The Canadian Liberal Party

[CaptainCrunch]

So to be fair and unbiased, I decided to subscribe to the Liberal Party of Canada's website so I can get instantly updated. I guess the election retoric has begun as I received this letter today as well as a desparate request for a donation to fight the evil conservatives, who they feel are going to attack the Liberals on crime without justification, while pursuing a agenda more akin to the U.S. conservatives.

I find it ironic that they accuse Harper of fearmongering, while throwing in some fear mongering of thier own.

Anyways here's your letter

Our Canada is not about fear.
It?s about responsible citizenry, and that?s why we?re still one of the safest countries in the world to live. (It?s a reputation we hold worldwide, and one of which we are justifiably proud.) But Stephen Harper would have us think that criminal activity is increasing in both frequency and severity, when in fact crime has dropped 11% since the Liberal Party took office in 1993. You can expect to hear a lot of fear-mongering from Stephen Harper and his Conservative underlings in the months to come. They?ve taken that tactic straight from the playbook of conservatives in the US.

The Liberal Party doesn?t believe in fear-mongering, but it does believe in prevention and strong law enforcement, particularly when it comes to crimes involving firearms. Canada now has more mandatory minimum sentences for gun-related crimes of all types.

With your support, the Liberal Party can continue to ensure that we?re addressing the issue of crime prevention and law enforcement through measures such as the National Crime Prevention Strategy, helping communities fight illegal activity at the local level, and tougher anti-gang legislation.

We need your support to make that happen. We?re in for a tough fight during the next election, and every dollar will count. With your help, we can ensure that the record is kept straight on who?s really protecting our communities. Even a $20 donation can make a difference. Give today.


Steven MacKinnon
National Director
Liberal Party of Canada

[ken0042]

With all of those question marks in the middle of the letter, it seems like they aren't sure of what they are saying.

[RougeUnderoos]

The most glaring error I can see in that letter is the line "we are in for a tough fight in the next election". :boh:

Booo! Hisssss! BOooo!

Seriously though, isn't that just a typical call for more money? I'd be interested (maybe even interested enough to do it) to see what the other side mails out. Probably pretty much the same, just reversed.

[CaptainCrunch]

I'll let you know when I get it, I'm also getting these from the seperatists as well, and if I understood french I'd subscribe to the bloc

[looooob]

Originally posted by RougeUnderoos@Oct 14 2005, 02:19 PM

Seriously though, isn't that just a typical call for more money? I'd be interested (maybe even interested enough to do it) to see what the other side mails out. Probably pretty much the same, just reversed.

I think that's fair to say....as a favour to a friend (long story) I found myself on the receiving end of Conservative/Alliance mailing list for about a year...

pretty similar fare

I'm sure if you read either the Liberal one as a devoted Liberal voter or the Conservative one as a devoted Conservative voter you would be pumping your fist in the air cheering the whole time

but as someone who is, lets say, less committed to either side, both end up reading a little goofy

[RougeUnderoos]

Not that I'm ever going to vote for the Liberals, but they do make a point in that letter...

The continued increase in many crime indicators, and the fact that the overall crime rate has not decreased with the Liberals in power, has heightened cause for concern. We no longer live in a country where we can sleep with the doors unlocked as we had twenty years ago.

http://www.conservative.ca/EN/backgrounder/

How many people didn't lock their doors in 1985 but do now?

I'm pretty sure that the crime rate has gone down in both Canada and the US. Later on that same page it even says "the crime rate went down 1% last year, but the murder rate went up". Kind of confusing.

"Crime Task Force" gets it's own tab on the left hand side along with other issues like "The Leader" "The Party" "Press Releases".

Fearmongering or not, it looks to me like "get tough on crime" is going to be a big part of their platform.

[Cowperson]

I find it ironic that they accuse Harper of fearmongering, while throwing in some fear mongering of thier own.

All sides fearmonger.

All sides accuse the other side of fearmongering, attempting to marginalize them.

All sides accuse the other side of controlling the media, another level of fearmongering, an attempt to disqualify the larger message in the minds of the public, thereby leaving their own in focus.

Since they're all guilty, I would simply place it into the category of "tactics" and watch the grovelling with open amusement.

"Give us money or those other guys will kill your kids, rape your wife and leave you penniless and on the street with or without your God."

I've never written a cheque to any political party and doubt I ever will . . . . .

Fearmongering or not, it looks to me like "get tough on crime" is going to be a big part of their platform.

Does this mean they weren't tough on crime in the first 12 years or so?

Cowperson

[BlackEleven]

With your support, the Liberal Party can continue to ensure that we?re addressing the issue of crime prevention and law enforcement through measures such as the National Crime Prevention Strategy, helping communities fight illegal activity at the local level, and tougher anti-gang legislation.

So they're saying they have effective crime prevention now, but yet want to get tougher legislation? If everything is working fine the way it is, why do that?

I think they're the ones stealing a play out of the US Conservatives' playbook. "Getting tough on crime" is typically a conservative view.

[Antithesis]

Originally posted by RougeUnderoos@Oct 14 2005, 01:33 PM
I'm pretty sure that the crime rate has gone down in both Canada and the US. Later on that same page it even says "the crime rate went down 1% last year, but the murder rate went up". Kind of confusing.

The two aren't mutually exclusive; the crime rate is made up of several different indicators which could have all gone down, while the murder rate increased. Overall, it could result in the so-called crime rate reducing.

[RougeUnderoos]

Originally posted by Antithesis@Oct 14 2005, 04:02 PM
The two aren't mutually exclusive; the crime rate is made up of several different indicators which could have all gone down, while the murder rate increased. Overall, it could result in the so-called crime rate reducing.

Yeah I know that. I was pointing out that in one paragraph they say "the crime rate hasn't gone down under the Liberals" and then say "the crime rate went down last year by 1%".

It's like me saying "I never cheat on my wife, I only get a hooker once a year".

Not exactly an effective way to get a positive message across.

[Mike F]

Originally posted by RougeUnderoos@Oct 14 2005, 04:10 PM
Yeah I know that. I was pointing out that in one paragraph they say "the crime rate hasn't gone down under the Liberals" and then say "the crime rate went down last year by 1%".

It's like me saying "I never cheat on my wife, I only get a hooker once a year".

Not exactly an effective way to get a positive message across.

Well, one way to reconcile the points would be if they were saying that the crime rate fell marginally last year, however it's no lower now than it was when the Liberals took power.

Unfortunately for the Conservatives though, that's not true:

"Police reported about 2.6 million offences in 2004, resulting in a crime rate that was 12% lower than a decade ago"

[peter12]

Originally posted by Mike F@Oct 14 2005, 05:23 PM
Well, one way to reconcile the points would be if they were saying that the crime rate fell marginally last year, however it's no lower now than it was when the Liberals took power.

Unfortunately for the Conservatives though, that's not true:

"Police reported about 2.6 million offences in 2004, resulting in a crime rate that was 12% lower than a decade ago"

My question is... what the hell does the Federal government really have to do with lowering crime rates?

[Cowperson]

Originally posted by peter12@Oct 14 2005, 04:35 PM
My question is... what the hell does the Federal government really have to do with lowering crime rates?

Everything . . . . . if the crime rate goes down.

Cowperson

[Mike F]

Originally posted by peter12@Oct 14 2005, 04:35 PM
My question is... what the hell does the Federal government really have to do with lowering crime rates?

Things like police funding, funding for community programs, law reform, etc. are purported to influence the crime rate.

However most Consevatives will tell you that the major reason is because so many criminals got positions in the Liberal government.

(^^^^ Pre-emptive strike -- All your weapons of mass destruction belong to me)

[Resolute 14]

The Liberal Party doesn?t believe in fear-mongering

This might be the single most hypocritical statement in the history of humanity.

Seriously.

"The Conservatives are going to destroy health care."
"The Conservatives are going to take away a womans right to an abortion."
"The Canadian Alliance is made up of holocaust deniers, prominent bigots and racists."
"The Conservatives have a hidden agenda."

[Azure]

Originally posted by Mike F@Oct 14 2005, 05:38 PM
Things like police funding, funding for community programs, law reform, etc. are purported to influence the crime rate.

However most Consevatives will tell you that the major reason is because so many criminals got positions in the Liberal government.

(^^^^ Pre-emptive strike -- All your weapons of mass destruction belong to me)

2 billion dollar Gun Registry's.....