5 Government Programs that Backfired

[octothorp]

I'd say the native treaty settlements were one of the worst government programs ever. Not that they were a bad idea, just that they were poorly done, vague, and designed to exploit, and then used a platform for one human rights violation after another (the forced schooling and religious conversion, eugenics, etc.) all of which we're now paying for as a country.

[burn_baby_burn]

Originally Posted by HOZ

What exactly did Canada fight for in WWI?

Oh, I don't know. Maybe stopping Germany from conquering France which would have shifted the balance of power in Europe and the world.

[Resolute 14]

Originally Posted by Phaneuf3

It did exactly what it was designed to do. For this reason it would be tough to say it "backfired". It screwed over Alberta completely but that's what they wanted in order to save the east and buy support.

The damage it did to national unity and the economy would be hard to state as anything other than the plan backfiring.

[Phaneuf3]

Originally Posted by Resolute 14

The damage it did to national unity and the economy would be hard to state as anything other than the plan backfiring.

I can't imagine they didn't see it coming and decided it was worth it unless they were far more inept than I give them credit for.

[mikey_the_redneck]

The gun registry..................stupidest idea ever!

[MrMastodonFarm]

I'd add SkyNet to this list. Yes, the automation of most government programs seemed like a great idea at the time, but it's been a gong show ever since. Once that system became self aware we've had nothing but trouble since.

[Resolute 14]

Originally Posted by Phaneuf3

I can't imagine they didn't see it coming and decided it was worth it unless they were far more inept than I give them credit for.

I think it was obvious a recession was coming, but Trudeau hastened it with a terrible plan to sell out a major region of this country to prop up another region.

Ironically, as such a federalist zealot, he did more to divide this nation than anyone else in Canadian history. The NEP, by design or by incompetence, played a major role in those divisions.

[HOZ]

Originally Posted by rubecube

You can add Japanese internment during WWII to that list.

Well....it isn't about bad policy...it is policy that backfired badly. Ex. Charlottetown accord set the table for the Conservatives to drop from the largest majority in history to 2 seats.

Japanese interment did what, in regards to backfiring?

[Thunderball]

Originally Posted by burn_baby_burn

Oh, I don't know. Maybe stopping Germany from conquering France which would have shifted the balance of power in Europe and the world.

Yes, but WWI was really just a glorified imperial pissing match that was building up since 1870. No one was "evil" in World War I.

One that cost millions of soldiers, billions of dollars, created (directly or indirectly depending on view) two of the most vicious regimes in human history (Nazi Germany and Communist Russia), and upset the balance of power of Europe by attempting to snuff out two major powers (Germany and Austria-Hungary), which also required another war.

Canada had no business there, and Britain showed their gratefulness by making Canadian soliders cannon fodder. The good thing is we learned to stop being Britain's mindless terrier.

[Dartem]

Originally Posted by Thunderball

Canada had no business there,

Good to see you are so short sighted. Please feel free to leave the country anytime Thanks.

[Resolute 14]

Originally Posted by Dartem

Good to see you are so short sighted. Please feel free to leave the country anytime Thanks.

I wonder what is more shortsighted... having an opinion, or being intolerant of other opinions?

[GGG]

Originally Posted by Resolute 14

I wonder what Canada's bottom five would be?

The NEP
The Gun Registry
Conscription crisis
GST
Cancelling the Avro Arrow?
Building of the CPR and the Pacific Scandal?

I can't believe you put GST on the list. The GST is one reason we have a balanced budget and not a bankrupt nation heading into the current fiscal Crisis.

It was put in at the perfect time as well. A parting gift from a PM that was going down anyways so instead of thinking about getting re-elected he created a tax that would cost any party an election.

In fact the GST was so successful consecutive liberal governments campaigned on getting rid of it and the used the revenues to balance the budget.

The GST was one of the best political decisions recently.

[Thunderball]

Originally Posted by Dartem

Good to see you are so short sighted. Please feel free to leave the country anytime Thanks.

Thanks for the stupid comment. Since you clearly need an education, here it goes.

Canada was a new nation of 7.2 million, who were thrust both into the war itself, and then into the front lines as cannon fodder (alongside other colonials) in an imperial conflict. Didn't you ever wonder why our casualties were so much higher in WW1 than WW2? 67,000 deaths in WW1 v. 45,300 in WW2. Which was the real mercy mission, and ironically, the first time Canada chose to go to war on its own accord.

Most importantly, we lost thousands of brave young men to settle a 40 year old argument between monarchs. This was no mercy mission... this was jumping to the defense of an ungrateful "master," whose alliances dragged them into conflict too. Gavrilo Princip of Bosnian Serb descent (Britain's Ally) assasinated Archduke Ferdinand of Austria (Germany's ally). A war that had no real winner or loser, no real factor of right or wrong beyond essentially a local dispute within Austria-Hungary, but its botched ending thrust the surrendering party into such despair, created one of the most vicious dictators in history (and arguably two). It took losing almost an entire generation of men for Canada to realize Britain didn't have our best interests in mind, and lead to clawing back powers, namely foreign affairs and a top judiciary.

Never did I take anything away from veterans. All I said was World War 1/Versailles belong as one of the greatest governmental blunders, and something that a small, new nation like Canada, on the other side of the Atlantic, had no business being a part of... let alone being forced into.

If the average Canadian proves to be as ignorant as you, which I doubt, I'll gladly be the first out the door.

[Dartem]

Originally Posted by Thunderball

, I'll gladly be the first out the door.

Please do.

[Thunderball]

Originally Posted by Dartem

Please do.

Wow... sure got me. Such brilliance.

Maybe someone with something intelligent to say wants to start posting.

[rubecube]

Can't believe the League of Nations isn't on that list.

[Locke]

Originally Posted by MrMastodonFarm

I'd add SkyNet to this list. Yes, the automation of most government programs seemed like a great idea at the time, but it's been a gong show ever since. Once that system became self aware we've had nothing but trouble since.

Goddamn Skynet. My Roomba has been an insufferable prick ever since.