[Canada] Canadian Politics Redux

[crazy canuck]

Woha viper, let's not argue for a American style Senate, that is worse than outright abolition.

Is the US Senate really out of touch with the US public?  I kinda feel they're doing exactly what the people who voted them in office want them to do. 

Besides, the problem in US politics is mostly cause by unlimited campaign funding and gerrymandering.  One of these has been adressed here, the other is a work in progress.

I can't answer whether the US Senate, or any part of the US government is out of touch with the US public.  But what I do know is that their bi-cameral system has created a great deal of dysfunction.  I think it was JR who made the point that the Founding Fathers of the US system assumed reasonable people of good will would be elected into those positions.  I don't think we should make the same mistaken assumption when reforming our system.  I much prefer the Parliamentary system to the US system.  If a government loses the confidence of Parliament we go to the polls to elect a new Parliament.  In the US they just get seemingly unending deadlock.

Having a bicameral system does not mean having a US-style system.

Australia, for example, has a functioning elected senate yet still retains a Westminster-style democracy.

You are correct.  That is why I said "their" bi-cameral style    You have already concede that triple E is supposed to be like the US system so I am not sure what point you are trying to make.

[crazy canuck]

The Globe is reporting that Conservatives will likely drop the Writ and start the official election in early August.  Probably a smart move for them.  During an election third party spending is restricted and the limit on party spending is increased for every day the election lasts beyond the minimum writ period.  So the Conservatives get to outspend their opposition.  Also, this will not provide the Liberals any time to catch up in the polls before the Writ is dropped.  This will be the first time in Canadian history that it is a two way race involving the NDP.

What will be really interesting is whether Josephus is willing to make a bet about his concerns regarding a Liberal resurgence.

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/conservatives-preparing-to-launch-campaign-in-august/article25763783/

[Josephus]

Let's be clear. Whilst in the past I have swung between Liberals and NDP, I am committed to the NDP for this election.

I just have an anxiety over how all this "two-party" race stuff will end up.

If there's a legitimate chance the NDP could win, I can see Harper stoking the "fears of socialism" ads, and people planning on voting  NDP switching to Liberals, which may help the Conservatives. I don't want this to happen, but I think a long election especially does not benefit the NDP. Plenty of time for Harper to change tack, now that he's destroyed Trudeau (with a little help from Trudeau himself) to throw the attention on the NDP's alleged failings.

Uneducated  or uninformed Canadians, of which there's plenty, are easily swayed by a "Mulcair will tax you to death" campaign.

[viper37]

Uneducated  or uninformed Canadians, of which there's plenty, are easily swayed by a "Mulcair will tax you to death" campaign.

I am educated and informed, yet, I am swayed by "Mulcair will tax you to death" because it is the truth.  He can't finance all his promises with a simple reversal of Conservatives' fiscal policies.  He'll have to raise the taxes of the middle class or abandon his promises.

[Barrister]

Uneducated  or uninformed Canadians, of which there's plenty, are easily swayed by a "Mulcair will tax you to death" campaign.

I am educated and informaed, yet, I am swayed by "Mulcair will tax you to death" because it is the truth. 

[Grey Fox]

While the continuation of the Harper government will see them prop up the Queen even more, close CBC/RC, give even more money to the Oil industry, build/not build Oil Pipilines & cut any government funding to all oversight committees.

"Private industry can regulate & fund it self! except the Oil industry, that one we need to help".

What do you prefer Viper? Live in Socialist Canada or die in a Frozen Somalia?

[crazy canuck]

I think Languish has done a good job of framing exactly what we are going to be hearing during the election.

[Valmy]

While the continuation of the Harper government will see them prop up the Queen even more,

Without the constant efforts of the Harper government the Queen might become a powerless non-entity in Canada

[Josephus]

Uneducated  or uninformed Canadians, of which there's plenty, are easily swayed by a "Mulcair will tax you to death" campaign.

I am educated and informaed,

[Malthus]

While the continuation of the Harper government will see them prop up the Queen even more,

Without the constant efforts of the Harper government the Queen might become a powerless non-entity in Canada

The Conservatives will not rest until Vipes is made to personally grovel at her bejewelled feet!

It's in their election platform ... in the small print. 

[crazy canuck]

While the continuation of the Harper government will see them prop up the Queen even more,

Without the constant efforts of the Harper government the Queen might become a powerless non-entity in Canada

The Conservatives will not rest until Vipes is made to personally grovel at her bejewelled feet!

It's in their election platform ... in the small print. 

I may have to rethink my voting strategy 

[viper37]

Uneducated  or uninformed Canadians, of which there's plenty, are easily swayed by a "Mulcair will tax you to death" campaign.

I am educated and informaed,

well, I still don't know how to type correctly in both official languages

[viper37]

While the continuation of the Harper government will see them prop up the Queen even more,

That is annoying.  In itself, almost enough to turn me away.  At least, I'm not financing them anymore.

close CBC/RC,

Oh, the tragedy.
You're young, I'll forgive you.
But I am old.  And wise.  Ok, maybe not that last part
But I remember.
I remember a time when every news event was covered by two separate teams.  One english reporter with one english cameraman with one english crew in a CBC sattelite truck.  And one French reporter with one french cameraman with one french crew in a SRC sattelite truck.

The Mulroney governement, I think, yeah, I'm pretty sure it was them, decided to cut funding to the CBC/SRC and force them to use the same technical team for both.  Only the reporter would be unique to both tv, as a way of cutting costs.

Oh the outcry.  It was a national tragedy.  Reporters would be unable to communicate correctly with their technical crew, they may had to wait while a crew was busy on another job, quality services would end, we would no longer receive adequate information.

Tell you the truth, I did not see any difference there.  SRC&CBC where still, often, the first on the news (the important ones, at least) and they still did quality news, without too much of a populist spin, as we would expect for Quebecor medias.  Of course, there's still the usual sillyness of "summers are warm protect yourself from the sun/winters are cold proctect yourself from the wind", but I'm pretty sure they had the same in the 60s and 70s.

Flash forward to present day.  A private radio can do the job with 3 employees (for "public information" type shows).  One radio host, one co-host, one researchist.  One director of programming for the entire station, one technical guy for the entire station.  ICI Radio hires at least 8 people per show, according to the credits.  Yet, they can't funding without sacrificing the quality of information.  Bullshit.  They chose to cut the essential instead of cutting extra unionzed jobs.

give even more money to the Oil industry,

You mean, they would keep in place the policies set forth by the Liberal government of Paul Martin?  Of that, I have no doubt.  I don't think the NDP would even change that, it would jeopardize their situation in Alberta for the provincial wing.

build/not build Oil Pipilines

Given the right guarantees, I prefer a pipeline to a train that risks destroying an entire city.

& cut any government funding to all oversight committees.

It's not like the Libs or NDP would do different.  Those that annoys them will pay the price.

"Private industry can regulate & fund it self! except the Oil industry, that one we need to help".

Oil industry is a drag on our resource, and it costs a ton of money worldwide.  I wish our government would keep its head out of their collective asses and stop subsidizing them.  If they want to leave, fine, I don't care about leeches.

What do you prefer Viper? Live in Socialist Canada or die in a Frozen Somalia?

Charybed&Scylla?

[Josephus]

Campaign's on.

[Josephus]

NDP polling highest ever. Still think it's too early though and anything can and will happen in 11 weeks. I hope people see what a cynical Harper ploy this is.

http://www.thestar.com/news/canada/2015/08/03/ndp-surges-past-conservatives-liberals-in-latest-poll.html