In politics, it can seem sometimes that the only factor that matters is how a campaign is run.
If you smile, avoid saying too many dumb things, and attend enough events surrounded by many people, you might get enough of the common folks to vote for you, even if underneath, some of your policies may leave something to be desired by some voters.
Case in point: Alberta is currently in the midst of a provincial election. The choice is a conservative or a socialist party for government.
Many people, as well as some newspapers, support whoever runs the most error-free campaign. Skeletons that are sometimes long-buried are resurrected and trotted out in the bright sun of the election. And truth be told, some of these should be brought out.
The New Democratic Party for example, seems to have a number of pro-communist candidates in its ranks including Jodi Calahoo Stonehouse (Edmonton-Rutherford), Rob Loyola (Edmonton-Ellerslie), Girinder Brar (Calgary-North), and others(!), some who advocate an end to capitalism.
Much of this gets little to no news space in the mainstream media often because communism was never given the same weight as Nazism as a great evil. That's extremely unfortunate since Communism's track record of death is 125 million... and still counting, unfortunately.
Am I suggesting that the NDP is a covert communist party? No. It is not. Yet extremists seem to lurk within its ranks and membership and nothing is being done about it.
The United Conservative Party's Premiere Danielle Smith has said some really dumb things, mostly hyperbolic in nature, but dumb nevertheless.
But she has never taken overtly extremist stances on anything. No new taxes and it would be business as usual.
Some have suggested that she advocates some type of user-fee for medical services, but his is false. Plus it would be political suicide. (As an aside, I would be fine with a small fee at hospitals if it kept people with colds and flus out of emergency rooms, saving it for true life-threatening situations.)
So, the NDP might win. Their campaign has been slicker, their leader has made fewer gaffs, and truth be hold, Rachel Notley does have a better smile than Danielle Smith.
But the substance of a 30+ day campaign should not be the only criteria upon which to base your vote. Look under the hood. See who's running and what the policies are and whether you be happy with at least four years of their programs.
This same NDP was the government over four years ago. Soon after, folks indicated that they had voter's remorse.
If they win again, will it be any better this time?
