A very good Throne speech, with points on arctic sovereignty, continuing the effort in Afghanistan, watching over the use of aid, a strong focus on federalism, fostering Canadian unity through free trade and government funding for healthcare and social services.
Visual identification of voters - Harper got quite a rap on the topic, why did he bring it up again?
The focus on the middle class is a core Tory value, but the concern about rising higher education costs and affordable housing left me quite bewildered, especially the former.
One single crime bill is a daring move, possibly trying to cash in on the momentum if the Liberals vote in favor of the speech - those measures would die off if introduced one by one. However Harper here is really rolling the dice. The mention of youth crime will definitely anger the Liberals.
Security certificates are another big hot potato and I disagree that such measures should be introduced, terrorism can't be fought by lowering ourselves to that level.
Kyoto is dead and no amount of wishful thinking can bring it back, but the cuts envisioned by the speech are a commendable target. If the Liberals criticize the speech for ditching Kyoto, in the face of more ambitious targets and the introduction of real measures to tackle climate change, such as the free trade in emissions, they will shoot themselves in the foot.
The water strategy will have to take into account the contribution of the USA to the pollution of the Great Lakes, which isn't a small problem!
As for the product quality and safety standards, I say "About blipping time!". No-one advocates the health&safety madness the UK has, but jeez there has to be some benchmark high enough, and safeguards for consumer safety.
So much focus on First Nations. Is this really the courting of traditionally Liberal voters?
The debate will be interesting, Harper is playing with fire imho. The speech is very Conservative, and it really testifies for Harper's political and ideological integrity. Whether this will win him an election is another matter.
Tuesday, 16 October 2007
Greens make me laugh
A good morning laugh is the right start for the day, and today was Liz May's turn. She self-righteously proclaims that Canadians want to oust Harper and that they want a leader who keeps his promises. The Green party then goes on to unveil their humongous policy document, which can be summarized in just a few words: the Government will take over your lives and you will have to like it.
As per textbook statist behavior, not only the Greens allege that the Government needs to take over everything and tell people how to live and how to behave (anyone disagreeing make some noise!) but they also arrogantly assume they can read people's minds or impose their own ideology.
FYI Liz, polls show the Tories on the rise, and the fact that a minority government has managed to function for nearly two years is a sign of democracy. As a matter of fact, this Government did get things done. You say "I have faith in democracy". I have it too, and I happen to admire Harper for ensuring real democracy, where a really heterogenous majority agrees policy.
This is democracy, and people will realize it. But keep the comments coming, Liz, I need morning laughs.
As per textbook statist behavior, not only the Greens allege that the Government needs to take over everything and tell people how to live and how to behave (anyone disagreeing make some noise!) but they also arrogantly assume they can read people's minds or impose their own ideology.
FYI Liz, polls show the Tories on the rise, and the fact that a minority government has managed to function for nearly two years is a sign of democracy. As a matter of fact, this Government did get things done. You say "I have faith in democracy". I have it too, and I happen to admire Harper for ensuring real democracy, where a really heterogenous majority agrees policy.
This is democracy, and people will realize it. But keep the comments coming, Liz, I need morning laughs.
Monday, 15 October 2007
Leave Casey alone
Whatever we might think of Stephen Harper, his behavior over the Bill Casey matter hasn't been very appropriate. The news of Casey's CPC riding association wanting to field him as a Conservative candidate further fuels the debate about Harper being a controlling person.
Rebels have always existed and will always exist. Their integrity frequently goes unappreciated. As the Leader of the Party, Harper had the right to take action against a rebel, which can also include not allowing him to stand in his riding as a Tory. However, Harper didn't need to keep hammering it in.
Now that the local association is rebelling as a whole, Harper has a tough choice. Backing down would imply weakness and scarce control of the party, not good on the eve of a delicate Throne Speech debate and several important bills coming through Parliament. The alternative would be to say openly that Casey should run as an independent if he is confident of winning the riding, leaving the choice of Conservative candidate (or lack thereof) entirely to the riding association.
As many have remarked, Harper should have been smarter.
Rebels have always existed and will always exist. Their integrity frequently goes unappreciated. As the Leader of the Party, Harper had the right to take action against a rebel, which can also include not allowing him to stand in his riding as a Tory. However, Harper didn't need to keep hammering it in.
Now that the local association is rebelling as a whole, Harper has a tough choice. Backing down would imply weakness and scarce control of the party, not good on the eve of a delicate Throne Speech debate and several important bills coming through Parliament. The alternative would be to say openly that Casey should run as an independent if he is confident of winning the riding, leaving the choice of Conservative candidate (or lack thereof) entirely to the riding association.
As many have remarked, Harper should have been smarter.
Kyoto flop is not a stop to greening
Greenhouse gas emissions stay stable and well above Kyoto targets - Globe and Mail.
Like we needed reminding. Action on Kyoto is commendable, but hoping to fulfil all obligations is synonymous with wishful thinking at best. What parties should do at this point is recognize the mistakes that were made and make sure action is taken to right what can be put right.
The looming flop of Kyoto will have to make it into the Throne Speech now, at least the acknowledgment part. It would be unwise, however, to write off environmental commitments at once. Harper should send out both a realistic and a positive message, recognizing that Canada will fall short of its Kyoto targets but at the same time has learned from the mistakes and is set to contribute to reducing its emissions and general pollution.
Like we needed reminding. Action on Kyoto is commendable, but hoping to fulfil all obligations is synonymous with wishful thinking at best. What parties should do at this point is recognize the mistakes that were made and make sure action is taken to right what can be put right.
The looming flop of Kyoto will have to make it into the Throne Speech now, at least the acknowledgment part. It would be unwise, however, to write off environmental commitments at once. Harper should send out both a realistic and a positive message, recognizing that Canada will fall short of its Kyoto targets but at the same time has learned from the mistakes and is set to contribute to reducing its emissions and general pollution.
Liberals: pragmatism required
Finally some good news, the Liberals might let the Throne Speech through if it's not too right-wing. As I hear it, this is a big white flag flying from the Liberals' headquarters.
An election right now is the last thing the Liberals want, having suffered very painful by-election losses, seeing their party torn apart, an unreliable leader and Jean Chretien lashing out at Paul Martin in a memoir book. The Conservatives are on the rise and the Quebec nationalists are declining. An election call right now would probably yield a stronger Conservative Party, although probably no overall majority.
Stephen Harper has been grabbing the centre ground in these months, keeping loyal to core Conservative values. Of course this Throne Speech will not be too right-wing: one wouldn't want to scare away hard-earned support and get an election all in one go.
Mr Dion, just say you'll vote for a moderate Throne Speech you'd expect from a Conservative Government you don't have any chance of bringing down without shooting yourself in the foot. Show some pragmatism at last, it might pay off more than blind obstruction.
An election right now is the last thing the Liberals want, having suffered very painful by-election losses, seeing their party torn apart, an unreliable leader and Jean Chretien lashing out at Paul Martin in a memoir book. The Conservatives are on the rise and the Quebec nationalists are declining. An election call right now would probably yield a stronger Conservative Party, although probably no overall majority.
Stephen Harper has been grabbing the centre ground in these months, keeping loyal to core Conservative values. Of course this Throne Speech will not be too right-wing: one wouldn't want to scare away hard-earned support and get an election all in one go.
Mr Dion, just say you'll vote for a moderate Throne Speech you'd expect from a Conservative Government you don't have any chance of bringing down without shooting yourself in the foot. Show some pragmatism at last, it might pay off more than blind obstruction.
Nicaraguan insanity
The BBC runs an interesting reportage on the insane abortion law in Nicaragua, where such practice is banned outright regardless of the situation. Claimed as a great victory by anti-abortion campaigners, who happen to be very prominent and devout Catholics (surprise surprise), it has apparently led to tens of avoidable deaths. The stories of girls raped aged 11 and 13 (and pregnant both times) are quite telling, considering that they had to keep the baby from the first attack.
In case people don't realize, 11 is sixth grade age, approximately the time when your school maths starts getting interesting, when children are discovering that middle school is more fun than primary. I will not go into the physiology here because people know what I mean.
So this great victory for pseudo-devotion now has 11-year-old mothers, scares women out of choosing their own health over their death (in cases where this applies) and punishes doctors who want to save a woman's life.
OK, I am a Tory, and I believe that abortion can't be a lifestyle choice and can't be provided just on the basis of a future mother's whim, let alone provided as a lifestyle choice through the public health system. But for God's sake here we are talking about children having their innocence ripped out of their souls, women being crucufied for the sake of blind bigotry, lives being ruined and spreading bereavement.
Instead of preaching this kind of cow-dung some people should concentrate on sticking their heads out of their butt-holes and facing the true ugliness of some parts of this world, and the ways we can make sure its effects are mitigated. Over-zealous pro-life laws are a condiment we'd all rather not have on our religion.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/7041048.stm
As as aside, this kind of nonsense also applies, apparently, in Chile and El Salvador. Although the current Nicaraguan President is from the left-wing Sandinista front, the legislative body is not controlled by that faction and therefore this law can't be undone.
In case people don't realize, 11 is sixth grade age, approximately the time when your school maths starts getting interesting, when children are discovering that middle school is more fun than primary. I will not go into the physiology here because people know what I mean.
So this great victory for pseudo-devotion now has 11-year-old mothers, scares women out of choosing their own health over their death (in cases where this applies) and punishes doctors who want to save a woman's life.
OK, I am a Tory, and I believe that abortion can't be a lifestyle choice and can't be provided just on the basis of a future mother's whim, let alone provided as a lifestyle choice through the public health system. But for God's sake here we are talking about children having their innocence ripped out of their souls, women being crucufied for the sake of blind bigotry, lives being ruined and spreading bereavement.
Instead of preaching this kind of cow-dung some people should concentrate on sticking their heads out of their butt-holes and facing the true ugliness of some parts of this world, and the ways we can make sure its effects are mitigated. Over-zealous pro-life laws are a condiment we'd all rather not have on our religion.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/7041048.stm
As as aside, this kind of nonsense also applies, apparently, in Chile and El Salvador. Although the current Nicaraguan President is from the left-wing Sandinista front, the legislative body is not controlled by that faction and therefore this law can't be undone.
Sunday, 14 October 2007
A funny video for a rainy day
This is a hilarious video I came across while shamelessly procrastinating. Save it for a rainy day!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ckiNT26elxk&NR=1
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ckiNT26elxk&NR=1
Advice for China: never say never
The Commies are at it again: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/7043942.stm
So China will never copy the Western style of democracy, huh. Why does that ring a bell for everyone with a faint knowledge of history? Someone else said, many decades ago, that his country's system will bury American capitalism. That country was the same Soviet Union which imploded without honour or dignity in 1991, and Communism has thankfully been receding ever since.
True economic progress is achieved only with a sustained drive towards individual freedom, otherwise the benefits of growth are not shared by the general population. The current Congress is set to change the Constitution to include provisions for avoiding pollution and preventing a widening gap between the rich and the poor, the former getting richer and the latter stuck in a rut.
Pardon me, wasn't Communism made exactly to serve that purpose? Clearly something has gone terribly wrong if they haven't managed to solve that problem in over 50 years. If the Communists wasnt to stay in power they'd better start reforming their system radically, rather than clinging to an ideology that has been confined to the dustbin long ago. How about private ownership of land for starters? How about limiting the power of local officials? How about taking some duties away from the central authority? There's no need for a multi-party democracy if you don't want one, but this comes at the expense of the State shedding off its influence on people's choices.
I'm sure that in my lifetime I will see either the red flag go down or Marx and Mao turning in their graves one more time seeing how far their societies have strayed from their perverted ideologies. I'll keep a good champagne bottle chilling in the fridge for that occasion.
Never say never, comrade.
So China will never copy the Western style of democracy, huh. Why does that ring a bell for everyone with a faint knowledge of history? Someone else said, many decades ago, that his country's system will bury American capitalism. That country was the same Soviet Union which imploded without honour or dignity in 1991, and Communism has thankfully been receding ever since.
True economic progress is achieved only with a sustained drive towards individual freedom, otherwise the benefits of growth are not shared by the general population. The current Congress is set to change the Constitution to include provisions for avoiding pollution and preventing a widening gap between the rich and the poor, the former getting richer and the latter stuck in a rut.
Pardon me, wasn't Communism made exactly to serve that purpose? Clearly something has gone terribly wrong if they haven't managed to solve that problem in over 50 years. If the Communists wasnt to stay in power they'd better start reforming their system radically, rather than clinging to an ideology that has been confined to the dustbin long ago. How about private ownership of land for starters? How about limiting the power of local officials? How about taking some duties away from the central authority? There's no need for a multi-party democracy if you don't want one, but this comes at the expense of the State shedding off its influence on people's choices.
I'm sure that in my lifetime I will see either the red flag go down or Marx and Mao turning in their graves one more time seeing how far their societies have strayed from their perverted ideologies. I'll keep a good champagne bottle chilling in the fridge for that occasion.
Never say never, comrade.
Saturday, 13 October 2007
A primary that's not even an election
Tomorrow (Sunday) Italians will be asked to vote for their preferred leader of the newly-created and already much-speculated-about Democratic Party. Contrast this with Berlusconi's anointment of his close advisor Brambilla to lead a new grassroots organization and you get the picture of how Italian politics is at a crossroads.
But wait! The outcome of this election has been clear to all ever since the DP was conceived. All the other candidates state for some reason that they aren't running against the soon-to-be-crowned Veltroni, they are running FOR him, to make his candidature stronger.
This makes me cringe. Okay you want people to choose the leader, and then everyone else runs just to support Prodi's dauphin, with manifestos that don't differ for most part. There are, thankfully, some exceptions, both manifesto and personality-wise. The principle, however, remains the same: you export a democratic tool and bend it for the usual party politics we've seen for decades.
Moreover, while the newly founded DP claims to be the voice of change, the party of new faces and whatnot the average age of the founding council is over 60, its leader awaiting coronation is a mayor and has been a party apparatchik for years and everyone's complaining that it's just the usual populist feat.
Elections and primaries are about competing visions, about competition. America has this tradition stemming from its society and history. You can't export a system without having the social, historical and intellectual bases that led to it, stated Tocqueville in his "Democracy in America". True as ever today.
I really hope someone different from Veltroni wins, to signal a definitive switch from party orders to people power. But the usual Italian resignation to fate and the mentality of "it's been decided anyway" will surely prevail again, making this new DP just a new character the same old soap opera we've seen in Italian politics for years.
But wait! The outcome of this election has been clear to all ever since the DP was conceived. All the other candidates state for some reason that they aren't running against the soon-to-be-crowned Veltroni, they are running FOR him, to make his candidature stronger.
This makes me cringe. Okay you want people to choose the leader, and then everyone else runs just to support Prodi's dauphin, with manifestos that don't differ for most part. There are, thankfully, some exceptions, both manifesto and personality-wise. The principle, however, remains the same: you export a democratic tool and bend it for the usual party politics we've seen for decades.
Moreover, while the newly founded DP claims to be the voice of change, the party of new faces and whatnot the average age of the founding council is over 60, its leader awaiting coronation is a mayor and has been a party apparatchik for years and everyone's complaining that it's just the usual populist feat.
Elections and primaries are about competing visions, about competition. America has this tradition stemming from its society and history. You can't export a system without having the social, historical and intellectual bases that led to it, stated Tocqueville in his "Democracy in America". True as ever today.
I really hope someone different from Veltroni wins, to signal a definitive switch from party orders to people power. But the usual Italian resignation to fate and the mentality of "it's been decided anyway" will surely prevail again, making this new DP just a new character the same old soap opera we've seen in Italian politics for years.
Ganja is not cool - do something about it then!
An enlightening article by the BBC on the use of cannabis among Britain's young: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/7042881.stm
Moms giving skunk to their kids so they don't go buy from street dealers, lots of under 16's smoking the crap, people growing it on their balconies, you name it, they got it all! Now police chiefs say some parents are complacent and they should be doing more to deliver the message that doing Mary-Jane is not cool. Duh!
What else do you expect when you declassify cannabis from class B to class C? When a kid can take his parents to court for assault when they kick him out of bed and make him go to school? First you take all power away from parents and enforcement officers, then you realize you have a problem. Didn't see that one coming!
Ganja is a drug. It blows your neurons. It makes you idle. It destroys your willpower and ambition. It makes your head fuzzy. It destroys your worthy friendships. It makes you behave weirdly. It makes you waste money. Why can't people understand this, and keep rambling on about how it's not too bad and how it's better than having a cocaine problem et cetera?
If the point is zero tolerance then act accordingly. Reclassify the drug. Jail those who sell it. Hammer in the message that if you smoke skunk you won't get anywhere. Don't just sit idle and watch as the country's young plunge into smokey oblivion.
The Dutch have an apparent tradition of not being able to form a government for a couple of months after elections or resignations. Too stoned to negotiate? Do we want the same fate?
Moms giving skunk to their kids so they don't go buy from street dealers, lots of under 16's smoking the crap, people growing it on their balconies, you name it, they got it all! Now police chiefs say some parents are complacent and they should be doing more to deliver the message that doing Mary-Jane is not cool. Duh!
What else do you expect when you declassify cannabis from class B to class C? When a kid can take his parents to court for assault when they kick him out of bed and make him go to school? First you take all power away from parents and enforcement officers, then you realize you have a problem. Didn't see that one coming!
Ganja is a drug. It blows your neurons. It makes you idle. It destroys your willpower and ambition. It makes your head fuzzy. It destroys your worthy friendships. It makes you behave weirdly. It makes you waste money. Why can't people understand this, and keep rambling on about how it's not too bad and how it's better than having a cocaine problem et cetera?
If the point is zero tolerance then act accordingly. Reclassify the drug. Jail those who sell it. Hammer in the message that if you smoke skunk you won't get anywhere. Don't just sit idle and watch as the country's young plunge into smokey oblivion.
The Dutch have an apparent tradition of not being able to form a government for a couple of months after elections or resignations. Too stoned to negotiate? Do we want the same fate?
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