As the election looms, I wanted to take a moment to reflect on the 2008 Canadian election and let you know what I thought were the top best/worst moments for me.  Please post yours below as well – I would appreciate your thoughts.

The best moments for me, in no particular order, were the following:

1. This rant , which was nominated ‘best rant of the day’.  Thank you.  I think.
2. Stephen Harper breaking his own law about election timing.  This is a ‘best’ because it shows how low he will stoop to avoid getting caught in an economic meltdown.  Ooops.
3. The bid to have this election called illegal.  Good luck.
4. Minority governments.  They prove that democracy does work.  Unless you want a dictatorship.
5. Economic havoc.  Yes, in a sick sadistic kind of way, because it proved that Harper can flip and flop just like the rest of us.  Stay the course, my ass.  Also, when a recession or depression comes, he will be holding the reins of the worst economic situation in 70 years.  It ruined Bennett and it will ruin Harper.
6. Elizabeth May being part of the debate (singular – see worst moments below).
7. Jack Layton’s bid for PM.  I think he might actually have a chance if we wade through the fear-mongering by the Liberals.
8. Best quote:  "Laissez-faire, I don’t care", which goes to Dion.
9. The Internet.  However, we have to sooooo much better the next time around to ensure that the Conservatives are humiliated at every term.  I’d do it, but I’m not creative enough.  Special kudos to the Department of Culture .
10. rabble.ca election coverage :  best on the PLANET.  Good job.  Just a small example of #9.
11. Lack of (serious) coverage of the judgement related to the Cadman tapes.  Harper broke the law, right?  Where’s the RCMP?  Why are the other parties not jumping all over this?

The worst moments, again in no order:

1. Defense budgets.  Stephen Harper has made a very silent pledge to spend nearly $500 billion on his cronies in the defense industry, leaving taxpayers footing the bill.  When we won’t even have a war in a little more than two years.  What the hell is all the money for, Steve?
2. Listeriosis proves that private-sector management of food is not a good idea.  I’m sure the 20-30 families affected by this tragedy have lots to thank you for this weekend, Steve.
3. Canadian democracy and the mockery that our leaders and media make of it.  I believe that we will have a democracy when you vote for something and not against something.  I also feel that we will not live in a democracy until the progressive parties talk coalition and we have proportional representation as the first bill in the new House of Commons.
4. Strategic voting.  I have come to have little faith in this tactic.  However, if you really want to support Liberals (that have lied their way to office many, many times), please do so.
5. Scare mongering.  Not once did Stephen Harper pull out actual numbers that would justify his threats against Dion, at least that I ever heard.  And not once did Dion actually take a moment to describe in layman’s terms that the Green Shift would result in a 3-4 cent increase at the gas pump.
6. The sweater vest ads.  Truly sickening because they shows utter contempt for the intelligence of the average Canadian.
7. The pooping puffin.  Harper’s marketing team is going to start selling us the next war (probably Iran) and this is the best stuff they can come up with.  What’s next?  Online boxing with Ahmadinejad?
8. Last-minute shows of commitment.  Stephen Harper’s shameless bid to shore up votes in Windsor by plopping a few million into an assembly plant.  Way to prop up Ontario, Steve!
9. Stephen Harper suggesting this is a great time to buy into the market.  With what?  Chairs that I was going to use for firewood?  Rugs that I use for blankets?
10. Stephen Harper leaking that there would likely be a cut in interest rates.  At least twelve hours before the fact.  Shame.
11. Election coverage.  Mainstream media sucks and we need a completely different way of doing things when the next election occurs.
12. Stephen Harper muzzling all of his candidates .  If this is how they treat their candidates during an election, imagine how they’ll treat us with a majority.

Also, as the campaign progressed, I learned a lot about what might happen if Stephen Harper became the leader of a majority Conservative government.  Here are just a few thoughts:

1. A Stephen Harper majority would mean more financial disaster because banks would have merged or been gobbled up by foreign companies, leaving more toxic crap behind than a bitumen plant in Northern Alberta.
2. Other Canadian institutions (the CMHC, the CBC, the AECL etc) would all go on the chopping block in order to finance ridiculous tax cut programs for corporations.
3. Many, many deaths from listeriosis and other food-related outbreaks as inspections are privatized.
4. A Stephen Harper majority would have been a severe blow to human rights.  Everywhere.  No more same-sex marriages.  No more abortions (you must breed now, whether you like it or not!).  No more rights for under-age criminals with minor transgressions.  Welcome to Guantanamo, folks!
5. More and more severe slashing of corporate taxes and massive accumulation of debt, generating inflation and an unstable financial environment.
6. More support for carbon-based industries then ever before.
7. The complete deletion of any programs related to the environment.
8. Two-year mandatory work-terms in the Tar Sands!!

OK … so maybe the last one might be a little extreme, so I’ll back off, lest I give Conservatives any ideas.

And yes, several of the last set of comments justify some of the scare-mongering.  Vote with your conscience tomorrow and be proud to be a Canadian!!