But I'm a little worried about basic personal rights and freedoms in my country right now.
I keep writing and deleting blog posts this past week, because I'm practically incoherent with rage over what's been going on. This is my 3rd attempt tonight. Seriously, if you want better writing, follow me on Twitter because I re-tweet much smarter, more in-depth reports and analysis than I can actually write. But here are a few basic things I want to review, as I'm also incoherent over once again, how little seems to be understood by those who are about to send another 308 representatives to the House of Commons of Canada.
1. The Government of Canada was defeated on a non-confidence vote having been found to be in Contempt of Parliament. This had nothing to do with a budget, or some sort of sinister coalition plot, despite the apparently delusional continued assertions of our outgoing Prime Minister and his pals. This is a HUGE unprecedented occurrence in all the history of all the Parliaments of the world. Essentially, the people of Canada, through their elected Members of Parliament, fired their (unelected! look it up) Government for obstructing the country's business. If the Government had been a person, this could have led to criminal charges and being barred from running for office again. Unfortunately the finding against a collective body cannot translate that way.
2. An election is therefore NECESSARY, as it was the conclusion of those we previously elected that they could no longer do their work, as the Government was obstructing it. Effectively, Parliament resigned by firing the Government. There is no "winner" in this scenario. Except possibly the Canadian electorate, who have the opportunity to make better choices (I can dream, right?)
Now, on to what's going on:
3. One of the 19 federal political parties is presently staging a campaign of fear that this election is going to ruin us, our economy, our fragile social fabric, and to avoid the implosion of the entire country our ONLY CHOICE is to return them (the ones who were just fired for obstructing the business of Parliament, remember) to office. Review point 1 above - if a single person had been found in contempt - it could be in jail by now.
4. That party is continuing its pattern of behaviour, telling outright lies (anything with the word "coalition"), covering up that criminals have been working for it, throwing students out of rallies (see also "G20"), keeping journalists muzzled, and still refusing to answer to the Canadian people for its past and intended actions. It seems this is an attempt to keep us scared enough to acquiesce. All the while trying to demonize the other parties with attack ads and US Republican-styled propaganda. (read the fine print at the bottom of that page).
5. Admittedly, and alarmingly, it seems that few if any of the other parties really have the coherent support to make sure this does not happen all over again. There is a bit of hope coming up related to one, but I'm not taking it to the bank yet.
What do we do about this?
6. EDUCATE YOURSELVES about what is really going on. It is not hard in this day and age. All the party platforms are or will soon be available on line. Look at what they are and aren't talking about. Follow several media outlets, and read more than just the party press releases. For many of us, it wouldn't hurt to review the basics of Canadian Parliamentary Democracy. ust a reminder: You don't vote for the PM and actually, you don't vote for the party, either. Return to my 2008 ranting during the so-called "coalition crisis". Or find a 10th grader and borrow their civics text. Get on Twitter. Find some funny pundits to follow, but then read the sources they point you to.
7. A bit of layperson's advice: Tune out ALL the threats of the dire state and fragility of The Economy. Economic analysts of all stripes have made it clear that the economy will do what it will do, no better or worse than it was going to two weeks ago, after May 2nd. The economy won't give a rat's toot who wins this election, and neither will your weekly budget. The parties all want you to THINK it will, to convince you that only they can offer you security and stability. It's all a lie, so don't buy that from anyone.
8. Instead - look at what the parties offer to the citizenship of Canada to help them move forward to become self-actualized individual citizens in a compassionate collective. What's really important - now, next month, 10 years from now, 20 years? Is it tax breaks? Allowing citizens and journalists of all views to assemble and participate in democratic process? Environmental initiatives? Expanding public pensions? Finding local food? Open and transparent governance? You really need to do some reading here, but fortunately it's not hard.
9. Finally - VOTE. On May 2nd, or on April 22, 23 or 25th. Get out there, armed with your information and understanding, and make a difference in where Canada goes next.
Party Web sites: Check 'em out yourselves.
5 comments:
There are so many things wrong about your statements made above that I could barely manage to finish reading it. You are so blatantly partisan and ridiculously over the top that I'm not surprised you complain about the removal of people from cconservative tapirs becaue you are somen who probably likes yo think of themselves as standing up for free speech but the problem with the Internet these days is that even idiots like you have a say in everything
Hi, Anonymous...
Thanks for stopping by. Did you have any sort of substance to contribute, or just misspelled insults?
Wow, hypocrite much? It wasn't apparent that substance mattered after reading your mindless rant of bogus one sided fact and misdirected anger. But how is this for substance, the people removed from the rally were not removed because the conservatives had someone go and remove them, they were removed by RCMP. It isn't exactly clear if you are a liberal or a socialist so I will just have to handle both. Well, what does it matter which you are they are basically making all the same pledges anyways. Coalition or no coalition it is irrelevant the fact of the matter is that if the conservatives do not get a majority government (which is looking like the most likely outcome) then our parliament is doomed to have a term of indecision and argument where nothing will get done. A conservative minority will end exactly as this last one did. Harper will present a throne speech and a budget and the other three parties will vote it down and the only alternative will be to make the liberals the government which will mean they present their own throne speech and budget, the conservatives vote against the other two will vote for it and the liberals will have a minority government, not a coalition but it might as well be because no one is going to defect and vote along with the conservatives and we will be doomed to a failing economy that was just about out of the disaster and it will be plunged right back in. And it will be all thanks to idiots like you who post things like the above rant that are so ridiculously one sided that if the only source used will inevitably lead to my predicted conclusion. So once again, why should everyone have a say.... That's why I believe in free speech but I also believe in the notwithstanding clause and the reasonable limits clause.
Can you cite some sources, please? We are not going to be doomed to a failing economy based on any outcome of this election. What we may be doomed to is a continuing erosion of of the institutions and processes that have been under attack for the last 5 years by de-funding, autocratic micromangement, and just plain ill behaviour of a government which cannot work coopertively. A functional coaltion would be a great thing for this situation.
Does anyone actually believe that the institutions and process have been under attack? I doubt it. And really? Putting sepratists and wasteful socialists in to positions of power with their head being a guy who was absent for 70% of the HOC votes in recent times, "would be a great thing for this situation". What planet are you from???
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