Opinion

Life Under Harper's Majority

A dozen high profile BC voices weigh risks, opportunities in the new political landscape.

By Tyler Harbottle and Jamie Williams, 9 May 2011, TheTyee.ca

Canadian general election, 2011

Canada's political map, redrawn.

Text size:

Rate this:

Login/Register

Related

It's been a week since voters drastically altered the Canadian political reality. A majority Harper government. A Layton-led NDP official Opposition. What opportunities and risks lie ahead? What lessons were learned, or need to be? The Tyee asked 12 influential people in British Columbia. Here is what they told us.

WHO'S THE REAL STEPHEN HARPER?

Matt Mills, Editor, Xtra Magazine

"One of the things that I'm looking forward to is that we're going to find out what Stephen Harper is going to do, given the influence he gains from having a majority government. That has been the $64,000 question from the outset -- what his real intentions are, what he would really do. He's such a mercurial guy.  

"I don't imagine that we'll see movement on the criminalization of HIV, which is something that has gotten out of control. In Canadian jurisprudence, our nation has very much lost on this matter, and I don't think we're going to find constructive solutions under a Conservative government because they don't have a history of that sort of forward thinking.

"I think it's important to underscore that this is not the end of the world, that the sky is not going to fall, that the Conservatives are dedicated to their vision of Canada. It's not doom and gloom and destruction for everybody. It's just a little disappointing, that's all."

IF YOU'RE POOR, BRACE FOR WORST

Jean Swanson, Coordinator, Carnegie Community Action Project

"The Canada Health and Social Transfer expires in 2014, and that's the law by which the feds transfer money to the provinces for health and education. Will (Harper) use that to further privatize those two areas? The expiry of that is a real risk.

"The whole idea (Harper) has of smaller government and the whole message he has to help families by tax reduction serves only people who already have enough, at the expense of people who don't. It only promotes more inequality, because the higher the tax bracket you are, the more help you get. So if you are poor, income tax cuts don't help you at all and just promotes more inequality.

"And of course, there is all kinds of research that shows that inequality causes all kinds of social problems.

"We desperately need housing, and we desperately need a national housing program and (Harper) is against that. He'll cough up a drib and drab here and there. We did get the $1.4 billion (in 2006), but that was what he had to pay to keep the government going, because the NDP negotiated for that. Now the NDP doesn't have the power to negotiate because the Tories are the majority.

"We used to have 600 units of housing a year built in Vancouver -- a year! That was the average over the '80s and the '90s. That is a possibility. We can do that. We are rich. All we need is a different way of organizing things."

A SENSE OF BALANCE

Bernie Magnan, Chief Economist, Vancouver Board of Trade

"Whenever you have a majority government, you always have to remember that everything you do you has to be approached from a balanced perspective. What is in the best interest of business and the citizens of Canada in terms of job creation, in terms of affordable housing, in terms of other policies -- both economic and social -- that they would want to enact or look at working on?

"The fact that we have the first majority government in a number of years is a good thing in a number ways, because there can be some policies enacted which you can only really do under a majority government."

A 'PERVERSE' ELECTORAL SYSTEM

Shannon Daub, Communications Director, Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives

"It's not so much the Conservative majority that gives me hope. It's the fact that 60 per cent of the vote was for parties other than the Conservatives, and yet we ended up with a majority government. So it's the perverse outcome of our first-past-the-post system that has been highlighted for people in a way that is perhaps more stark than ever before. The fact that it produced this outcome is going to create a lot of interest and hopefully broad-based support for adopting a better electoral system over time.

"This may be our opportunity to push for electoral reform. Now's the time. There are a few options that could work, from a proportional representation, to a mixed proportional representation and multi-party system to a single transferable ballot.

"There are a lot of things that were done in the previous mandate that I have serious concerns about. The tax cuts that were handed out over the last several years to corporations were not only unnecessary, but part of what contributes to the federal deficit.

"The CCPA has done a lot of research in this area and what our research has shown is that corporate tax cuts are not a job creation strategy and are not going to drive a solid economic recovery for Canada."

'NEW BLOOD' BRINGS HOPE

Kaitlin Fontana, Writer and Comedian

"I'm scared of some of the things that could be done -- scared as a woman, as an artist.

"On the night of learning that there was a Harper government, my first reaction was shock. But once the dust settled and I knew what else was going on, there was a huge injection of hope. I mean, the 'Harper majority,' as a phrase, is totally scary, but then if you look at the numbers and it's like 39 per cent of people who voted, voted for Harper, I mean that's not many people. And the fact that 30 per cent of people who voted, voted NDP is like, whoa, you know? There is all this new blood being injected into the political system through the NDP.

"I keep hearing from people who are afraid saying that, 'Well, it doesn't matter because the Harper government is going to squash any possibility of dialogue with (the Opposition) anyway.' I just don't think that's true.

"People get that fear because their knowledge of politics comes more from the American system. But our system is not the American system for a very good reason. I think the opportunity exists for that healthy opposition to happen."

CLOSE EYE ON COURTS

Rob Holmes, President, B.C. Civil Liberties Association

"Some of the things that were proposed had been held up in parliamentary committees and Senate committees for study. Things like mandatory minimum sentences and changes to drug policy. Those kinds of things I would expect to get passed by Parliament now after some kind of debate. The Opposition would continue to make points they were making in the previous Parliament, but they won't have the votes. The government will get its way in enacting changes to the criminal and narcotics control laws we have in this country.

"We have obviously the Insite case, which is going to the Supreme Court of Canada. If it's taken as a health matter and a matter pertaining to people's rights, then it's something that would most likely take away federal jurisdiction dealing and put it squarely in the hands of the province to address. The upshot would be that the Insite clinic could stay open, but until we get a final word from the court system on that, the federal government is not likely to shift its position at all.

"Same kind of thing on the polygamy and the prostitution cases. As they wind their way through the courts, it's doubtful to me that the government will actually take hold of those and put through any new legislation on them until the courts come to the conclusion whether they are in whole or in part unconstitutional."

BACK TO DRAWING BOARD

Darcie Bennett, Campaign Director, PIVOT Legal Society

"I think one of the places where we made a lot of progress working in partnership with other groups was around the issue of pushing for a national housing strategy. During the minority government it looked like it might, in fact, pass. But now it will be back to the drawing board, and there was only one Conservative supporting that bill. We are definitely feeling some pessimism about that being able to be revived.

"We did a series of questions for all of the parties to find out what their platforms were on housing around a national housing strategy. We didn't get a response from the Conservatives. We got a response from all of the other parties.

"Other key issues are in the courts right now, including our Sex Work Charter Challenge. We're just going to keep bringing the voices of people in the community forward through any channel that is available to us, whether it is through the media or the legal system."

EXPECT LESS FOR BASIC SCIENCE

David Ng, Faculty, Michael Smith Laboratories, UBC

"The Conservatives in particular tend to value the scientific literature less than the others, things related to climate change in particular.

"I think their official stance might be that they agree with the tenets of climate change science, but their actions might not necessarily conform to that statement. Like the things they do in terms of how they moved away from Kyoto, how they are always changing their emissions targets and how they are biased towards certain projects that might favour big oil, and things like that.

"So even though their official line will be 'this is what the science says, and that's important,' their actions don't really seem to follow that.

"There are certainly some things in the Conservative platform with regards to science that look promising, especially in terms of the funding schematic. They have a number of different funding schemes where money, as opposed to going through certain central granting agencies, will actually go to the institutions themselves. Maybe now with the majority, they will be less political in a sense and just get down to business.

"The Conservatives tend to have a more economic type platform, there tends to be a general favouring for applied or industry type science projects. For those who are in the scientific community, there is real value in making sure that basic science doesn't suffer. Because at the end of the day, the discoveries that come out of basic science -- those are the things that actually fuel the innovations later on, that do have economic benefits."

ENVIRONMENT TRANSCENDS 'POLITICAL STRIPE'

Jeffery Young, Biologist, David Suzuki Foundation

"We know that clean air, water, soil, the basis of our health and our economy is fundamental. So given that Canadians have that interest and concern, we expect any government to act on that and with a majority to act on that strongly.

"There's a real opportunity for Canadians to demand these things from this current government. And we definitely don't think that the environment is an issue that should be viewed as really only associated with one or the other party, that the opportunity and the need is real regardless of your political stripe.

"We do have some concerns as to whether those issues will be properly picked up now.

"There's been reductions in critical Fisheries and Oceans and Environment Canada staff necessary to just do some of the fundamental responsibilities the government of Canada has around protecting fresh water ecosystems, ensuring that development is well planned and is being pursued in a way that considers the things we rely on. I think the worst fear is that these critical needs are not addressed, that the opportunity given a majority government, given the strong opposition, that these critical issues aren't well addressed at all."

CANADA POISED TO BE 'DISMANTLED'

Jim Sinclair, President, BC Federation of Labour

"The Conservative government that's been elected with a majority now, a lot will depend on what it decides to do. It can govern from the centre or it can move on with its agenda -- buy more planes, to give more tax cuts, to spend billions of dollars on things that people don't want, including more prisons.

"The labour movement will be challenged, as we are in B.C. with the (provincial) government, to not only represent union members but to represent values of all Canadians -- for justice, for fairness, for equality, for environmental sustainability. None of those values are the values of Harper.

"My primary concerns are that with a Tory majority government our country will be dismantled program by program, piece by piece, that the basic values of sharing and caring and medicare and education and environment, all those things will be dramatically cut as we spend more and more money on war and give more money to people with money."

MAJORITY BRINGS CLARITY

Niels Veldhuis, VP of Canadian Policy Research, Fraser Institute

"Certainly they have now an opportunity to deal with what I think is our biggest issue, which is our deficit situation, in a way that they probably couldn't with a minority government.

"There's some important things that are going to come up in the next four years -- I would highlight one being the renegotiation of the Canada Health Accord and what we do with transfers. I think this removes, in part, some of the politicking around that very important issue. Obviously if you're in a minority situation, politics enters into those negotiations more than it would with a majority government."

LEARN, AND UNIFY

Ronald Wright, award-winning Canadian author

"Canada's multi-party democracy has been dying ever since the right united. It is now in the oxygen tent, despite the electoral victories of Jack Layton and Elizabeth May. Without unity of the middle and left, we face one-party rule installed by only four voters in 10. Canada must now become a two-party democracy or will be no democracy at all.

"That's the choice, like it or not.

"Five steps:

1) The drive to create the Liberal Democratic Party of Canada must start right now, while the wounds still hurt.

2) The LDP will bring in the Greens (or at least agree not to compete in certain ridings).

3) For LDP PM: Jack Layton.

4) For LDP Deputy PM and/or Foreign Affairs: Bob Rae.

5) For LDP Minister of Environment: Elizabeth May.

"Stephen Harper has taught us this: unite!" [Tyee]

Tyler Harbottle and Jamie Williams are pursuing a Master's degree at the UBC Graduate School of Journalism and completing a practicum at The Tyee.

30 Comments:

Login or register to post comments

  • P. Markunas

    1 year ago

    The Supreme Court

    Darcie Bennett could have also mentioned that Harper will be in position to appoint 3, if not 4, new Supreme Court justices before the end of his 4 year term. Having already appointed 2 (Marshall Rothstein and Thomas Cromwell), Harper will be in place to oversee the appointment of ultimately a majority of justices (5 out of 9) on the Supreme Court, leaving his mark on an entire generation of decisions. Morris Fish, Louis Lebel and Ian Binnie as well as possibly Marshall Rothstein are all facing mandatory retirement, reaching 75 years old by 2015.

  • boondoggle

    1 year ago

    Ronald Wright's alternative to propotional representation

    Proportional representation is a pipe dream in this country considering the political ignorance of the majority of the Canadian population so Ronald Wright's unity option is probably the most viable alternative even though it leaves us vulnerable to the same situation we see now in the US.

  • Fiat lux

    1 year ago

    Harper is a miseducated,

    [UNFAIR CHARACTERIZATION REMOVED. -MODERATOR.]

    There's absolutely no way of predicting what he will do as a dictator, with his gang faithfully executing his orders ?

    One thing is certain, when he's finally forced out, a long string of directorships and a "fellowship" with the Fraser Inst., are waiting for him.

    And the sooner, the better.

    Ed Deak.

  • jim1966

    1 year ago

    Good Article

    I was disappointed with the election outcome, Why? I live on a fixed income, I have HIV and I am gay, does anyone here think for one second that the Con's plan represents people like me or my issues?. Unlikely is all I can think of. Also I am an individual who uses Health Canada's medical marijuana program and like insite my guess is that the Con's will either cancel the funding or arrest people like me. The biggest concern people like me have is that this government will change our support systems and make us pay more and I can tell you that folks who live on a fixed income cannot bear any further stress to an already limited budget(s). The next four years will be a challenge for people like me but the good news is that we have been there before and although right wing government's come and go, we the people do not. Although this article only speculates on the future of what this government's agenda might be, it's ideaology is perfectly clear. To me it seems as though the right wing wants to turn back the clock and go back to the "good old days" of conservative values and ideals". There is a lot of "wait and see" with this government. One the bright side I know that Jack Layton and the NDP will hold the Cons feet to the fire but alas the majority has spoken. Nothing though, can be gained from fear mongering or limited speculation on what or what no might happen. After all we all survived the "Mulroney" era and the "Campbell" era and we'll most likely survive the "Harper" era as well.

  • Luck

    1 year ago

    Life Under is an understatement

    If you don't like the Blue Cons people then recall after 6 months is not out of the question.

    If you don't like the Blue Cons people then recall after 6 months is not out of the question.

    If you don't like the Blue Cons people then recall after 6 months is not out of the question.

    If you don't like the Blue Cons people then recall after 6 months is not out of the question.

    This is the message loud and clear people of Canada.

  • John Greg

    1 year ago

    Hmm

    I am rather surprised that none of the pundits writing in this article have commented with any strength on the profound dangers of giving this much power to a theist fundy fanatic.

    I mean, talk about ignoring the elephant in the room and misdirecting the conversation away from the real, immediate and profound dangers....

  • Talon

    1 year ago

    Harper is not educated; he is brainwashed and trained

    Thanks Fiat Lux for more wonderful luminosity and search-lighting the focal point of Harper's beliefs. IMHO he may enjoy all the beliefs he wants in his private life, but he must not apply them to the rationale governing our country. I believe in a very firm separation between church and state; let's face it, religion is more divisive than almost everything else and should be avoided in a world better managed by science and reason. We should always listen to the scientists of the world and apply their understanding of everything to what we do as a nation and as earthlings in the common wealth. Thanks for this opportunity.

  • Perry

    1 year ago

    Harper's strange bedfellow - a pedophile cult leader

    The Christian and Missionary Alliance Church to which Harper has belonged for decades, believes Jesus Christ will return to Earth in an apocalypse, won't ordain women, strongly opposes abortion and divorce, condemns homosexuality as the most base of sins and believes those who aren't born-again are "lost." Most Canadians do not share the moral convictions of his evangelical denomination.

    see: http://communities.canada.com/vancouversun/blogs/thesearch/archive/2008/09/10/why-stephen-harper-keeps-his-evangelicalism-very-private.aspx

    A recent film called "All God's Children: the ultimate sacrifice" documents how the Christian and Missionary Alliance dealt with extreme child abuse in Africa. Hint: Catholic Church. see: http://chainthedogma.blogspot.com/2010/10/child-sacrifice-review-of-documentary.html

    Also, not too many people are aware that the Christian and Missionary Alliance spawned one of the most notorious cult leaders of the past 40 years. The Family International, a.k.a. the Children of God, was founded by David Berg who previous to that was briefly a pastor in the Christian and Missionary Alliance. Strange bedfellows, a pedophile cult leader and the Prime Minister of Canada, Stephen Harper.

    see: http://chainthedogma.blogspot.com/2011/04/beware-of-any-religious-organization.html

  • Spiritlifter

    1 year ago

    Class War

    Gentrification of Canadian cities is going forward with or without a majority. The Harper majority is going to accelerate the process. Mr. Harper can remain silent for four years and just allow the attrition to thin out the opposition ranks. If you live in Vancouver for example, the Hst has elevated the cost of living for everyone but the low income people are hit the most. It will take years for any action to happen on this front and many will be rendered homeless in the meantime. When you are homeless you are out of sight and out of mind, something that helps out the Harper cause at the ballot box i would suppose. So, it's business as usual and expect the usual fight over the scraps you know, dog eat dog? Survival of the fittest? I think general strikes are in order...maybe a year or two from now...The prison are for anyone who objects.

  • Finewine

    1 year ago

    King Harper

    The Harper 'majority' is a disaster for Canada. As Bush did with the supreme court, so Harper will do to ours. If the opposition had run on how Harper was Americanizing Canada, this disaster would not have happened. People have a hard time believing that we have a psychopath running the country (we do), but I believe that Canadians would have responded to not wanting to become Americans.

  • Conductor274

    1 year ago

    History repeats itself

    I'm sure the way I feel along with a lot of others is much what the people of Germany must have felt when the Fascists took over prior to world war two. It wasn't the majority of Germans who supported that far right wing government either. But the brutal nature of Fascism intimidates those who oppose it.

    There's a bit of a glossy picture being painted here by some contributors to this article. One that belies the true intentions of the far right wing. We only have to look south of the border to witness the emerging influence of the Republican party and what they are doing to their own citizens for fair warning of what Harper is about to do. Then we need to study history to recognize that we haven't learned from other's mistakes.

  • peasant43

    1 year ago

    Re: Harper is a miseducated

    Ed

    Forced out? They got %40 of the vote. The majority of the people I work with would make him Emperor if they could and be done with elections.

    As the economic decline continues, I predict we're in for more of the same. This could just as easily be the beginning of a long line of Harpers.

  • pipeup

    1 year ago

    Burning down the house

    My fear with Harper majority - oil, oil, oil. Absolutely zero thought, let alone policy, to get us off oil and help start a green energy economy. First 24 hours and he's already cheerleading tanker traffic to the west coast. The tar sands expansion he'll help facilitate will be difficult to curtail post-term. The hope is in the fact that the strong majority of British Columbians oppose the Enbridge pipeline and haven't gone anywhere. Democracy doesn't end in a day, and resistance can take many forms.

  • carrotwax

    1 year ago

    merging parties

    Look at what happened with the merging of the PC and the Reform party - the different voices got suppressed. I don't like the idea of merging parties with different viewpoints.

    However, what I will support is a one-election merging with the goal to attain majority status and reform the electoral system. We need a system where strategic voting isn't necessary.

  • OwlRol

    1 year ago

    Some things don't really change

    Even before there was a Canadian nation, the arguments in the Legislative Assemblies of Upper and Lower Canada were very similar to today's parliament.

    The purpose was to collect revenues and decide on how to invest these. Who paid how much and who benefitted was always the nub.

    The elite business owners wanted canals (instead of pipelines) while the common folk wanted roads (like good public transit). Egerton Ryerson wanted funding for free universal education (much like free or affordable post secondary education today).

    The people's 1837 attempted revolution was put down quite brutally, but it led to the notion of Responsible Government, that, in turn, led to the elite riots of 1847. Business leaders, including John Molson, pushed for annexation with the U.S.A.

    Responsible to whom? Should be the electorate rather than the elite. Not so different from today.

    The founders of Confederation were from a variety of regional parties who, after deadlock and a series of minority governments, managed to work together through compromise and a larger vision.

    Mr. Layton is willing to reach out and work together, is Mr. Harper willing to do so. Let's watch carefully.

    When Conservative P.M. John A. MacDonald's parliamentary majority of the young Canadian nation, pushed for the building of the CPR across the country (a sort of P3), he let first nations among others, starve to support and finance his National Dream. Promises broken.

    How will Mr. Harper deal with our health accord and associated transfer payments in 2014?

    The problem is that parliament's primary purpose is and has always been to manage taxes, not the well being of citizens, that was an afterthought.

    So our Conservative majority wants to shrink government oversight and associated revenues and expenditures, traditionally what all Conservative governments want to do.

    But time has surely added many more issues to the mix that this conservative agenda does not want to deal with, be it ageing infrastructure, ageing population, climate change and so much more.

    The constant growth method of dealing with these issues only postpones and enlarges the inevitable. We'll all have to pay more taxes, but especially the wealthy, which includes rich corporations.

    How it happens, through income or property taxes, or increased fuel and hydro rates, or...

    But no political party wants to deal with it directly, for fear of being wiped out at the polls, so subterfuge with little compromise.

  • OwlRol

    1 year ago

    HST carries strings

    That subterfuge. Never mind that the provincial Liberals said no HST and after getting elected, brought it in anyway, had it been brought in with the same exemptions that the previous PST had, there would not have been a squeak of dissent.

    The concept of streamlining the tax system is a good one, but those extra costs to most...

    It truly comes across as a tax grab on the average consumer. The trickle down theory of future benefits just doesn't wash.

    If the provincial government brought back the GST exemptions, notably on transit, such as ferry and Greyhound tickets, restaurants, lawyers, doctors, barbers and so many other service fees, not for a year or two, but ongoing, or at least until we are clearly shown that costs have gone down (never did see a reduction from lowering the GST), I'd vote in favour, but as it sits now, not a chance.

    Of course, at this point, trust is a big issue.The Liberals didn't earn our trust on this one before, why would we believe them now? The exemptions would have to be written into the legislation. Even then...

  • OwlRol

    1 year ago

    Correction

    If the provincial government brought back the GST exemptions, should read "brought back the PST exemptions" Sorry, too many acronyms.

  • realisticman

    1 year ago

    I'm Sorry you Don't Want it...

    ...but, you did buy it. Who was it, again, that wanted this election?

  • Fiat lux

    1 year ago

    Harper and his gang wanted

    Harper and his gang wanted it badly, as his last kick at the can. They literally forced it on the opposition, knowing that they can't ignore the long line of lies, contempt and corruption by the "Harper government".

    I don't have the recent figures, but in 08 the Harper gang spent $73,000 for the reelection of Dick the Dick Harris in this riding, the NDP $16,000. The same all over the country

    Of course, all this money came from the Reform faithful, wanting a "good government"

    The reason the Harper's main line was that he wanted a majority so that people won't have to go to the polls again, worked.

    He had nothing else to promise, and people fell for it.

    There'll be big trouble brewing long before his 4 years are over and I can't see him finishing the term. The same as Campbell.

    Ed Deak.

  • RickW

    1 year ago

    Thank you, Ed!

    Unreaslisticman can be quite obtuse at times. Let's see if you can follow this, R/M:

    Harper wanted his majority very badly. Until it comes about otherwise, this requires an election. Given that fact, do you STILL insist that Harper DIDN'T lust after an election?

  • realisticman

    1 year ago

    You didn't have to do it...

    and All the Time you Knew it.

    "The writs of election for the 2011 election were issued by Governor General David Johnston on March 26. Harper advised the Governor General to dissolve parliament after the House of Commons passed a motion of non-confidence against the government."

    Yes Rick, we suspect that Stephen Harper wanted his majority, he often said so but it was the opposition that pulled the plug. They didn't have to do it. The y could have kept their powder dry until they felt as though they could win. Everyone told them they couldn't win. They threw their whole bet on a bad bet with long odds. Many people that supported the opposition goaded them on too. I guess they'll just have to live with it now. Next round 2015. It will almost certainly be a whole new team, in all the parties. 2015 sounds like a long time away and it is.

  • Fiat lux

    1 year ago

    It may not be 2015. When

    It may not be 2015.

    When Harper gets really wild with his dictatorial powers under the present system, the people may just wake up.

    A 61% majority is not a joke, except to some braindead fanatics.

    It was quite obvious that Harper & gang wanted an election when he started wearing glasses to cover his eyes, long known to have been one of the reasons for his former failures.

    Ed Deak.

  • sol

    1 year ago

    HARPER'S Canada

    The Conservatives are the iceberg and Canada is the Titanic. Heard this on the radio.

  • Frank

    1 year ago

    The opposition did what they needed to

    The opposition parties stood up for Canadians. They refused to go along with Harper and his contempt for the workings of Parliament.

    39% of the people supported treating Parliament with contempt and rewarded the offenders.

    I would support again the opposition decision not to meekly obey Harper's demands.

  • snert

    1 year ago

    fdgjgjkfdj

    Keep up the great work. You're making about as much sense as everyone else.

  • YesItIs2

    1 year ago

    Conservative Cancer metastasizes

    We knew this was going to happen.

    The real reigns of power in Canada are held by wealthy, elitist (often foreign) corporate interests. Stephen Harper takes his orders from the Council of Canadian Chief Executives (CCCE).

    As such, Conservative policies and actions are geared to benefit the wealthy elites with a callous unconcern for undermining the public interest. The policies include selling out our country via the traitorous "free trade" agreements, allowing corporations to have more rights than actual citizens, and the privatizing of government services to greedy businessmen who will be allowed to gouge the public with impunity.

    The same thing more or less in Germany with the Nazis. Indeed each and every Tory candidate signed an actual loyalty oath to the Party. Just like said facists... How long before we`re all forced to as well?

    Maybe the Tories, a bunch of slimy backstabbers will self-destruct. I doubt it under StevieIronFist.

  • Fiat lux

    1 year ago

    Stevie may last the 4 years,

    Stevie may last the 4 years, but it is highly doubtful, with unlimited powers in his hands he'll screw up so badly that he'll be forced to disappear into a string of directorships and the other jerks preceeding him.

    I have seen the self destruction and collapse of quite a few dictatorships and empires within my own lifetime.

    All ruling systems and empires rely on constantly increasing energy inputs to stay on top, now called "competition", until they run our of steam and self destruct.
    It never fails.

    Now, there are the winds of big changes all over the world and nothing can stop them.

    Here's an example, with more to follow, every day.

    The Bolivian national legislature, pressured by a movement of indigenous people and small farmers, may be about to birth a stunning global precedent in the creation of an environmentally sane future: establishing legal rights for Mother Earth.

    The law's specific requirements, Buxton writes, include: a transition from non-renewable to renewable energy; the regulation and reduction of greenhouse gas emissions; research and investment of resources in energy efficiency, ecological practices and organic agriculture; and the development of new economic indicators that would assess the environmental impact of economic activities. Under the law, companies and individuals would be held accountable for any environmental contamination they cause and be required to repair the damage.

    http://inteldaily.com/2011/04/the-sacred-and-the-dead/

    Ed Deak.

  • lynn

    1 year ago

    Excellent link

    Thanks for that link, Mr. Deak, and for so often sharing the wisdom of your insights with us.

    It's a fascinating link, and these days when everything seems so dark, it gives one hope for the future.

    I especially appreciated this part:

    "The Bolivian legislation, in essence, establishes a legal right for our own future. As such, it is a stunning juncture of two worlds: the modern world, of science, technology, geopolitics, corporate dominance, despoliation and war; and the indigenous world, under assault for the last 500 years, of connection to nature and reverent respect for the circle of life."

  • Fiat lux

    1 year ago

    Thanks Lynn, but don't

    Thanks Lynn, but don't forget that the biggest destruction and mass murders in history have always been caused
    by religions, claimed by prophets as "the Will of God" and now by the pseudo religion of so called "economics", taught in our universities as a "science".

    The religious and now the pseudo religious, monetary definition of economic efficiency has always been "Stealing the most from the most", because wealth can not be created, only taken.

    The biggest "conservatives" have also always been the biggest thieves, or, in our present world, the ideological submission by billions to the biggest thieves.

    History is the chronicle of incredible human stupidity.

    Ed Deak.

  • stocialist

    1 year ago

    Welcome to Yeltsin's Russia

    The only meaningful opinion here was the one from the only group with any real perspective on what's happening in Canada and around the globe- the labour federation.

    It's rich Hayek/Rand/Game theory proponents who've decided they're "doing god's work" in raping the rest of us versus us, the brainwashed masses who've been made to think listening to music no one's ever heard of and post-modern dressing are the highest priorities imaginable.

    Harper and those he works for are still fighting a (one sided) class war. All the things that made this country good came from the labour movement and its offshoots. Unfortunately things'll probably get really bad until people again realise how important it is to fight that fight.

    • The discussion for this story is closed. No more comments can be added.