Political Craziness (for the Canucks)

[mistralwind]

If the opposition parties really cared about the economy and really wanted to work in the spirit of cooperation with the duly-elected PM, they would have at least waited for him to produce his new budget. Mr. Harper has backpeddled immediately on two issues after the opposition raised strong objections namely with cutting subsidies for political parties taken from taxpayers money including the CPC which stood to take the biggest loss thus leaving all parties to fundraise their own money by their respective voters and, Mr. Harper pulled back on his proposition that public service workers not go on strike for a limited time period to ease the demand on the public purse during this global economic crisis. I find Mr. Harper reasonable, fair and capable of cooperation with the opposition. Until such time as Mr. Harper says or does anything so scandulous to warrant booting him and his party out, he has my vote of confidence. The coalition parties may not like our PM personally but i resent them abusing their constitutional right to try to overthrow him at the drop of a hat and wanting to impose on the Canadain people a coalition party no one voted for and never will when the sendentist party is part of the triad.

 

[reallydown]

I'm sure that had Mr. harper not produced a financial statement consisting of such lunacy, they would've waited for him to present a budget. In fact, it was Mr. Harper who triggered the last election. The others were ready to work with him but HE is the one desperate to hang on to power and indeed, to gain more. he did not have to make htis a matter of confidence and yet he did. In fact, Mr. Harper only backtracked when the possibility of the coalition presented itself because he was aware that he would be defeated. Finally, the last time I checked, the Liberals were the ones who took care of the economy. And, Harper has already done too mnay scandalous things to count and against which the "sponsorship scandal" pales in comparison. The only one abusing consitutional rights is Mr. Harper. Given the breakdown of the votes, the coalition would actually have much greater democratic legitimacy. This is why we need to get rid of the first-past-the post electoral system--it simply no longer reflects the will of Canadian voters and therefore creates a democratic deficit.

 

[mistralwind]

Reallydown, we both have are our convictions based on different sources of information and that's fine with me. We can agree to disagree which is what freedom and democracy makes possible for everyone. Hope you can make it to the ballot (along with the better of the odd 60% of those legal age Canadians who didn't vote in October) if the GG grants the Canadian people another general election which according to nation wide polls, the majority of Canadians would prefer over having this separatist-socialist-liberal coalition party take the reigns of power.

correction: in my previous post, "sedentists" should have read seditionists

TLC

 

[reallydown]

Mistralwind, I agree that there's nothing wrong with disagreeing. :) Polls are funny things because it all depends on the sample you use and are easily manipulated. Alas...we could probably go on and on about this. Even though the NDP has some socialist elements I'd hardly call it a full-blown socialist party. As for the separatists, if we had PR, they would never have this many seats.

 

[Auburngirl]

I really think Harper brought this on himself. He should be cooperating with opposition parties in order to govern. He seems to have forgotten that it is because of the support of the Bloc that he was able to govern in the last parliament (they voted in favour of many critical bills). He has more seats than before, there is no reason he should not be able to govern, but he needs to do so with a spirit of cooperation and not be so reckless. Did he really think no one would notice or react to all of the party funding being cut? And the right of public servants to vote?

His job is to keep the confidence of the house, if he can't or doesn't want to do that, it's someone else's turn, if no one can then we have an election. That's the way the system works. In my mind, although I'm not a conservative supporter, he was elected and he should govern. That means not trying to lose the confidence of the house, governing cooperatively, and seeking compromise. He didn't get a majority, and he cannot act as though he did.

 

[reallydown]

I agree Auburngirl...It's not just the party funding though (I'm sure that was part of the reason why the opposition wanted to take over) but they wanted to limit women's right to sue for pay equity, and also ban strike by public service workers. The two latter, combined with the attempt to kill off opposition funding highlights Mr. Harper's dictatorial tendencies...I think the others were perfectly ok with cooparatign with him and trying to make parliament work but he wants his way at all costs...Ultimately, someone has to look after the interests of Canadians and I don't think that Mr. Harper is that person.

 

[Auburngirl]

reallydown, I agree there were many objectionable aspects to that package- I think what did it for the opposition parties was probably the funding cuts though. I am frustrated that there seems to be nothing on the Mercer REport on this, though the Daily Show did a little piece.