Friday, July 15, 2011

On innumeracy

Yes, we know that math isn't Deficit Jim Flaherty's forte. But could it be that he's still less numerically challenged than the rest of his cabinet colleagues? Let's check in with someone who's supposed to be one of the Cons' brightest lights...
"We don't obviously want to over-read this. People's political opinions change based on circumstances and from election to election, but fundamentally I think what we see is the development of a mainstream conservative consensus among most Canadian voters," Kenney said.
Of course, it could be that the Cons have been provided with an internal set of election results in which their Glorious Leader was elected with 110% of the vote (following a shift to a presidential system to ensure that his name would appear on every ballot). But if Kenney can't tell the difference between a consensus mandate from "most" voters and the actual election results in which the Cons' support was under 40% following their declaration that a vote for anybody else was a vote for a united set of opposing values...well, then his math skills are on par with his party's typical level of competence.

11 comments:

  1. Well, the development of a mainstream conservative consensus among the 24% of eligible Canadian voters who voted for them in May at any rate.

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  2. There are 308 groups of voters in Canada. The majority of them voted for the Conservatives over any other party. This is only difficult for liberals and only when they loose.

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  3. What percentage of eligible voters for the NDP again?

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  4. jurist7:50 a.m.

    And how many NDP MPs are claiming that "most" voters supported them as a matter of "consensus"? No, an artificial majority doesn't entitle the Cons to rewrite the basic rules of math.

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  5. jurist7:53 a.m.

    Of course, even among that group barely half voted based on conservatism. But that's a critique for another day.

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  6. Pete,

    You don't need a majority of votes in any riding. Just the largest single bloc of voters. You can be outnumbered by the combined opposition votes in every single riding and still get a majority government.

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  7. Wow. Thanks Thwap. I had no idea.

    Actually, maybe you should read what I wrote again. This time do it a little slower.

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  8. Um. That wasn't my question. Why don't you answer my question?

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  9. jurist9:04 a.m.

    That would be because absent the connection I drew in the reply, it has absolutely nothing to do with the subject at hand.

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  10. Please sir. We are focused on whining right now. There will be no deviating from that. We are too busy for such nonsense as silly things like perspective. LOL.

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  11. Please sir. We are focused on whining right now. There will be no deviating from that. We are too busy for such nonsense and silly things like perspective. LOL.

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