A controversial take I don't think should be controversial

Landed immigrants, foreign students of age and permanently residents, basically anyone who is going to be here long term should be able to vote.

Why? Because they contribute to the economy and the future of the country and the politicians get huge amounts of control over their future. So I believe they should get a say.

You don't have to be a citizen for the government to have huge amounts of control over your daily life, so you should not have to be a citizen to vote. Period.

You don't have a democracy if not every person impacted by the vote gets a say.

I also would lower the voting age to 16 since you don't have to be 18 to enter the workforce and contribute. And I don't think there is any magical wisdom that happens between 16 to 18.

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fanuc2013 · 51-55, F

Then why don't these people become citizens? I personally know people that couldn't wait to take th citizenship test, and did it as soon as they were eligble!

whowasthatmaskedman · 70-79, M

@fanuc2013 The US citizenship test is not easy. Not convenient and not cheap. It takes time and money many poorer working folk just dont have.. I am prepared to bet that is native born Americans had to go through it, many of them wouldnt bother either..And many of them already speak the language, more or less..😷

PicturesOfABetterTomorrow · 41-45, M

@fanuc2013 It speaks to the lack of education and disinterest in your own country that you think it is that easy.

And why do you expect everyone to give up their citizenship? The USA is nothing special. It is a country like any other patch of dirt.

Probably because you are from the only country that financially punishes their citizens for renouncing their citizenship.

Why do you think it is ok to live in a country that is not a real democracy and doesn't have real rights?

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PicturesOfABetterTomorrow · 41-45, M

@whowasthatmaskedman Not just the US. A friend of mine has been trying to become Canadian for a decade.

And she had every advantage. White upper middle class from the EU via France and with 3 university degrees.

whowasthatmaskedman · 70-79, M

@PicturesOfABetterTomorrow I agree. The current global situation has saturated the world with refugees, suffocating demand. If you have a required skill, like engineering or Nursing, you can be fast tracked in many places. Or "investing" by bringing funds into the country often helps. But migration is more challenging than it used to be..😷

PicturesOfABetterTomorrow · 41-45, M

@whowasthatmaskedman Not even then. My friend spent some of those years just fighting the government to recognize one of their university degrees. And she was educated in France, Germany, and the USA. Not some backwater with known degree mills either. She is multilingual and works as a high school teacher yet is still stuck in the bureaucratic bullushit since about 2014.

whowasthatmaskedman · 70-79, M

@PicturesOfABetterTomorrow Yes. And pressure also comes from the other end. In an economic downturn, or when housing is in short supply, driving prices up. "The Migrant" is an obvious target..Right now is a perfect storm in many countries and politicians are playing that tune..😷

PicturesOfABetterTomorrow · 41-45, M

@whowasthatmaskedman Oh agreed. Mark Carney has decided to try and "solve" the housing crisis by basically making it impossible for foreign students to stay or come in larger numbers. This has already had unintended consequences by forcing trade schools and technical colleges to shutter their doors.

Also it seems they are cutting support of immigrants making it harder to assimilate once they get here to discourage them from sticking around long term.

Then he doesn't actually have to address housing or real estate speculation at all.

It is sad but entirely predictable from someone who comes from the elite like that.

Roundandroundwego · 61-69

@PicturesOfABetterTomorrow in Hawaii foreign grad students have their own housing and it expanded as needed for decades, still does. Same in Austin, University of Texas. And at Hawaii Pacific University.

whowasthatmaskedman · 70-79, M

@PicturesOfABetterTomorrow I read those measures as big mistakes. My own country's education sector thrives on international students from our region. They pay full fees, rather than the subsidized rated Australian students pay, so they are an income stream. The Universities themselves even build and provide accommodation and support services and local real estate also feeds on the market. And cherrypicking the best and brightest graduates to remain in the country is seen as a bonus.😷

PicturesOfABetterTomorrow · 41-45, M

@Roundandroundwego Sadly since in Canada like most of the west housing is a for profit commodity construction companies are only building high dollar condos. Least amount of work and maximizes profits. The end result is students compete with real estate speculators or live 6 to a 3 bedroom house 2 hours out of the GTA.

PicturesOfABetterTomorrow · 41-45, M

@whowasthatmaskedman Yeah. It is already blowing up in their faces.

PicturesOfABetterTomorrow · 41-45, M

@whowasthatmaskedman Provinces like here in Manitoba that actually need more students and more educated workers feel like we are being undermined by our own federal government.

whowasthatmaskedman · 70-79, M

@PicturesOfABetterTomorrow Housing is a difficult one. Between the disruption of Covid construction, the supply chain disruptions after. The economic downturn of fragile economies all over, and of course the global trend to corporate buy ups of real estate as an investment/store of value/hedge against recession, its a boom for those with. But a disaster for those trying to buy. On a personal note it took me over 30 years for my home to reach $1Million in value. At this rate my second million is just around the corner for doing nothing.😷

whowasthatmaskedman · 70-79, M

@PicturesOfABetterTomorrow Yes. A stark reminder that in a large, diverse country, it is hard to get every decision right for everyone.. From the outside your PM looks great. But he does need to get voted for next election. Its a sad fact that less populated areas can take second place.😷