuck Sakes, that's exactly the definition of the HST.

 

[BaconNeggs]

The best part of the election thus far, was Horgan the buffon saying that the Liberals would win during the televised debate a few nights ago.
Priceless!
Horgan lost more than just his temper that night...he lost the debate as well.

 

[take8easy]

Did you see that news clip on TV with a woman named Linda told Ms Clark that she will not vote for her. Awkward!!!!!

I copied this text from CTV's website:

A woman who briefly gave Christy Clark a piece of her mind at a campaign stop this week has become a social media star among the Liberal leader's opponents.
Clark was meeting voters in a North Vancouver grocery store on Thursday when the woman introduced herself, leading to an awkward but short interaction.
"Hi Christy, I'm Linda," she said. "I would never vote for you."

Linda started to explain why but was cut off by Clark, who quickly walked away.
"You don't have to. That's why we live in a democracy," she said.
"Thank goodness," Linda replied as Clark was leaving. "Hopefully you won't get elected in."

 

[storm rider]

I cant fathom why anyone in BC would want the NDP in charge again.Lets there was bingogate/hydrogate/the fast ferries boondoggle as well as the interior minister that had a 2 lane blacktop road
run through crown land to the gate of his ranch.Oh yeah then there was Glen Clark taking $100,000 worth of renovations to his home as a kick back to award a government contract.Not to mention the total mismanagement
of BC's governance in general.Graft/theft/corruption and cronyism is all the NDP deliver just look at how Notley has screwed over Alberta.

SR

 

[Cock Throppled]

The best part of the election thus far, was Horgan the buffon saying that the Liberals would win during the televised debate a few nights ago.
Priceless!
Horgan lost more than just his temper that night...he lost the debate as well.

This comment is pretty typical of the Trump-like Clark supporters, who just make things up and think if they say it, somebody might believe it.

Horgan never lost his temper that night, despite being goaded twice by Weaver.

The general concensus by most media, was Horgan or Weaver won the debate, but basically it was a draw.

Clark lies about almost everything, so why do people still support and believe her on any issue?

 

[storm rider]

A a follow up if anyone seriously thinks the NDP are good try reading the NDP LEAP manifesto from cover to cover and not vomiting.

SR

 

[Cock Throppled]

I cant fathom why anyone in BC would want the NDP in charge again.Lets there was bingogate/hydrogate/the fast ferries boondoggle as well as the interior minister that had a 2 lane blacktop road
run through crown land to the gate of his ranch.Oh yeah then there was Glen Clark taking $100,000 worth of renovations to his home as a kick back to award a government contract.Not to mention the total mismanagement
of BC's governance in general.Graft/theft/corruption and cronyism is all the NDP deliver just look at how Notley has screwed over Alberta.

SR

Also pretty typical of Liberal deaf and dumb and blind supporters who go back 20 years to moan about things done by people long gone, but ignore the much worse in the way of corruption happening now, and ignore the examples I posted earlier of massive cost over-runs by the Libs in the last 10 years that make the fast ferries look like pocket change.

Then there's the testament to stupidity - Site C dam.

And Glen Clark was cleared of all the charges.

 

[Cock Throppled]

The hidden truth in BC's "vibrant" economy - In 2015 BC Hydro paid generous donors to the Liberal Party, $672 million more than market value for their power. Higher hydro rates are there because of these assholes. This money is owed by us, hence by the government, yet it doesn’t show up in their budget!

Liberals claim to be delivering “balanced” budgets while the province’s financial obligations increased $72 billion in the last six years, more than the provincial debt in the BC’s first 135 years. Liberal claims of balanced budgets rely on accounting fashioned to mislead voters. It results in absurd situations such as: keeping BC Hydro’s huge debts*off the government’s books while including “dividends” from BC Hydro to the government as revenue, although the utility has to borrow the money shifted into provincial accounts; and dividing expenditures into ordinary (operating) and extraordinary (capital) expense, while counting only the former as a budgetary expense.

The fact is the government is a fiscal mess. It's largest asset, BC Hydro, is technically bankrupt, facing a $9+*billion*bill for Site C. The Liberals have*a dismal record in their*Health Ministry and a worse one in Children and Families, an Education Ministry in disarray, a disgraceful history of neglect of the mentally ill and on the sad saga goes.

Then there was The Big Lie from the last election - LNG riches for everyone.

http://www.metronews.ca/news/vancou...rming-economy-in-canada-for-young-people.html

 

[apl16]

. I voted today. Met a nice looking lady. Unfortunately, no lineup. No time for a proper chat. Maybe I'll vote again tomorrow......lol

 

[rlock]

I will be pessimistic in my prediction of the election: Corrupt Christy and her corporate mafia will likely end up in power again. The mechanics of First-Past-The-Post voting, combined with the massive amount of official and unofficial pro-Christy advertisements (including what comes from the local media), combined with the fact the BC Conservatives are redundant & non-competitive means it will be very difficult to dislodge the current governing party.


My preference? I want Christy and her party get annihilated at the ballot box. They need to be culled, a hard and brutal judgement from voters.

They may call themselves the "BC Liberals" but 3/4 of them are Harperite sociopaths. Ministers like Bill Bennett are a bunch of backwards "pave it all" types who will never say no to any big business even when it needs to be said. Then you have incompetent muppet ministers like Todd Stone, who have never met a crown corporation they didn't mismanage and plunder; BC Ferries, Translink, BC Hydro, health services, schools - all being run straight into the ground. Finally there's Christy Clark herself, the insincere head cheerleader for every special interest group that's ruining the province.

You want to do well in BC? I guess you have to be an oil/gas/mining executive, a real estate developer or speculator, or a gangster - or one of the many crooked lawyers, accountants, or lobbyists that protect them. If you're an honest person, trying to make an honest living, you're fucked. You'll be forced to move away, turn into a scumbag yourself, or stick around long enough to be drained of everything you own and end up dead in an alley on the downtown eastside.

That's the BC created by Gordon Campbell before and Christy Clark today: A glamourous playground for the elite and a poisoned wasteland for everyone else. Have no illusions, people: the #1 issue of this election remains unspoken - corruption.

My voting preference? Greens. They mean what they say; they stand for most of the things I would stand for: ecological survival; voting reform; much better transit; ending the corruption of provincial & municipal politics by corporate and union donors (and so on). I am a car driving, meat eating, foul-mouthed savage, but they are the only party that seems to have a real plan for BC's future (i.e. something beyond just taking power then staying there). And I do not buy into that "a vote for the Greens is a vote for Christy Clark" bullshit - people should be free to vote for whoever suits them best, and it is wrong to assume every Green voter is a NDPer otherwise.

I've never voted NDP, not provincially or federally. It would take a lot more to convince me they are the best alternative out there. They talk big on the environment, but in the end they never really mean it; union people like Harry Lali will always blunt any attempt to deal decisively with environmental issues. They have elements of their party that are either too shady or are those annoying SJW try-hards who want to neuter everyone.

I would not cry if the NDP took power though. Better than Clark staying in power for four more years of criminal-but-never-prosecuted shenanigans.

 

[rlock]

When all was said and done, the fast ferries showed a net loss of $52 million on the books. Not great, but not anywhere near the disaster the Liberals paint it. Also, the ferries were sold off for a song by Gordon Campbell to make the whole issue look even worse and to score political points. It didn't help that Washington Marine Group, a big Liberal donor, scored the winning bid and re-sold them for a huge profit. The boats are still in operation in Abu Dahbi. The facts are, the Fast Ferries fiasco pales in comparison to the huge over-runs and waste of Liberal-overseen projects like -
1. Port Mann Bridge/Hwy 1 widening: came in 550%*over*initial*estimate.
2. BC Place Stadium roof upgrade: another 514%*over*initial*estimate. (This was a case, similar to the fast ferries, where people were in place who had no idea what they were doing.)
3. Northwest Transmission Line:*yup, you guessed it - 182%*over*initial*estimate.
4. Vancouver Convention Centre: oops - 178%*over*initial*estimate.
5. South Fraser Perimeter Road: seeing a theme?- 169% over initial estimate.
Now we've got $9 Billion committed to the unneeded Site C dam, which will undoubtedly become much more, and the same will happen to the equally unneeded $3.5 Billion Massey Bridge. These are supposed to be the best money managers?

I wish that people would remember these "myth-busters". The Libs have no better record managing the provinces finances. Just look at Translink - how on earth can it get in worse financial shape by having more customers? Or BC Ferries, which they have basically gutted. Or ICBC raising its rates because the BC Liberals keep siphoning off its cash reserves?

Small comfort for the voter, trying to decide if this is the result of deceit or incompetence.

The real economic advantage the BC Liberals have is that the business community likes them, or rather, it knows it can get whatever it wants from them. That expectation is a sort of economic confidence.

 

[rlock]

https://mobile.twitter.com/richardzussman/status/857761107024289793

That's the quickest evasion I've ever seen. If politics was boxing Christy Clark just pulled a Mayweather shoulder roll

Did you see that news clip on TV with a woman named Linda told Ms Clark that she will not vote for her. Awkward!!!!!

I copied this text from CTV's website:

A woman who briefly gave Christy Clark a piece of her mind at a campaign stop this week has become a social media star among the Liberal leader's opponents.
Clark was meeting voters in a North Vancouver grocery store on Thursday when the woman introduced herself, leading to an awkward but short interaction.
"Hi Christy, I'm Linda," she said. "I would never vote for you."

Linda started to explain why but was cut off by Clark, who quickly walked away.
"You don't have to. That's why we live in a democracy," she said.
"Thank goodness," Linda replied as Clark was leaving. "Hopefully you won't get elected in."

That lady was much more polite than I would have been. :nono: