Not a Coup! (Canadian Politics)

Those of you following Canadian politics lately, know that the proposed Coalition Government between the NDP and Liberal party cannot be defined as a Coup, and it is LEGAL. The Majority of Canadians did not vote for the Conservative party. The Conservative party is running a minority government where 37 percent of Canadians voted for him. That means 63% of Canadians voted for other parties, Liberal, NDP, Bloc, or independent.

Harper's government no longer has the backing of Parliament yet he is still governing. Yes, an election occured 2 weeks ago and they won (again!), but his tabled budget faced a lot of opposition from the rest of Parliament. This budget cut spending in a time of recession, and offered little economic stimulus. If we are to break out of a recession, Canadians must be encouraged to spend. How has Harper addressed this? He has not.

The budget hoped to make striking by federal employees illegal, until 2010/2011. They tried to eliminate funding to Opposition parties, which may have bankrupt a few smaller parties. They have proposed that women should not be able to sue for pay equity... instead they pass the responsibility to the employer and unions, rather than to government and courts. The budget makes cuts on spending, but then, it proposes to use the saved money to reduce Canada's debt, rather than by investing the money to help stimulate the economy. Canada's economy needs to start moving; spending and investing is the way to get ourselves out of recession. Harper missed the mark. A surplus budget, while good, needs to be invested and used in a way that will help Canada's economy.

With this budget, the Opposition parties have decided that Harper has no idea how to stimulate the economy. Harper cannot rule anymore. The NDP and Liberal parties were to form a Coalition government, with the support and backing of the Bloc Quebecois. The Bloc were not to be part of the coalition, but they would not vote against it.

The way the media covered the proposed coalition was slanted against the coalition, mainly because of the fear that a Coalition government BACKED by the Bloc Quebecois would be the ruin of Canada as a whole. How can a Coalition NDP-Liberal government run Parliament, with the backing of the Bloc Quebecois? They are a separatist party? How can such a thing happen?

Well here is news for some of you. The Bloc have not run on a separatist platform for many many many years. They have known for some time that if they ran their platform on Quebec separatism that they would lose. What the Bloc are to the French Quebecois, are protectors of their rights and culture. They are no longer as large a threat for separatism as English Canada believes. The Conservatives have won with their scaremongering.

The Governor General, as representative of the Queen, chose to support Harper's proposal to postpone Parliament until mid-January. At Parliament's return, a new budget will be tabled. The Coalition still hopes to bring down the Conservative government. We all wait to see what will be presented, and how the Opposition will react.

I, for one, am ready to move on with an interim Coalition government. It is legal, and 63% of Canadians voted for the Opposition members. How is that undemocratic? What we are facing now, is not a coup. It is history in the making!

Palin's Pretty Face, Harper's Pretty Hair

US Editorial
Seriously, I can't believe what a pretty face can do for an old-man's political career. There is so much buzz about her and with her. She gets more air-time than old-man McCain, these days. It's sad to think that her pretty face and gender may actually (and probably has) won over many votes already. US politics is actually turning my stomach these days. The reason the candidates get attention are for reasons other than their political plans. I don't know what to think, these days.

The Canadian Editorial
This is such a petty thing to say but... can't Harper do something different with his hair? It's always the same... and exactly in the same place. In any case, the polls say that Conservatives are ahead, which frankly I'm not surprised. I haven't seen much of the Liberal campaign and they seem to be lacking that oomph that is needed to catch the public's attention. I'm still an undecided voter at this point. And I probably will decide during the week of the actual election day... or something.

Economic Woes
Oh Woe is the US. And dire warnings and foretelling of the times for Canada, as 40% of our GDP goes to the US.

Hurry Away, Hurricane! (Double Whammy)
Many folks in the hurricane flood paths have been very lucky... their homes and lives relatively untouched. But so many others have been distressed and affected... people with no electricity for weeks. People losing all their possessions. I sincerely hope none of those folks affected, had any stocks. And no I'm not trying to be funny this time... I really do hope that those people affected DO have savings or something to fall back on... other than insurance money for repairs and lost possessions.

Geez, what a crap week.

The Circus Ring

Canadian Politics

Someone needs to explain to me why we are having another election. An election call from a government who created guidelines for fixed election dates... Har Har... Not funny. Do I hear a nation full of exasperated sighs and moans??

Stephen Harper can't take the tough times with the good times? Is the economy too difficult to handle? Are the polls really indicating that you might win?? Who knows??

I am not impressed with the state of Canadian politics lately. The political campaign has been blah lately... granted it only started a few days ago. Maybe something juicy and scandalous will appear on the horizon... any attractive candidates or pregnant unwed children?? Would it be terrible to mirror the circus of the US elections? It would certainly make it more entertaining, but at this point I could care less that there will be another election.

Clowning around in BC
Yesterday PM Harper arranged a photo-op with an everyday Asian family in BC, and he couldn't even pronounce or remember their last names correctly. Also, interviews with the family were quite funny... they did not know why or how they were chosen to be part of the photo-op. With that photo-op, he is hoping to attract more minority votes. As a minority, I feel disgusted that he thinks just because he is willing to grace minorities with his presence, he thinks minorities will vote for him for that very reason. Instead, try throwing something real and tangible to us... what are your other plans for the country? And... why are we having another election at this time... AGAIN??? Give us concrete issues and objectives that your government intends to carry through.

The Ringmaster
The crowned ringmaster will be whoever comes out on top. Stephane Dion?? Stephen Harper?? Gilles Duceppe?? Jack Layton?? Elizabeth May?? Is there really a front-runner in this race? I hope that since the polls are almost neck and neck (with the PM winning slightly) that this election will become an election of issues. And also, not of issues but integrity. Who will do what for the country?? And given their record, are they likely to follow through?? Seriously, Stephen Harper... fixed election dates?? And you break your own guidelines??

In all or most cases, the Ringmaster who will come out on top will be the one who provides us with the best show and the one who will avoid the most scandals. Also, all parties, please note that repetition of the same ads do not mean they are the best... it just proves a knack for dullness and lack of imagination.

Economies of Scale for a Greener Planet

The fate of a greener world lies in the principles of economies of scale.

If more electric cars or hybrid cars were created, they would become cheaper, and thus the demand for these "green" vehicles would rise.

If only communities were billed for their water consumption (household water metres etc), we would begin to value the "privilege" of having access to clean and fresh water, where other parts of the world don't.

But then... rise in cost of anything will be met with nay-saying. And rise in cost of anything will only continue to create larger gaps between the rich and poor.

Industry needs to step in and take more responsibility for their products. The production of computers, cell-phones, laptops, games, etc... all create pollution, either during it's production, or when it is put in dumpsters and replaced all too quickly by something "new" and "faster".

In a TRUE digital age, we would have no paper, yet there is probably more paper in the work-place now, than there was 10 years ago, due to everyone printing off multiple copies of emails and documents.

This is a very idealist post, and perhaps this will never happen in our life-time, but the purpose of this post is food for thought. Too much emphasis is put on the individual, and while each one of us can change our habits by recycling everything, composting, and driving less, we can only do so much. Industry can influence the world more than the individual can.

Concrete economic incentives need to be put in place before large industries will change their practices. So long as oil is in demand, car manufacturers will continue to produce cars as is. So long as plastic bags are around, everyone will continue to use and discard them. Create better choices, or better yet, limit our choices to more earth-friendly products.

It is a sad thought, but one individual can only do so much, and it will be too little too late.

Carbon Tax

The carbon tax is not well-thought out. Raising the price of fuel by adding another tax won't make others think twice about driving. Why is that?

• Well, the convenience and time-saving elements of owning and using your own vehicle outweighs the extra few dollars it takes to fill up on fuel.
• With the steep gas prices in recent times, some have driven less, but no one I know has changed their habits by much (although every little bit does help).
• If you already tend to be a transit user, that practice will continue, but if not... nothing will change your mind about that "loser cruiser"... yes, that great big smelly bus.
• If you live outside the Vancouver Lower Mainland, you do not benefit because transit systems in rural areas aren't as efficient. Think of places like Prince Rupert, Boston Bar, Revelstoke, Trail, etc.. There are no "alternative" forms of transportation, especially if the bus runs only once per hour, on a limited route during weekends, or if you live on a farm and need the truck to travel everywhere.
• I am already imagining BC using the tax to "buy" environmental credits to lower their rating on pollution... rather than actually solving the REAL environmental issues here.

Also... if they are taxing carbon pollutants, might as well tax plastics too, as well as toxic materials like construction materials, liquid cleaners, and pesticides. Aren't all pollutants made equal anyway? Why only tax the fuel for transportation? Pollutants, whether in the air or in the ground are harmful to the environment, plants, animals, and humans.

It is the cynicism in me that is talking... but I don't see how the carbon tax can fight pollution, as it will NOT affect human behaviour.

keeping up with politics

Keeping up with politics is difficult...Let's see...

• US 3.1 trillion budget.... Ummm... okay.... What else can anyone say about that except... are you serious??? O.O
• Canadians in Afghanistan... will it lead to an election??
• Obama? Clinton?? Does it matter? Hmmm... the very first black president... or the very first woman president of the US. That's a tough one!

And yea... I just remembered an election promise from our very own Conservative gov't... Building a military base in BC. I thought that was a good idea because if there ever was an emergency... say wild forest fires... major flooding... or, oh say... an earthquake... the closest military help (other than from our reserve force or navy) would be all the way from... Calgary!! And what good will a navy do during forest fires in the land-locked interior?? *sigh* This promise received mixed reviews from the public, but I thought it would've been awesome if the Conservatives followed through with this promise.


Now I know why I stopped paying attention to politicians...