I hope others will do the same – and support something they can believe in – NOT just vote to toss something out

Today it took a few minutes to read the editorial in the Victoria Times Colonist … it was titled “Liberal wipeout benefits no one”, and I would like to encourage you to check it out.

Personally, I have a feeling it was written by someone that has leanings towards the BC Liberal Party; however it did ask some important questions that all BC voters need to consider.  Here are just a few excerpts from the editorial:

As it stands, we are headed for an NDP sweep of the province similar to the Liberal sweep of 2001.  While this might bring delight to those who are determined to make the Liberals pay for their sins and their errors over the past decade, this kind of political turmoil is not good for the province...

Premier Christy Clark has tried to put a fresh, optimistic face on the government, but it simply hasn't worked.

We need stability from our leaders, as well as a sense of purpose. We won't have that if the government is bouncing from one idea to the next, trying to find messages that resonate with voters. Good government is based on solid values and sound principles, not poll numbers, yet the fate awaiting the Liberals in next May's election will always be in the back of their minds.

…what is next? More turmoil? More desperate attempts to win back the voters? And if that doesn't work, what's left - a scorched-earth attitude that would ensure that the NDP inherits as many problems as possible?  This would not provide the kind of stability that the province needs.

… have voters seriously considered all of the alternatives? Have we examined the policies of the NDP or the Conservatives - or the Greens, for that matter?  Have we considered what governments run by either of these parties might do?

Just because they aren't Liberals does not automatically make them better. We need to judge each party on its own merits, not simply vote against the people in power.

The 2001 election result, which left us with 77 MLAs on the government side and only two in opposition, was over the top … unless the mood of the voters changes, we will do the same thing to the Liberals.  These wild swings from left to right don't help the province … who benefits when the governing party is so thoroughly written off? Nobody.

As I said at the start, this editorial does make some important points, and asks some serious questions.

I agree completely, that a wipe-out of any governing political party does not benefit the people.  We need to have opportunity for balanced thought, discussion, and opinion in the legislature.

And ... we need that for many reasons.   

We need to see that proposed legislation gets a thorough review.  Not having balance in the legislature does not allow for that.  A wipe out of the NDP in 2001 was bad for the province … and a total wipe-out of the BC Liberal Party in 2013 (without having the balance of a strong opposition), no matter who wins, will be equally bad for BC.

For those who do not know, I ran as a candidate in the 1996 election.  One of the biggest disappointments from that campaign was not that I lost – it was realizing that so many people are unaware of the results that could come from promises that are made during campaigns.

The old saying, ‘we get what we deserve’ is equally important right now.  The writer of this editorial is completely and totally right when they say, “Just because they aren't Liberals does not automatically make them better” – no matter what party we may be considering putting our support, and vote behind.

In the coming months I hope that the people of BC will indeed take a good hard look at the options available to us – the policies they have – AND the principles that guide them.

Long before the BC Conservative Party started their rise in the polls I did take a long hard look at what they were offering, I liked what I saw, became a member, and I am now working hard on their behalf.

I hope others will do the same – and support something they can believe in – NOT just vote to toss something out.

In Kamloops I’m Alan Forseth, with the thoughts of one conservative.