- Hyper Generation Gap - Oh to Be Young Again

Submitted: 9:45am, PST, 10 Dec.'10 Ekos PoliticsLANDSCAPE FREEZES AS TEMPERATURE PLUMMETS - YOUNG CANADA WOULD ELECT GREEN GOVERNMENT; SENIOR CANADA WOULD NOT ELECT A SINGLE GREEN MP, December 9, 2010, http://www.ekospolitics.com/index.php/2010/12/landscape-freezes-as-temperature-plummets-december-9-2010/

(see also:http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/ottawa-notebook/pre-christmas-poll-puts-pox-on-all-parties/article1832563/)

Other than re-enforcing what I have been saying for quite a while now, and I refer to my post of 25 Nov.'10

As I have been saying for quite some time now, these polls can not be properly interpreted without taking into account the die-hard support (manifesting in 33%) for Harper and the Cons.

I refer to this phenomenon as the 'die-hard right-wing extremist, epi-centre in Alberta' factor:

33% points of Harper and the Con's support in a poll can be attributed to the die-hard right-wing extremist*, epi-centre in Alberta factor.

For example, 39.95% (last time: 38%) feel Harper and the Con's are going in the right direction. Keeping in mind that 33.7% (last time: 33.3%) point are made up of people who feel Harper is in the 'Right' direction (i.e. they are supporting Harper because of his right wing ideology, as opposed to consideration of doing good for Canada).

That leaves only 6 (5) points that are perhaps basing their answer on factors other than ideology. This number would have to be tracked for a while to get anything out of this since the margin of error is normally approx 3 points, in other words, the 6 (5) points is statistically significant but barely.

Last time Graves starting to track this aspect - vis.: the “Ideology” heading. However, it seems to have been omitted - Graves, you've dropped the ball a bit here.

Graves suggests that the difference between youth (<25) and senior(>65) is significant. It would be nice to know what "social issues" means.
It may well be that seniors are not thinking environment when they choose it. It also likely not the deficit (presumably that is included in 'fiscal issues' and seniors don't seem to be interested in that much at all)

Presumably financial security, pensions, etc.,are tied up in economy - when you consider the $25 billion reduction in income trusts due to Con policies as well as the huge losses on the market during the Harper watch, you wonder why they consider it a big issue but support the Con's. So what is left (or should I say 'Right').

Then there is health care - which given Harper's background one wonders why seniors would support the Con's - education, support of the sciences and performing arts, etc., etc., etc..

There is, of course, the long gun registry (???) and the long form census and what about Afghanistan and the detainee transfer issue.

Then, don't forget 'tough on crime' - could that be the ticket.

Perhaps Graves could break down "social issues" more next time.

It would be very interesting, and à propos, to know just exactly what it is about Harper and the Con's that seniors like and youth's don't like and whether there is any co-relation.

Lloyd MacILquham cicblog.com/comments.html