Let's stop this fascistic thug, Prime Minister Stephen Harper and his party of rednecks.
How you can get involved:
No Prorogue!
How you can get involved:
No Prorogue!
As an American who is into Canadian politics (and a Harper supporter); I can get why the first prorogation of the Parliament happened (The mud was flying around like a pigsty and nothing was getting accomplished). This second one however, I don't get. Yes, Vancouver is and should be celebrated as a proud moment in Canadian history, but why must the government literally stop for it? While PM Harper may be using this to "consult Canadians about the economy"; I suggest he take a look at America as how not to do it; Congress has simply turned into a credit card for their own policies.
I don't get it. How is that fascism?
Don't you understand? Anything you don't like is fascism.
One thing I like about it is that it allows Harper to put in conservative senators who support electing Senators in the future when there's an opportunity to do full Senatorial reform. It bothers me that the U.S. is more democratic than we are. It would also be nice to fully pass tough on crime legislation that the liberal appointed senators are blocking.
That, however, I see as pretty dangerous. At least if I got it right, that you meant the prorogation allows him to introduce senators into pariament that are more conservative and thus replace more liberal senators.
The Senate is a whole clusterfuck unto itself, and, really, nothing here is illegal or improper here either. The Senate is wholly appointed by the Prime Minister and always has been. In fact, Harper has proposed making the body elective, which the other more liberal parties oppose (the NDP/BQ wish to abolish it, while the Liberals wish to keep it appointed). Someone can correct me if I'm wrong, but this is really about filling vacancies, due to mandatory retirement laws, not "replacing" anyone.
Again, I'm not a fan of Harper unto itself; it's just that this is the nature of Canadian government--lots of appointments that the party in power is allowed to make at will. To complain about it at this juncture, I feel, is partisan-based and less about looking to change the system.
purpleoscar, you're canadian? would never have guessed it. your spelling is entirely american.
are you sure you're canadian?
I blame lots of this on the nature of Canadian government; that is, there's very little in the way of checks and balances, really, and most of the government mainly functions on the will of whichever party is in power.
Let's get this out of the way: proroguing the House of Commons is legal. The fact that it is legal should give pause as what should be changed from here, and focusing on Harper is really beside the point.
First, just because a system of government allows certain behavior doesn't mean it's not fascistic. Iran reserves the right for the Ayatollah to review candidates and to limit the selection, but his behavior has still been fascistic.muldfeld, you might want to wipe the pre-cum away from your excited rant... i understand declaring your political nemesis as fascist is quite popular these days but it really doesn't hold water with people who, you know, know anything about politics/history.
that said, the canadian PM is a clown. a dangerous, but a not at all fascist clown.
but his behavior has still been fascistic.
I think we all have fascistic tendencies within us -- to try to do whatever we can to overcome opposition and get our way -- but he and Bush really step over the line and pursue unprecedented levels of dictatorial behavior for their societies. Our societies are stronger than pre-Nazi Germany, yet, in looking back historically and evaluating our present, we tend to have a hypocritical standard; we criticize those Germans or whomever who failed to stand up to the rise of fascism or mistreatment of others, while failing to do our part. Harper has an authoritarian style of leadership; none in his party are able to challenge his decisions and he conducts himself in such a way in public to minimize the chance of questions outside of his expectations, as we saw in fall 2008 -- much like Bush. This in stark contrast to how Barack Obama conducts himself in being open to all kinds of questions from the public.
This in stark contrast to how Barack Obama conducts himself in being open to all kinds of questions from the public.
Trying to cease power from the opposition is not a characteristic feature unique to fascism. You might disagree with the way he is conducting his politics, but to call him, or Bush, fascist for that is disingenious and harms your arguments more that it helps. It's pretty much as silly as calling Sweden socialist for having high taxes and an encompassing social welfare system.
Fox News is currently doing what journalism should be doing; keeping those in power in check.
are my fellow canadians completely incapable of writing words correctly? is it too much to ask?
Trying to cease power from the opposition is not a characteristic feature unique to fascism. You might disagree with the way he is conducting his politics, but to call him, or Bush, fascist for that is disingenious and harms your arguments more that it helps. It's pretty much as silly as calling Sweden socialist for having high taxes and an encompassing social welfare system.
Yes, but in the American mainstream media, with the exception of Fox News, these questions are softballs, mostly dealing with the dog and/or family and anyone who attempts to question the administration on any level is seen in the eyes of the Homeland Security chief as a terrorist or a radical. Fox News is currently doing what journalism should be doing; keeping those in power in check.
This is just the kind of unoriginal thinking I despise about Harper. Getting tough on crime won't resolve it. You have to deal with the environmental factors and long-term causes. Getting tough on some kid who hasn't had any love or guidance will just make our country more like America -- with an underclass for which we refuse to take responsibility.One thing I like about it is that it allows Harper to put in conservative senators who support electing Senators in the future when there's an opportunity to do full Senatorial reform. It bothers me that the U.S. is more democratic than we are. It would also be nice to fully pass tough on crime legislation that the liberal appointed senators are blocking.