Ok, Which hidden agenda issues?

[transplant99]

Originally Posted by Sparks

Agree with all of Winsor Pilates' list.

Also, why does Harper insist on ending his speeches with "God Bless Canada?" (No joke)

Would you rather he wished God to bless some one else instead?

[Regehr 2.0]

Originally Posted by Vulcan

Here's my two cents on the Conservatives religious agenda. If they manage to get their Bible teaching into our science classes we're going to run into some big problems. Most kids have half a brain and will know they are being fed bull shinguard. They won't respect the teachers or the school system. I know when I went to school we had the Lord's prayer everyday and it was fine but when they start to feed the kids lies like the propoganda in the 50's and 60's we rebelled in a big way. Hopefully Harper don't get a majority and or he has enough sense not to be led by the radical right. My other fear is that he will kowtow to the Americans and we can forget about being treated fairly on the Free Trade front. Iraq, holy fata. I don't remember Harper addressing these issues in this campaign.

Should be interesting.

Yeah, I would not like that at all. But I don't see that happening here. In the US Bible Belt (southern US) maybe, but not in Canada ever

[Regehr 2.0]

Originally Posted by Sparks

Agree with all of Winsor Pilates' list.

Also, why does Harper insist on ending his speeches with "God Bless Canada?" (No joke)

I'm not religious at all but I don't have a problem with that

[MarchHare]

Would you rather he wished God to bless some one else instead?

I'd rather he not ask God to bless anyone. Canada is not a theocracy, and the Canadian people are among the most religiously diverse in the world. There's just no reason to add that to his speeches, other than if he's either trying to mimic American presidents or trying to score points with the religious right.

[CaptainCrunch]

Harper ending any speech with God bless Canada is as far away from a theocracy as it gets, if the final decisions of the government were made with an eye towards what god things then you have a theocracy.

At least Harper is willing to end a speech with something that he believes in personally and I actually applaud him for it, but that dosen't make him a religeous zealot.

Sometimes I think we read way to much into a phrase.

[Regehr 2.0]

I was wondering what are people's views on a couple of issues (gay rights, abortion)

Regarding gay marriage, personally I'm neutral on the subject. Harper said he'd like to have a free vote on the issue right? He also said that he didn't think it was a rights issue as gay couples would have the same legal rights as straight couples. So it seems to me that they are just disagreeing about the use of the word "marriage". Well obviously, religious groups would like to keep the traditional definition of marriage. If straight unions were legally recognized as "marriages" and gay unions were recognized as "civil unions" would it really be so bad? I guess some gay couples might view that as discrimination because their unions would be "different"... So wouldn't a solution be for the government to get out of the "marriage" business altogether and just call all marriages "unions"? But I mean for all intents and purposes, people could still call them "marriages". After all, it's just a word right?

Regarding abortion, personally I am pro-choice. Harper said that he wouldn't debate abortion laws if he gets a mandate. I was just wondering, are there any laws regarding the latest an abortion can be performed? Because obviously, it would be wrong to perform an abortion say 7 months into a pregnancy or something.

And I really doubt that Harper has a hidden agenda. If he goes against his word then Canadians can vote him out next election, which might not be too long if the Conservatives get a minority.

[transplant99]

I'd rather he not ask God to bless anyone.

He believes in god...why should he not wish well (god) for anyone?

Canadian people are among the most religiously diverse in the world.

What part of what you just said...makes wishing God be good to his countrymen bad exactly?

There's just no reason to add that to his speeches, other than if he's either trying to mimic American presidents or trying to score points with the religious right.

Right...because the term "god bless" is something new or exclusive to the religious right and American Presidents.

unfreakingbelievable.

[CaramonLS]

Originally Posted by MarchHare

I'd rather he not ask God to bless anyone. Canada is not a theocracy, and the Canadian people are among the most religiously diverse in the world. There's just no reason to add that to his speeches, other than if he's either trying to mimic American presidents or trying to score points with the religious right.

Strange, I don't remember your thread protesting our own national anthem. Is it really that big of a deal using the word? When you goto Flames games, do you refuse to stand up out of protest?

O Canada!
Our home and native land!
True patriot love in all thy sons command.
With glowing hearts we see thee rise,
The True North strong and free!
From far and wide,
O Canada, we stand on guard for thee.
God keep our land glorious and free!
O Canada, we stand on guard for thee.
O Canada, we stand on guard for thee.

[RougeUnderoos]

Originally Posted by Shawnski

Day, like many Western MP's will have very little importance in the new government. If (when) the CPC is elected and has to create a cabinet, the important posts will be spread throughout the country. There are already articles easily found that discuss this. Once again, if THIS is a sticking point to voting CPC, or worrying about certain people in cabinet, then you have not done your homework.

I've done my homework. Stockwell Day is a big wheel in that party and his name is mentioned in every article I've read about Martin's potential Cabinet. Having an obvious moron in the Cabinet is a sticking point.

[transplant99]

Having an obvious moron in the Cabinet is a sticking point

.

The Libs had several of them...what's the pont?

[RougeUnderoos]

Originally Posted by transplant99

.

The Libs had several of them...what's the pont?

Ha ha. Fair enough.

I don't think that anyone in a Liberal cabinet can touch Stockwell on the Stupid Scale though.

[HOZ]

Originally Posted by RougeUnderoos

Ha ha. Fair enough.

I don't think that anyone in a Liberal cabinet can touch Stockwell on the Stupid Scale though.

Disagree. You may hate his beliefs but that doesn't make him stupid.

Never liked the man myself but when it comes to dumbass....he is far from it.

[RougeUnderoos]

Originally Posted by HOZ

Disagree. You may hate his beliefs but that doesn't make him stupid.

Never liked the man myself but when it comes to dumbass....he is far from it.

If a politician shared all my leftie views, had a leftie plan that I agree with and all that but said in a public forum that the earth was flat, I couldn't vote for the guy. I'd think he was a dummy and I could not vote for the guy and I wouldn't want him having any influence in running the country that I live in. He might agree with me on everything else but if he believes in something that ridiculous I just could not in good or bad conscience help put him in place to run the show.

Stockwell Day has said, in public, that dinosaurs and humans were alive on earth at the same time. That is no different (to me at least) than believing the earth is flat or the moon is made of cheese.

Stockwell Day may be a decent enough politician in the sense that his superiors locked him in the basement with a ball gag in his mouth during the election campaign, but it doesn't mean he's not a fool.

He is stupid. His beliefs about the earth are foolish and more importantly he doesn't even understand how Canadian government works.

He is an idiot.

[moon]

Originally Posted by RougeUnderoos

If a politician shared all my leftie views, had a leftie plan that I agree with and all that but said in a public forum that the earth was flat, I couldn't vote for the guy. I'd think he was a dummy and I could not vote for the guy and I wouldn't want him having any influence in running the country that I live in. He might agree with me on everything else but if he believes in something that ridiculous I just could not in good or bad conscience help put him in place to run the show.

So a politician agreed with everything you felt was important but a few issues that would never see th light of day and you wouldn't vote for him?

I would rather have a guy like Stockwell in power that agrees with most of my issues except for a few that you exgerate and that will never matter once he and his party is in power than a liberal that will change what really matters to me.

[Shawnski]

Originally Posted by RougeUnderoos

I've done my homework. Stockwell Day is a big wheel in that party and his name is mentioned in every article I've read about Martin's potential Cabinet. Having an obvious moron in the Cabinet is a sticking point.

Well what can I say, Rouge. I have done my homework too.

I'll would be willing to bet you a signed Iggy jersey that you can't show me an article where Stockwell Day has been suggested for a Martin potential Cabinet.....

Now, I HAVE seen some articles where they talk about him in a Harper cabinet.... .... but as I said the important posts will likely be given to other regions.