2011 Canadian Election Thread

[MarchHare]

As I stated, I don't have an issue with proroguing Parliament because it allowed the Conservatives to block a coalition that would have given the Bloc veto power.

Preventing a coalition was the reason Harper prorogued Parliament the first time (Dec 2008). What's your excuse for the second time (Jan 2010) he did it?

[Bertuzzied]

Originally Posted by MarchHare

Preventing a coalition was the reason Harper prorogued Parliament the first time (Dec 2008). What's your excuse for the second time (Jan 2010) he did it?

He tried to run the football out of the end zone, he really really tried. But he got tackled behind the goal line.

[V]

Originally Posted by Slava

Firstly the 2nd prorogation was because the CPC wanted to slience a whistleblower about the Afghan detainee issue. I fail to see what that has to do with a coalition save for the fact that it would've made the CPC look bad?

Second the reason that the coalition talk is a red herring is because (A) the majority of voters don't seem to care (B) it detracts from talking about the real issues that they should be addressing.

Prorogation is as valid of a mechanic of our parliamentary system as a coalition.

Prorogation is every bit as much of a red herring because (A) the majority of voters don't seem to care and (B) it detracts from talking about the real issues that they should be addressing.

The comedy of it all comes when an undecided voter seems to put some weight behind one while completely ignoring the other.

[VladtheImpaler]

Originally Posted by MarchHare

Preventing a coalition was the reason Harper prorogued Parliament the first time (Dec 2008). What's your excuse for the second time (Jan 2010) he did it?

And? It's not a "good thing". So what am I supposed to do? I can't bring myself to vote for the Lizard, the Thief or the Extortionist.

[Bertuzzied]

Originally Posted by VladtheImpaler

And? It's not a "good thing". So what am I supposed to do? I can't bring myself to vote for the Lizard, the Thief or the Extortionist.

So you choose the Boogie Woogie Man?

Calgarians mindlessly voting for an idiot like Anders is prob the worst thing they can do. Unless that one seat costs the CPC a majority, why not vote in another party?

Anders is damn useless and imagine what the parties would be courting us with in every election. At least get rid of damn Anders.

[VladtheImpaler]

Originally Posted by Bertuzzied

So you choose the Boogie Woogie Man?

Calgarians mindlessly voting for an idiot like Anders is prob the worst thing they can do. Unless that one seat costs the CPC a majority, why not vote in another party?

Anders is damn useless and imagine what the parties would be courting us with in every election. At least get rid of damn Anders.

Anders is irrelevant and does not affect me in any way. Canada is run from the PMO - all the rest are just peons. Anyhow, Harper is my MP, not Anders.

[evman150]

Originally Posted by VladtheImpaler

Canada is run from the PMO - all the rest are just peons. Anyhow, Harper is my MP, not Anders.

Believe it or not, that's not how it's supposed to work.

[VladtheImpaler]

Originally Posted by evman150

Believe it or not, that's not how it's supposed to work.

Oh yeah, when is the last time PMO didn't run the country? Presumably, some time before I landed in Canada in 1980...

[Calgaryborn]

Originally Posted by troutman

If Socialism is bad, why are the Scandinavian countries rated the best places to live?
http://answers.yahoo.com/question/in...6132725AAoGdNo

Why must we assume an NDP government would lead to the apocalypse? I'm not voting NDP, but why are we so afraid, when socialist governments seem to work so well in other countries?

Or, is Scandinavian socialism a myth?

http://mises.org/Community/forums/t/5616.aspx

http://www.brusselsjournal.com/node/510

I would question who is rating these countries as best and what are their values? For instance I've heard of problems folks have had in both Germany and Holland because they wanted to home school their children. Also, at least in Norway's case a low population and high off shore oil revenues have allowed them to maintain a huge safety net. That oil revenue is going to shrink in the next few years as they use up their supply.

[kirant]

Originally Posted by evman150

Believe it or not, that's not how it's supposed to work.

Unfortunately, it does run that way. And I don't think it could be fixed without massive alterations to the government.

[Slava]

Originally Posted by V

Prorogation is as valid of a mechanic of our parliamentary system as a coalition.

Prorogation is every bit as much of a red herring because (A) the majority of voters don't seem to care and (B) it detracts from talking about the real issues that they should be addressing.

The comedy of it all comes when an undecided voter seems to put some weight behind one while completely ignoring the other.

I guess I don't have a problem with a coalition because its the politicians doing their job, even in the case of parties I didn't vote for. I can't say the same about prorogation though. That was used entirely to preserve power and keep information from becoming public.

[rubecube]

Originally Posted by Calgaryborn

I would question who is rating these countries as best and what are their values? For instance I've heard of problems folks have had in both Germany and Holland because they wanted to home school their children.

Maybe because home schooling your kids is freaking ######ed.

[Calgaryborn]

Originally Posted by rubecube

Maybe because home schooling your kids is freaking ######ed.

Well at least you didn't call them the "State's kids". But I suppose you would support the State taking away the kids if the parents don't toll the line.

[V]

Originally Posted by Slava

I guess I don't have a problem with a coalition because its the politicians doing their job, even in the case of parties I didn't vote for. I can't say the same about prorogation though. That was used entirely to preserve power and keep information from becoming public.

It's as valid as a coalition and has no taint associated with it whatsoever. It doesn't matter if you like the tactic or not, it doesn't belong anywhere near a list of ethically questionable conduct.

Regardless, prorogation is merely a delay tactic. In itself it can't keep information from becoming public and it can't preserve power. It has no inherent power in and of itself.

I actually agree with you that the coalition talk is nonsense, and it's comical when folks like Ark pretend that the Cons weren't going down the same path themselves earlier. But at least guys like Ark and t99 don't pretend to be non-partisan when they obviously are.

I may as well just come out and explain that I'm voting for none of the major parties. At one time I was a Con supporter, but when they turned their back on the religious voters I turned my back on them.

[Cowboy89]

Originally Posted by rubecube

Maybe because home schooling your kids is freaking ######ed.

Hey, as long as kids have to live up to standardized curriculum (Including evolution) in order to be bestowed a high school diploma by the state, then who cares where they got their education? If you believe in freedom, you should support people's ability to choose education alternatives for their children.

I disagree with calgaryborn and wouldn't do that for my own kids some day, but he certainly should have the freedom to home-school his kids at his own expense. It only goes offside for me if he wants to teach creationism in place of evolution and still expect his kids to get a high school diploma.

Part of being socially Liberal is allowing social conservatives to live free in the lives they wish to lead too!

[Shazam]

Lay-ton doesn't understand what a competitive market is.

Lay-ton thinks that gas prices should be regulated.

Welcome to your new paradise, komrade!

[evman150]

Originally Posted by Cowboy89

If you believe in freedom, you should support people's ability to choose education alternatives for their children.

Nice.

If you believe in freedom, you should support people's ability to run red lights at will.

DON'T LET THE STATE INTERFERE ON MY FREEDOMS

[Cowboy89]

Originally Posted by evman150

Nice.

If you believe in freedom, you should support people's ability to run red lights at will.

DON'T LET THE STATE INTERFERE ON MY FREEDOMS

Where does home educating kids to provincial standards impact other people in a harmful way? You're example is completely out to lunch.

[FLAMESRULE]

Originally Posted by V

I may as well just come out and explain that I'm voting for none of the major parties. At one time I was a Con supporter, but when they turned their back on the religious voters I turned my back on them.

And the second the Conservatives bring religion back into politics is the second the Conservatives lose my vote. I'd be willing to say that they would lose A LOT more support if they bring overt religious ideology into the political arena than if they leave it where it belongs (the 4 walls of your house).

[peter12]

evman150 is more ignorant than CalgaryBorn, I've decided. Or maybe just more irritating.

I would love to hear, by the way, how our system is supposed to work without disposing the facts through normative moralism.