Thanks for posing this question. I like your Wal-Mart, Target, etc. analogy. My thoughts on the candidates are that, unfortunately, none stand out far and above the others as an obvious choice for me. I am definitely in the "anybody but Harper" camp, but I am still unsure whom I'll be voting for. I have some issues with all the candidates. Trudeau is clearly inexperienced and I am unsure about his ability as a leader. Other than that I mostly agree with his policies and, as somebody else mentioned, would love to see him elected, perform beyond expectation, and prove all his critics wrong. Mulcair has some solid humanitarian policies and the NDP overall seems to have the best platform (in my personal opinion). I do believe that he isn't against Quebec secession (I think it would do more harm than good for both Canada, as a whole, and Quebec) but that's not a deal-breaker. As for Elizabeth May, I am actually a big fan and I think she performed very well in the debate. She speaks well and knows her stuff. That being said I don't know how the Green Party would handle the economy and that is slightly worrisome. I don't think they have a realistic chance of winning and, as such, haven't developed their fiscal policy enough (to my knowledge). As for Harper, just no. I could get into all the reasons I dislike him as a leader (and as a person, honestly) but it seems unnecessary as others on here share my opinion and to me it seems incredibly obvious why he needs to go. Among many things, he has terrible policy regarding the environment, drugs, sex (prostitution & abortion), corporate taxes, and terrorism. Any other thoughts or insights? For the record, I am a Canadian and am deeply passionate about this upcoming election because I think it is incredibly important that we not allow Harper to continue dragging our country backwards (and to the right).
I mostly agree (especially on the choices - we have three adequate candidates and Harper, who at this point is probably only there symbolically) - though here's what I have to say to answer: Trudeau, we're on the same page - though, as I mentioned, he seems to play the "Son of Trudeau" card very much. As far as his inexperience go, for me it's not a factor because it's ambivalent - on the one hand, since he is inexperienced, he may try new things, and if the federal government needs something right now it's new ideas that work. On the other hand, he may take too much inspiration from his father and other political figures and fail at it, putting us in a bad situation - especially considering how close to Harper's opinions some of his are (most notably the military aspect and the major focus on US-Canada relations). Mulcair DOES have solid policies and such... it's what we don't know that bugs me. It feels like there's some back-end agenda that's going to get pushed or something. And, as you mentioned it, the last thing we need is a Quebec secession for a thousand reasons. May, it is exactly as you say that I think, and I do not think I can add anything to it - except maybe that I would be reluctant because, as you said, if they do not have a good fiscal policy they may try to over-develop and we may end up with a status not unlike China - we keep producing and putting ourselves in a deficit and we'd crash when we'd stop, instead of the slow build we have here. And Harper is Harper - as you said, all that had to be said was said already so let's not beat a dead horse. Though as a side note, I WILL be going in the streets if Harper gets voted back in - because that either means we have a dumbass population or that he's done some shady shit.
(Deeply passionate about it here too - except that it's not to avoid Harper dragging, but anyone. I feel we're on the verge of the catastrophe, as a country, and this elections may be a turning point.)