Thread by @Norlaine

Warren Kinsella (who I won't @ because he blocked me years ago) published his thoughts on how misguided and deluded Canadian women are and why we should listen to him and doubt our own instincts and beliefs.
1/23

In light of this, I was asked to "re-print" something I wrote prior to the 2019 election. So, here we go, updated for 2021: 2/23

Seriously, right-wing dudes. You have to stop this. It is insulting to Canadian women that you imply we vote progressive because Justin Trudeau has nice hair. Or wears cool socks. 3/23

We are not a bunch of adolescent girls voting for the cutest boy to be president of the student council. That's really offensive. We care about policy. We want a government that will offer the things we want for our society. 4/23

We care about our children's future. We want strong environmental policy so our children and grandchildren have a future. The CPC is not offering that. Say what you will about debt going forward, it is irrelevant if the planet is boiling. 5/23

We care about our public health care system. We want that to be in place for our parents, ourselves, for our children and grandchildren, and yes, even for you. You who would like to privatize so people have the "right" to pay for health care or die if they cannot. 6/23

We care about education. The children are the future of our society. Education is not a budget line that can be cut when ideology or political thinking supposes it appropriate. 7/23

School nutrition, good teachers, a sound, evidence-based, modern curriculum, all the aides and supports required, should be of the highest priority, not places to cut spending. This is our f*cking future as a civilization you are talking about. 8/23

We care about our parents and everyone else's parents, being able to receive the care they need when they need it, in a kind and compassionate and caring setting. These people raised us, taught us, fixed our cars and our plumbing and our tonsils. Elder care is important. 9/23

We care about the rights of LGBTQ+ people. They are us. They are our brothers and sisters and children. We demand that they be respected. 10/23

We care about mental health. We care about those suffering from addictions, from trauma, from abuse, from chemical imbalances. Mental health has to receive the same status as physical health going forward. 11/23

We care about women's reproductive autonomy. No one should have to incubate and bear a child they cannot afford, are not ready for, or simply do not want. Women have fought for our rights for generations. We are not prepared to go backward. 12/23

We care about poverty reduction. Many of us are poor. We earn 75% of what men employed in the same fields earn. That is so wrong. And yet, here we are. 2021 and women are still way behind men in earnings. 13/23

Poverty has been reduced by the Liberal government. I see nothing in the CPC platform to address poverty. Perhaps that is because the standard right-wing stance is that people who are poor deserve to be poor because of moral failings. I call BS. 14/ 23

We believe in immigration & helping refugees. Women look at families struggling to take their children out of war zones, out of famine & we see what we would do, if we had to, to save our own children. How can you look at these people & not see humans, desperate to survive? 15/23

We believe in gun control. Because every time the US has a mass shooting we see ourselves, our children and our loved ones, in that situation and our hearts cry out for those mothers who have lost everything. 16/23

We believe in sound economic policy. We work hard for our money, just the same as you, even though we earn less. But austerity, cutting programs for the most vulnerable, is not sound economic policy. 17/23

You need only look at many other countries, including the US, to see that cutting regulations, cutting social services, cutting education, healthcare, environmental laws, destroys people. 18/23

I know I don't speak for all women. But I think I speak for a lot when I say, Justin Trudeau's socks and hair are not what makes us progressive voters. It is because we care about people. It is because we want a better society for our children, everyone's children. 19/23

Right now, it is either the Liberals or the CPC who will win this election. The Liberals are the only progressive party that has a chance of forming government. We are facing an historic challenge about what it is to be Canadian. 20/23

Frankly, from what I have seen (and I have been watching closely), if O'Toole and the CPC win, we are looking at worse than the Harper Government. We are looking at the dissolution of what makes Canada different from the US. 21/23

With the Liberals, we have a chance to retain our national individuality. We can continue to be the country that cares. We can continue to thrive and work towards a better future. For ourselves and our children and grandchildren. 22/23

The CPC can't make that offer. They are fully in the pockets of the GOP/religious right/anti-choice/corporatist/RWNJ agenda. So, tell us again why we should trust you guys and vote CPC? 23/23