Signs of the times
October 25, 2007 | 12:28 PM
I was filmed around Rosetown yesterday for my CBC "rant" and the cameraman wanted me to pose in front of an NDP lawn sign or poster for part of it. We eventually gave up after driving around for over half an hour looking for one.
The majority of signs were for sale signs, mostly with "SOLD" on them, with the local Sask Party candidate's signs coming a close second.
Not one NDP sign, not one Liberal sign, not one sign for anyone else, anywhere in Rosetown or for a good ways out of town in three directions. I don't even know who the candidates are. Both of us thought this was downright strange. When Berny Wiens was running for the NDP that party had more members and money in this constituency than any other in the province, just 8 years or 2 elections ago. Now it looks like they are writing this seat off.
If this is true, where does that lead to regarding the urban/rural split? Apparently the cities are full of signs of all colours, but the governing party can't be bothered to make an effort to win what used to be a prominent rural seat, not that long ago.
For those of you city dwellers reading this who are sick of hearing about this split, try to put it in this perspective: you know how mad it made you when the federal Liberals kept on, year after year, courting the votes in Quebec and Ontario and totally ignoring the west?
This is the same type of alienation that led to the WCC, and other separation groups. This is very close to how people left in Saskatchewan's small towns feel when the government always wants to give Saskatoon and Regina all the infrastructure dollars when our streets are falling apart.
Our schools are closing, our hospitals are closing (how many of them thanks to the NDP!), our grocery stores are closing but there's always more schools and superstores in Saskatoon!
I know, I know, it seem stupid to bemoan the lack of those aggravating signs when usually it is just so much lawn litter on stakes. Eyesores aside, it would be nice to know that the main parties would at least try to get our attention out here in the sticks!
Comments: (6)
I have often wondered about this urban/rural split in Sk., & I see it as much more than political parties. I have relatives who were born & grew up & still live in rural Sk., & perhaps it's just my family, but when I visit them in their various communities, I hear far more "right wing" comments, about everything from gender to religion to human rights to social support programs. This is not just in their homes, but out at community functions where many people are gathered. I've observed this for many years, & often thought that someone should do an academic sociological study - eg. for a Ph.D. perhaps - on the "Differences in the rural and urban culture of Sask." In any case, it does not surprise me at all to hear that the Sask. Party appears, via signs, to be widely supported in the more rural areas of Sask. From my personal experience,which is admittedly quite limited,
this support is a result of the rural culture - not of other parties' participation or non.
I suspect that as more and more young people leave the farms & villages of Sk., the greater this ideological split will become.
Posted October 30, 2007 05:06 PM
"you know how mad it made you when the federal Liberals kept on, year after year, courting the votes in Quebec and Ontario and totally ignoring the west?"
About as mad as how they now court the votes in Quebec and Alberta and totally ignore the "rest" of the west... but on to other things.
There are two possibilities. Either the NDP has "given up" on that riding, for whatever reason (they know the locals hate them, they don't care for the sticks, or they just don't have anyone willing to run), or they are so overconfident that their "fear mongering" will work that they've only paid lip service to actually promoting individual candidates.
I live in Calvert's riding, in S'toon, and I've seen a small handful of NDP signs, but tons and tons of Sask Part and Liberal signs. I've received a single NDP pamphlet, yet nearly a dozen Sask Party ones in my mailbox. I've even been visited by both the Sask Party candidate going door to door, and Liberal candidate reps.
Until the Sask party candidate told me, I had no idea I was in Calvert's own riding. Could hardly tell considering how little the NDP seem to be advertising around here...
Posted October 29, 2007 11:22 AM
I did enjoy this blog. Hard to imagine a riding where there is no choice. Hardly democratic.
But the writer lost me and appears to be foolish when he elaborated on the urban/rural divide. Sure, dollars for new schools do go into Saskatoon, makes sense with the population increasing. And yes, it seems that the NDP, Liberals, and even the Sask. Party are focusing on the big cities. But to suggest a corporate grocery store closes in a small town while a "superstore" opens in a city has nothing to do with rural alienation, at the political level. The market dictates what is offered, and not the government. As for hospitals and schools, those are not free market, so the writer has a point. But perhaps, more schools are offered where more people live. Just like your choices in shopping. Like I said, you lost me with your lack of shopping choices...
Posted October 26, 2007 11:51 AM
Advertising in this election is shifting to the online virual method, as more voters log onto the Internet. Voters are expected to go to the advertising on websites, and candidates through email. And it does have its benefits, in reducing sign/material waste and travel costs. Unfortunately not everyone is able/willing to use the Internet to become involved in our democracy, so candidates still have to make an effort to be seen and heard in person, in print, radio, and on TV (when they have money to burn).
I recently had an argument online with a Saskatoon DJ who figured that since it's "inevitable" that rural Sask is shutting down, we should just spend money on cities. That defeatist and anti-rural attitude is what is causing this province's decline.
Posted October 26, 2007 10:12 AM
Sure, Kirk, come on over! At least then maybe the inner city limosine liberals, when driving through our communities while commuting back from Calgary, might not feel they have to have the opinion that small towns are full of nothing but capitalists. Sorry, to translate that into Lefty: Ultra-conservatives, or the new version: Neo-cons.
Sincerely, The Rosetown Man, the token small town conservative.
Posted October 25, 2007 02:37 PM
It's the same here in Outlook - Sask Party signs everywhere, pretty much nothing for the NDP or Liberals. It is surprising how little visibility the other parties have in our riding
There will be a few signs up here for the Greens shortly, though (disclosure: I'm running for the Greens here in Rosetown-Elrose). Let me know if you want a couple to put up in Rosetown, to help brighten up the landscape. :-)
Posted October 25, 2007 02:26 PM