Kansas

[plonq]

I was going to slam Kansas for their recent "advances" for the cause of science and critical thinking, but if these polls are to be believed, they speak for the majority of the nation.  It's not religion that bothers me, it's that far too many people think that it exonerates them from any need for critical thinking.

"I let the preacher do my thinking for me."

Bah.  Couple that with the fact that we're probably going to have a Christmas federal election (December 26th has been tossed out as the probable date) and my cynicism meter didn't just max out, it hit the stop and the needle is bending dangerously.  Bleah.  Bleah.

Comments

Erm.

[marmelmm.livejournal.com]

Federal election on 12/26? Howcome?

Re: Erm.

[plonq.livejournal.com]

We have a minority government up here at the moment, and the party holding the balance of power has announced that they are not going to back the government on the next budget vote. In that case they won't have enough votes to sustain the vote, and (by parliamentary tradition) will dissolve the government and call a general election.

The current timing of this move would put the general election on Christmas, and since the polls won't open on Christmas Day, they'll open the polls on the first day after. I imagine the government is practically giddy at this announcement on a couple of counts.

Firstly, because they've already promised to hold a spring election if the government isn't toppled before then so if the opposition forces their hand early, they can point the finger and say, "It wasn't our fault that they couldn't wait three months." Secondly because the voters are likely to crucify the opposition parties at the polls if they force a Christmas election. Finally, holding the election late this year would let them do it prior to the release of the second half of a potentially damaging corruption report that is due out early in the new year.

Re: Erm.

[mwalimu.livejournal.com]

Is this why Canadians call the day after Christmas "boxing day"?