Harpers Budget

Harper wants an election so bad he is willing to sell his soul to get it. If one can't see that then they certainly haven't being paying attention. So the best strategy for the opposition is to not give it to him. The opposition seems to be working well together, just look how they responded to the budget. But Harper has to be careful because if he seems too anxious to have one then just maybe he'll tick-off the voters. Also if an election is called all the opposition has to do is remind the voters on Harpers speeches about 4 years ago on why we should go to war with Bush in Iraq. Quebecers are dead against war and 4 years ago they didn't even know who Harper was.

Bush-style

I pretty much agree with everything Murray says here. I wonder if Harper will turn-out to be a Bush-style conservative, if, or when, he gets a majority. Are we going to see massive tax grabs by the wealthy and the corporate sector like in the U.S? Will we have a Canadian kleptocracy of the Right (as opposed to the Quebec Liberal Party one)? Will the increased spending for the privileged be accompanied by big tax cuts to those same people? Don't expect the corporate media to ask any of those questions.

Murray

I like you Murray but some of this article is just hyperbole and fear-mongering.

Maybe, maybe not but if we closed our eyes and saw Paul Martin delivering this budget I think Liberals would have been happy with it. They would have told us it doesn't fix the world but only the ideological Left thinks you can. So I see this budget as something the federal Libs could easily have put forward.

So? I have never seen a government yet that passed a law putting a ceiling on what people could make.

Again, so would Martin and Chretien.

True, but why should Canadian federal governments start now?

Actually isn't that a good thing that the NDP line has been adopted by the Right and is now part of the lexicon?

There never is, whether its a Liberal or Conservative budget.

So? Who cares if its revenue neutral? Its at least something the Libs didn't do. Its the equivalent of not taking a pee in a pristine mountain lake, the plan won't make a difference either way but we'll all feel a little better.

I like the letter to the editor in the TO Star, the guy suggested a rebate should go to people who don't buy cars at all, not ones who do. Interesting idea as it would cover the costs of public transit for them. But then that's the sort of thing I would hope from an NDP gov't, I would never expect that from the Libs or the Conservatives so I'm not disappointed.

The above are much better, and much more valid, criticisms.

A sham

This budget is nothing more than a buget to get elected. This budget would be nothing like a true Conservative budget if we ever see a majority Con. Government. We all know Harper hates Canada, he even said as much when he called us a second rate socialist country in fron of his American friends. Voters need to remember that, and his support of the Iraq war come the next election.

A true Harper budget would be massive tax cuts, massive decreases in social spending, increased privatization of health care, and more secretive behind closed doors deals to create the NAU.

I did get a laugh out of reading Dion cry crocodile tears over the budget. He had the gall to complain the Harper budget has nothing for students, the environment, or health care. Sorry Dion, the Liberals can't complain, they've helped to create the state the country is in.

Let Quebec go!

To me the irony is that Quebec may use all that extra money to further their goal of seperation!
Maybe it they really did become a seperate state, we could end up with a country where no province has a stranglehold on election outcome?
For anyone living in the west it is hard to take any election seriously when it is decided in Ontario/Quebec.
The question is: do we need to be part of Canada?

Is Harper still acting?

Think the guy played himself well on "Corner Gas". And he hasn't quit either.

Frank

Great comments:

You are right. What is his point? The Tories have done NOTHING for Bay Street except penalize them. What exactly does Mr. Dobbin want?

This article is slanted in a manner in which he faults Mr. Flaherty for the wealth gap that exists in every developed nation!

Harper - you've taken away tax loop holes for investors, haven't cut capital gains (which the Liberals were talking about) - in fact, it seems that you've done nothing but increase incentivies for the middle class, commuters and eco-friendly car drivers....

DAMN YOU Stephen! The rich are no worse off than they were before.

Thanks Frank for pointing this out. Very objective of you.

Mr. Dobbin - stop drinking your own Kool-Aid. This is a pathetic piece of fear mongering.

kl

Listen - I hope you're right. I hope we see a different Tory government, if they get a majority.

Dion is a joke:

I know, this budget did more to address each and every one of these issues than any budget the Liberals put forward - and I don't agree with this budget.

Quote:This budget is nothing

Of course it is. That's what politicians do. Since when did listening to people and delivering what people want become a bad thing?

The Conservatives are moving past ideology to create a more moderate party that appeals to more Canadians. Maybe the NDP should take note before they slip off into oblivion.

And the "we all know Harper hates Canada" line is getting a little tired.

Harper hates Canada

How anyone could vote for a man who despises his own country is beyond me but hey, I guess those who vote for him don't really like Canada too much either then.

We truly did see a Con job budget and sadly I think many people will be Conned into voting for the Cons next election.

kl

Now, now. Harper doesn't hate Canada. He didn't like the course our country was taking. In the 90's, many were trying to push us towards a socialist state. We had a phase where BC/Ontario had NDP governments and Quebec had a very leftist PQ.

I agreed with him. The 90s were an ugly period here in BC. Many are still trying to forget it. It will go down as BCs gloomy days!

I am a very patriotic Canadian. I love Canada, though I don't always agree with our people. So is Harper. C'mon kl, Mr. Layton frets about where we are headed. He doesn't agree with the course we've taken.

He's criticized our ways for years. Does this mean he hates Canada.

Harper loves Canada - he just sees a different future for us. Him comments were made in jest.

Cappy

Not exactly. I thought Martin and Chretien were wolves in sheep's clothing. Using the Liberal wagon to drive us towards the Right during those same 90s.

You know I'm willing to argue that point from here to eternity and will happily compare the NDP to the Socred and Liberal eras anytime. But that would be an unnecessary tangent, especially as we've been down that road already.

Probably true and of course right-wingers should be free to work to move Canada in any direction they want. We'll just disagree with you.

harper hates canada ????????????

jeez..ya figur he wants to be george dubyas blow boy???

liberal budget??????????????? MACHIAVELLI??????????

whoa!!!!!! things are getting a little to INTELLECTUALLY stimulating and there thought and words are getting the REX MURPHY TREATMENT...

i mean REALLY!!! it is a half assed BUDGET fomented to appease half wits...so they could turn it into something to offer the peons that make up the tax base...

jeez guys ...SAY IT IN PLAIN ENGLISH !!!

This budget is like all

This budget is like all budgets, neither liberal or conservative, it's an elite budget. Ladies and gentlemen, here are the numbers. Numbers here, numbers there, numbers everywhere. Different numbers, too. Some are big, some are small. Luckily for us, they all do the same thing. They keep you blinking and thinking while we dole them out as we wish. Lovely, lovely numbers.

Is the root of the word number... numb?

Money is simply a number, banking is just a little bookkeeping. The private banks now print over 95% of Canada's money on computer screens. All of it is loaned into existence, they don't lend deposits.

Talk about the misdirection of humanity. We have no shortage of resources, intelligence, skill, compassion, knowledge, but we are numbed into inaction by numbers printed on paper or on computer screens and we believe it when we are told there is a shortage of them. The mind wobbles.

Quote:This budget is like

dats the funniest post i done red inna long,long time....

like !!!are these some funni pages ...or whut???

Cynic

Good points! Did you steal those thoughs from Mr. Deak??

You're right. This whole system is being held together by a bunch of debits and credits. Scary, isn't it?

It's working. However, Mr. Greenspan made the activity reckless. We have Mr. Dodge, who really seems to get it.

Neo-Con Con

Your spots are showing.

I think that everyone will agree that this budget has little to do with the real Conservative agenda and much to do with a future election. The reasons are obvious to all; the Conservatives can not activate their true agenda in a minority situation.

Working Canadians who are tired of living under a democratically elected dictator are starting to realize what most of the world already knows; that the only way to keep a government honest, is to keep it in a minority situation.

A majority Conservative government will look nothing like a minority Conservative government. Canadians know it and are justifiably scared. The world is rallying against the Neo-Cons south of our border. The American people are finally rallying against their own government. The Neo-Cons of Canada have missed the boat and are going to have to wait until the next cycle.

Long live minority governments!

If he doesn't hate Canada

If Harper doesn't hate Canada then why is he working, in secret, on the NAU?

Now, I won't be discriminatory here, I'll include the Liberals in betraying this country as well, especially regarding opposing NAFTA, then embracing it, adopting IMF policies which in turn led to the Libs turning their backs on health care and education.

Overall though, this budget will prop up Quebec separatists, maybe eventually leading to another referendum, and in turn, although I hate to agree with Kevin Falcon on this one, it has given the shaft to BC. So, for those who voted for Harper in BC, you all were swindled. How does it feel?

You just can't trust liars

The Liberals were always willing to go as far to the right as possible without losing their left vote. The Cons are now going as far to the left as possible without losing their right vote.

Both rely on short memories. Both parties have been wise to rely one the dimwitted selfish, self centered "what's in it for me voters"... but there's only so many, eh?

And there's only so much one can forget. I certainly can't forget what the National Citizens coalition is. And note, they never did replace Harper with another president.

www.morefreedom.org

Its chilling to look at their site. While it might be dreams come true for the likes of Capitalism, the reality of it is is that if Harper gets a majority, there will be will be no more CBC, no medicare, serious deregulation to the banking and insurance industry, serious decentralization of federal powers, and the courts will be stacked full of judges and laws that will break our social programs to pieces, give corportations more rights than anyone else, especially multinationals and if anyone cares to dig deeply enough into the NCC, they should be scared shitless with who's interests Harper truly represents.

The NCC is nothing more than a front for large U.S. born oil corps, insurance corps, HMO's and the U.S. Republican party itself. I don't care what kind of budget Harper's delivered. He's got to be replaced considering his past.

One just can't vote for U.S interests to represent Canadian ones and expect good things for Canada. It just doesn't work that way... not in common logical sense, and not in reality.

Is Harper a liar? His whole political career is a lie.

Lorne McCuaig
Revelstoke

Brain

Though, this is pretty extreme. I'd like to see CBC stand on its own, though receive some funding, I would like to see 2 tier healthcare, where everybody has access (for a small user fee), deregulation for most businesses (unless they harm mother nature. we need to do a better job of protecting our people and our planet), banks and telecom are too highly regulated, decentralization is good, activist judges are bad.

Decentralization

You've hit the nail on the head The Brain.

Meanwhile, Gordo and Co. are feverishly working to wrest powers away from cities and municipalities with TILMA and the impending Resort Legislation.

Good points brain

Which is why someone needs to get to M Dion and convince him that the advice he's getting from Marrisen-Clark and the other BCLiberal hacks organizing his campaign strategy is going to be the kiss of death.

Dion needs to go to May and Layton now and work out a strategic deal to bring the 60% of the Canadian population together in an alliance to bring down this character in the next election BEFORE he can get a majority.

Without some kind of cooperation, this monster is going to walk and it's not going to be fun for anyone except the Cappys of this country.

Dion has to make a deal, analyze which of the three parties should run against the conmen in every race they're likely to win in the country, and he should do it now.

My view.

After the election is called will be too late. In addition, it has to be honest, up front and with the terms spelled out publicly. No more Liberal reach-arounds.

We know what Harper has promised his base. Nothing he’s ever done indicated he’s gone back on any of those undertakings either.

G

Wouldn't work my friend. I know many, many Liberals who are much closer to the Tories than the NDP. They would not look favourably on a green/liberal/ndp coalition.

Dion might fit in, but most of his party wouldn't. You have to think that Harper will get a number of right-leaning Liberal voters, and believe me there are a lot of them, look at Richmond, Vancouver and the North Shore for evidence of that.

Harper, Dion, Dodge,

Harper, Dion, Dodge, Greenspan, puppets all. The elite control the money supply and therefore they control these guys and us. All budgets are designed to maintain their power and control. No budget will ever properly address poverty or homelessness or any of the social programs that Canadians say we want because the elite simply won't have it. They'll manipulate the numbers in any direction they choose to achieve their ends, and we will blink.

Money creation is no secret, but you'll never read about it in the elite-controlled corporate media or hear about it from their puppets. Because the truth is, the banking system manufactures and guarantees poverty. It's intentional. The banks print only the principal, but principal and interest must be repaid. So now the total debt exceeds the money supply by 3 to 1 and every fresh loan worsens the situation. It's called debt slavery and the elite damn well know it.

So until the people wake up to this superb little scam we can forget about looking to the latest budget for our salvation. The elite have other plans.

All this is irrelevant

We would all be better off if we just disbanded Canada and the provinces become states.

WE have such bad government and politicians. So small time. Whenever you see Cretin or harper stand next to Clinton or Bush, you realize just how second rate we are as a nation.

Canada has only been able to maintain this standard of living, with such bad socialist government we have, because our nighbour to the south is such a good capitalist. Our biggest trading partner is our economic saviour. We are free riders off the United States, while we insult them.

We watch american TV, eat american food, read american books. Hell, most of the world considers us americans!

I am a born and bred Canadian. However, I have a strong enough personality that if Canada ceases to exist I will not lose my identity or reason to exist. Some people would, and will be offended by this post.

Yes, I know I am off topic, but i got on this topic by a typical liberal comment of Harper hates Canada. What an asinine and useless comment that was, sounds like a cretin liberal press blurb.

Truth hurts

Boohoo, Flattax, does the truth hurt? And you add so much that is useful. 100% useful, 100% of the time, that's your moto hey Flattax?

The right grovels at how much better the US is, how if it wasn't for them we'd be up the creek. It's time to get over your infatuation with all things American. Canada would do just fine without the USA scooping up all of our resources.

cappy

So much the better. Those Liberals aren't liberal.

I've always felt they were in the wrong party anyway. Time to get all the real progressive people together in an alliance where they belong.

Fact is, it would work and it scares the bejezzus out of you and your capitalist friends. You know you're outnumbered and you only get to keep the conch because you refuse to tell the truth and play fair. You’ve paid your liberal and conservative friends off over the years and they’ve rewarded you handsomely. It’s time now for some real change and some actual progress which will benefit the people who need help and some leisure and not just folks like you who deserve to get a real job.

It's time to get down to the real battle between what is good for 90% of the people and not what's good for the 10% in your little clique. Scares you silly I know, but if the economic crunch that coming is bad enough, it'll happen.

Dion has a chance to share power and save this country or surrender it to you and flattax - otherwise the monster that Harper really is will take off the gloves when he gets a majority.

Wanna bet on it?

Until the US Drinks Canada Dry...

As Cynic states this is about the elite "controlling" the game, no matter what the political stripe.

...and amen to that thomas49.

Our country is being stolen from us...the left-right "thing" doesn't much matter anymore. Most politicians these days have become enemies of the people largely through their complicit silence - meek, mild, nice, well-behaved facilators for the ruthless, "not nice" money schemes of the elite.

Name me one politician - any party, that has stood up in the provincial legislature, or in the federal parliament and said loudly and clearly something akin to this:

"Canada is being sold down the road to the US...dis-mantled and "americanized" into non-existence.... the rights of its citizens legislated into non-existence as well.

I will not enter this legislature or parliament again until it becomes one worthy of democracy. It has become a farce and a perversion of democracy that I am no longer willing to participate in. To continue to pretend this is not a farce is to be complicit in its crimes.

I will stand outside this legislature or parliament in protest until it once again represents the interests of the people. I call on all others who feel as strongly as I to stand with me."

It would just take one.

But as that old song goes "one is the loneliest number...."

Where is Chayefsky's Max Schumacher when you really need him?

Flattax, you must be joking.

Flattax, you must be joking. You actually admire the rogue state? You admire the most murderous regime in history, built on rape, torture, genocide, dropping nuclear bombs on innocents just to see what happens, propping up murderous dictatorships, monkeywrenching any attempts at democracy, running roughshod over the planet and wreaking havoc as they go?

I invite you to move there, please get out of my country and take Harper and d'Aquino with you.

"We would all be better off if we just disbanded Canada and the provinces become states."

FU

Oops. A little hot under the

Oops. A little hot under the collar there. I apologise for that last bit.

Percy

One becomes used to the left embracing delusional conspiracy theories, but this beats all. This government has invested in subways, had put a tax on odious SUV's, has given substantial tax relief to families with small children, has helped seniors. It's a working people's budget, and the parties of special interest groups and elites are in apoplexy.

The same elites who told us a year ago there would be jackboots in the streets, are now trying to tell us that green doesn't mean green, concern for families doesn't mean concern for families, and a new subway for Toronto doesn't mean a new subway for Toronto.

It sure brings to mind one of the slogans of Orwell's "doublespeak": "Freedom is Slavery."

Sometimes, a cigar is just a cigar. And sometimes a People's Budget is really a People's Budget.

And Freedom really is Freedom.

He's got my vote.

That's all.

percy

Oh, I don't think that's at all fair, really, this is definitely doublespeak all right - but the source is Harper.

This is a Liberal budget. Ask any conservative.

I'm glad you like the modest help for families - very modest if they don't live in Quebec - and the tax credit for helping someone buy a car that lists at $31,000 too (not exactly - - even with the tax credit - in the range most working families can afford).

It's a Liberal budget and give Mr. Harper credit for pitching it at a time when he needs to suck in a few more votes to get a majority.

That's the doublespeak here and, though it appears to have fooled you, it hasn't fooled anyone who has really followed Mr.Harper's career. It certainly wouldn't fool George Orwell.

Tell the truth my friend. He had your vote years ago - nothing to do with the budget. You're actually playing your own little version of 'newspeak' too. Not much has really changed and you conservatives will hold your powder dry because you know the payoff will come later.

Things are unfolding exactly as predicted.

A party for the People?

How can someone who said the following suddenly now be a person who leads a party for the people?

“Canada appears content to become a second-tier socialistic country, boasting ever more loudly about its economy and social services to mask its second-rate status…”

"In terms of the unemployed, of which we have over a million-and-a-half, don't feel particularly bad for many of these people. They don't feel bad about it themselves, as long as they're receiving generous social assistance and unemployment insurance."

"Canada is a Northern European welfare state in the worst sense of the term, and very proud of it. Canadians make no connection between the fact that they are a Northern European welfare state and the fact that we have very low economic growth, a standard of living substantially lower than yours, a massive brain drain of young professionals to your country, and double the unemployment rate of the United States."

"I was asked to speak about Canadian politics. It may not be true, but it's legendary that if you're like all Americans, you know almost nothing except for your own country. Which makes you probably knowledgeable about one more country than most Canadians."

"[Y]our country [the USA], and particularly your conservative movement, is a light and an inspiration to people in this country and across the world."

"Thank you for saying to our friends in the United States of America, you are our ally, our neighbour, and our best friend in the whole wide world."

"What we clearly need is experimentation with market reforms and private delivery options [in health care]."

"It's past time the feds scrapped the Canada Health Act."

Government

In my opinion politics is nothing more then a charade in Canada. Federally, none of the mainstream parties are talking about the adverse effects that Nafta has had on the common people of North America. Mexico's middle class is gone and the poor are now destitute, especially with highly subsidized US GMO corn forcing their farmers off the land. Then here is the whole secret NAU (deep integration) nonsense being spearheaded by Stockwell Day, David Emerson and John Manley, who are nothing less then traitors. The only party talking about this are the Canada Action Party and they receive no press, while Liz May comes out for the Greens and the press give her as much time as needed, only because she effectively has nothing to say.
Provincially, the whole shebang is being P-3'd which allows no public scrutiny, not to mention TILMA tying the hands of democratically elected local governments. The NDP should be doing townhalls around this Province to get the message out on the crimes occuring such as the sale of BC Rail, BC Hydro and the takeover of Translink by Kevin Falcon. Not to mention, the Gateway project lies that pollution will be reduced by doubling volume on the roads. What a dishonest load of horse manure from a so called green Premier. The mainstream press is pathetic in giving a free ride to the Liberal/Corporate sellout of our Province.

http://freespeechca.blogspot.

http://freespeechca.blogspot.com/2007/03/evolution-of-north-american-union-final.html
Does anyone here really think big corporations will allow this so called green to happen?
www.ichblog.eu/
This is the big picture that the msm CanWest, Glowbull TV (hollywood bs, a lost og, nothing about BC Rail/CN and the super 10 lane North American Hwy) isn't printing, because if we knew we'd all be breaking down the doors of these OUR so called elected puppets that are good "lil" puppies of Corporations who actually control our lives!
STOP BUYING "STUFF" FOR ONE WEEK A MONTH EVERY MONTH Stop driving as much as you can and see if this doesn’t plug up the container ships, oil tankers, ports, trucks, planes, and on till these parasites finally understand "WE THE PEOPLE OF THE WORLD HAVE THE POWER"! Without US buying, the corporations have no money = no power
With out the media we are left in the dark about OUR and OUR KIDS future, do WE really want this?
With out any word in/on msm about TILMA WE are being given over to Corporate greed and slavery.

Buy local as it will help

Buy local as it will help our farmers, ranchers, etc and we won't just get trickle down.
Transfer your bank accounts to Vancity or Credit Unions at least there as members you can vote and even get elected to the boards and as members you can go to their meetings!
The big 6 banks stole 19 billion dollars from any one who dealt with them, that's more than Our Feds gave US Canadians in the so called fudget/Budget.
So gordo how do you feel as our glorious leader/traitor getting zilch, nota, zip from your photo op buddy?
The NWO by the Bilderbergs and the war machines
Do a wikapedia on the Bilderbergs or just googal!
This is what WE should really be concerned with today as 2008 will be what they think will be their year to come out fom their holes?
Some of the players in NWO
www.conspiracyarchive.com/NWO/
http://home.freeuk.net/freenations/british-eu
www.thenation.com/doc/20010430/greider
www.jeremiahproject.com/newworldorder/nworder

the answer is: NO

NO

Not at all.

jeez murdock

We're back to that?

Right on, Worrywart

Worrywart wrote:

I agree, Worrywart. The often overlooked Canadian Action Party has been a consistently forthright, principled and courageous voice especially in regard to Canadian sovereignty...and they actually "say it out loud" (without mumbling) ;-) and with some force behind the words...instead of all that usual "nice" reticence which seems to have infected the NDP of late.

Yes, Harper is a Republican

which I can say with confidence based on having lived in the US for many years. His tactics, such as the attack today on the Liberals accusing them of treasonous sympathies, are absolutely Rovian. But he and Flaherty also sound like Bush did when Bush was campaigning in 2000--compassionate conservatism, family values--with a Canadian twist.

It's quite transparent--the Conservatives want to essentially erase the border, especially as far as commerce goes. And that means, as the right wingers put it, being comptetitive by bringing taxation and regulation down to US levels. I'm sure one of their dreams is doing as good a job at eliminating union membership here as the Republicans have in the US. And then they can shift the tax burden from investment to wage income (such as the capital-gains tax cuts elites insist will "create jobs").

So if the Conservatives win a majority, Canadians can look forward to a growing impoverished underclass, more partisan and mean-spirited politics, increasing militarism, an expanding prison-industrial complex, and possibly the rise of ugly racism which is an historical concomitant of right-wing politics (it brings the hard-core to the polls). These are perennial elements of US society which have intensified since Reagan.

Could it happen here?

The Canadian Action Party is

The Canadian Action Party is the only party that advocates using our public Bank of Canada to fund public expenditure. It's one of their core policies and therefore they have my vote.

Voting for a politician who doesn't denounce the banking system is a wasted vote.

"The issue which has swept down the centuries and which will have to be fought sooner or later is The People vs. The Banks." - Lord Acton, Historian, 1834 - 1902

To quote a traitor

This is what a gutless, moronic traitor sounds like, folks. If you all want to know what traitors say and write, this is it.

Sound like Harper to you as well?

"Canada has only been able to maintain this standard of living, with such bad socialist government we have, because our nighbour to the south is such a good capitalist." - Flattax

Yes, us Canadians are worthless good for nothings. Were dirt compared to americans. We get it, Flattax. The only way we will ever have any worth is to join them. When you huff glue, Flattax, from time to time you should think about exhaling.

"Our biggest trading partner is our economic saviour. We are free riders off the United States, while we insult them." - flattax

More dribble from a weak, brainwashed, dullard mind. Who in their right mind ever thought that trade isn't competitive? Who in their right mind thinks CEO's don't want to own and run the world? Cause they do. They just want to get bigger to be the richest and largess at what they do for prestige, image, all that money can buy, is worth everything to them. And guess what, dummy. They have a whole lot more greed, money and greedy players than us. So you tell me whether or not we should just lay down, put our asses up in the air and take it nicely when we get screwed.

For whatever reason, flattax just doesn't get it. He's bought, brainwashed, given a salary to spill out stupid posts, I don't know, but its like this. When a country, any country, messes around with the affairs of others, trys coup's in their governments, tries propaganda, tries lies, tries heavy handed trade tactics, tries everything under the sun to do one simple thing, one simple goal, "to own you", including war in all of its ugly ways, military, propaganda & bribes, you have a right to get pissed off at the business leaders and political puppets that are behind it. We don't like Americans? What a crock. What an absolute lie and sham this flattax is made of. We just don't like their greedy businessmen and puppet $$$ bought leaders... just like the rest of the world who has common sense, including americans themselves.

"We watch american TV, eat american food, read american books. Hell, most of the world considers us americans!" - Flattax

Totally brainwashed. A sorry assed Canadian if he ever was one.

Except for every other word that comes out of your mouth, flattax. Your a joke.

If I ever heard you say these words in front of me, my first impulse would be to raise a knee, numb your nuts and bloody your face. You have no business being in this country.

He's pretty much on record for it, moron. And you sound just like him. (what a dork)

Lorne Mccuaig
Revelstoke, BC

I've tried putdowns, logic, explanation...

And you still don't get it!!!

Do you realize, Cappy, how big of a nation this is, or how much overhead is involved with broadcasting SW throughout the world and by radio to the North where it will never pay? And do you know why its important? Do you know how recognized its news and commentary of political issues has been internationally over the last 50 years? Do you any understanding of what the CBC possesses in their archives with the history of this country? Do you understand even, why it exists? Its called "to serve the public". Not board members. Not investors. Not CEO's. Not even governments. And thats why its worth keeping as a crown to me, is because they've done this since its conception.

We already have it. Presently, its about 70% public and 30% private. The tyee has had exhaustive threads and stories relating to health and expenditures. When you say private, just remember that all doctors are under private contracts. All Dentists, all Optomitrists, a good chunk of elderly care, rehab and chronic care... naturalpathy, optimetrists, lab work, do you have any clue as to what actually is public? Nurses wages. Hospital infrastructure and staff outside of doctors. All wages that are union. Do you have any clue as to what would happen if unions ceased to exist and its pay as you go? The rich would get help. The poor would stay sick or die, and the middle class would get hosed.

Multinational insurance companies would make a killing at our expense and declare their taxes south of us as the rest of the multinationals do in this country, like vampires sucking us dry. Thats how it is, cappy. Take a look at how many people leave a bad tooth go too long cause they can't afford even to have it removed... and it kills some people. How many people are without heathcare in the U.S.? And you want to go there because what... you're an investor? That's your big reason? Money? You'll make money? This is private care's best defense? Greed for American interests over public human health?

www.earth.google.com
Download it. Take a good long look at the earth. Take a good long look at its forests that are gone, at the ice that's left, at whats happening to our ocean floors and corral reefs, our marine life, our fresh water, our food supply our growing populations and tell me where it will end. Tell me how deregulation of mining, oil & gas, transport, power generation, M & A's of Canadian banks and insurance companies, union busting and deregulation of labour laws, deregulation of labor trade requirements, deregulation of Food & drug manufacturing (and thats a biggie), globalization that passes off the headache of poorly enforced laws that do exist in manufacturing, cause thats AMERIKA's dirty little secret... just get the Chinese to do it. They don't have restrictions on PCB's and CFC's like we do. Cappy, do you have any clue as to why regulations exist at all? Here it is:

If business wasn't regulated, we would become like any other third world. Exploited, bought for peanuts, and currency crushed for a quick buck. And don't think for a minute your "hero" Harper wouldn't do it with a majority. Harper is as loyal to this country as Flattax is.

And one last thing about "telecom deregulation." It's already happening. You're getting your wish. And for that, what you got for your deregulation is monopolies that leave no room for new players, except to be bought out by the bigger telecom's south of the line. What you are saying, Cappy, is "we should sell out to the U.S. and get even more gouged than we already are now. Thats the deregulation we are talking about here. Christ, its not just about standards... why do I have to lecture you with this, its about who owns!

Deregulate... drop the standard... Greed... wrecked environments... we need a system that will regulate business that is too greedy, shortsighted, selfish, destructive and unimaginative to keep itself from its own self destruction. Where is the manufacturing base in the U.S. going? How much of our GDP of raw resouces is flowing out of this country untaxed? Who are you trying to convince, that deregulation is a good thing...

Lorne Mccuaig

G

I'll agree with you on some of this. I believe this is a vote grab and I don't like it. They are trying to snag that majority and hopefully keep most of their promises.

Harper promised that we'd be one of the lowest taxed nations in the world. I want to see this occur.

In all fairness, he also promised to reduce wait-times - and he's given the provinces the resources to do so. He promised to fix the fiscal imbalance - Calvert and Williams may be mad - but they are also wrong. Williams constantly has his hands out.

On this matter, you're right. Bay Street was flabbergasted. Investors were looking forward to a goodie bag full of treats after the income trusts decision.....nothing!!

My question to you is why are the Liberals opposing this budget, if it is a liberal budget? In fact, didn't they expel a (left leaning) MP for voting in favour of it - basically, saying he couldn't tell the difference b/w this budget and a Liberal budget - and since this threw in a little treat for his constituency, he'd vote for it.....

What is Dion trying to do here??

Has to

Dion has to oppose the budget because he's the leader of the opposition and that just what they do. They are contrarians by design. The Bloc immediately said that they would support the budget, therefore it will pass, so Dion knew he could parrot the critical line, opposing the budget, without risking an election he knows he cannot win. He probably likes the budget, although he's not an economist and may not understand the complexities, but it's his job to shout and criticize the opposition.

Good for Harper, in Quebec, since the provincial Liberals, the Parti Quebecois, the Action Democratique and the Bloc all support the budget, except for their native boy who leads the Liberals.

Dion is fast losing whatever chance

Dion is quickly going to lose whatever chance he had to regain a measure of power.

The writing has been on the wall since Stephen Harper used John Reynolds to pimp his offer to David Emerson a little over a year ago.

Harper began the post 2006 election cycle exactly as I predicted he would on these pages. Nothing new about that.

He is going to get his majority and then you and realisticman will have plenty to crow about because he'll deliver. Harper is and has always been a vicious ideologue and only the purblind like yourselves and the terminally optimistic think anything else.

If you care to go back to my comments immediately after the election you can refresh your memory - I don't have to.

Unless Dion and the few Liberals who still have some brains and morals realize that their refusal to engage in some strategic democracy is a huge mistake and re-assess their position quickly and (as always) absent some horrendous disaster in Afghanistan (which is not out of the question) we are going to have a Harper majority.

Then, as I also wrote a year ago - God help us. Capitalism and Stephen Harper will suck this nation dry with an enthusiasm and passion that make Dracula look like an amateur.

G

While I believe you don't comprehend finances or the economy very well. The one thing you do understand well is politics.

I've observed you for a good year now saying this stuff, and to date, its played out exactly like you called it.

I believe that Harper was an ideologue, though he's seems to have really changed since merging the Conservative party. I agree that this budget was a vote grab. Harper has not delivered on his promises to the right. I believe he will - first, he needs his majority. Though, his promises were never that drastic! I still remember the Liberals' "soldiers, with guns, in our streets" commercial.....

I think the guy is pretty open. He'll try and reduce taxes, regulations and open international trade further. He'll continue to pander to the middle class - working man. That is the one thing nobody gets about him. He's not rich!! He's not some CEO who want to take over the country.

He spent most of his life in the middle class. He represents their values! He believes in returning as much as possible to these people, to allow them to make their own choices.

As for Dion, what a clown! Like I said above, there is a large right of centre contingent in his party. In fact, it was this contingent that oversaw the 3 consecutive majority governments. Since Chretien's departure, the party has become more and more urban.

All the Tories have to do, is bring that right of centre faction over - and we'll see years of Harper governments. They are moving in that direction. They are clearly becoming more progressive wrt the environment and social issues.

Harper and the Tories were elated that the SSM vote wet down. In fact, many of his high profile cabinet ministers voted against it. Now, opposition parties won't be able to paint him as a caveman....the one effective tactic they used to have.

Afghanistan

You're right - a disaster in Afghanistan is completely possible and would crush him.

The problem is that people don't understand the issue - many equate it with Iraq. The Afghanis want to be helped. They want us there and they need us there. The Taliban was not popular with most people. In fact, most of the country is peaceful.

The Taliban in Afghanistan took over with violence and tactics. Most of the Taliban members, including Bin Ladin aren't even Afghani. They had the hills, mountains and caves to hide in. That is all...

They need our help, much like they do in Sudan. We need to be in both places. Harper is building a military that might allow us to have a presence in both...

Con Job

Once Harper has suckered Canadians into giving him a majority Harper will Govern like he really wants to. Then Canadians will see Harper for the political thug that he is, and will vote him out in the subsequent election.

Unfortunately that would mean four years of (Neo)Conservative damage to the country, just like we've witnessed here in BC with Campbell.

Harper's comments in the House yesterday were shameful. I am no Liberal supporter but saying they support the Taliban more than Canadian troops is low and it shows the level he will stoop to tar his opponents. It looks like he is getting some Rovian advice from down south.

Maybe their evolving

It appears Harper has realized that Canada is essentially a liberal (small L) country, and we don't elect neocons. That is why they are attemtting to gain favour with a "Liberal" budget.

If he is smart enough to realize the need to feign liberalism, then one must assume he will realize the need to maintain his new liberal tendencies to remain in power.

And so, out of neccessity, maybe he is evolving into a center-right populist who panders to the largest collection of voters, and abandons his ideologies for the trappings of success.

Or not.

jw

i agree with you - Canada is a small "l" country - with different shades around the country.

i believe that canadians can become comfortable with this economic platform. what i think they can't get comfortable with is a social agenda that some in the old alliance (and current party) push.

Budget BS....

...How can anyone honestly praise a budget whose only purpose is your vote? and in reality, only gives back a bit of what was taken away last year?

Just like Campbell and his party going on about how much he has done for the province, when the first thing he did was cut, cut, cut education and healthcare spending?? Then ask for praise when he gave SOME back. The first thing Harpercrit did when elected was make a wide sluice of cuts across social programs, child care, education and healthcare and we are supposed to be happy that he gave a SMALL portion of it back??? altho even most of what he has given back is canceled out elsewhere in this budget?
Just so he can glean votes?

I am not fooled. I support the Canada Action Party and do not want anyone selling our sovreignty to the US. We have already allowed them to take too much. Harpercrit is a sell-out and a traitor, period.

Educate Me

apathysux

Four areas that Harper? cut. Oh yeah, tell me where?

baloneysuxtu

I understand the system all too well.

Oh not at all Cappy, I understand the criminal financial system you and your friends use to exert control over the lives of free people, hardworking people and poor people and First Nations people; children and the old and people who deserve much better from a country they cared for, and in the case of veterans – fought and died for.

I know exactly how you and John Reynolds and Rakesh Saxena and Stephen Harper and Paul Martin and Ralph Klein and Gordon Campbell and all the thugs who have manipulated the media and ruined the tax system in this country to their own advantage have done it. I understand exactly who these people are and I know precisely how they use lies and special interests to play the ponzi scheme that is what you still so appallingly call the 'financial system' of this poor deluded land. In British Columbia the average citizen and our native brothers and sisters were far better off under the benign dictatorship of Governor Douglas – for God’s sake.

It's not only politics and economics I know and understand better than you do, it is my understanding of what's necessary to counteract your fat finger on the roulette wheel that makes the real difference though.

Change the tax system in this country and tax the proceeds of the lies, half-lies and outright thievery that your hallowed capitalist cock-up of governments have serially used to profit yourselves and screw the other 90% of the people who actually do the productive work in this land and things will change so fast your little head will spin.

God if only Dion had the beans to actually confront what you and your ilk have done to this once fairly egalitarian and decent country.

If only.

RE: cuts in Sept. '06 by Harper

Here is CBC's list of cuts.

http://www.cbc.ca/news/background/parliament39/budgetcuts-list.html

I was wrong re: childcare. He just did not keep his promise re:day care spots and the National Benefit for children under 6 is taxable which cancels out the benefit for low-income families. Besides what kind of daycare is $100 per month going to pay for???

Specifically cuts were to human resource areas for women, literacy, youth employment, legal support, etc.

Regardless...when you read the small print and put it all together the budget says much but does little other than to further blind the voters to his real agenda.

apathysux

Couldnt be truer, apathysux

Blind cheerleaders or three blind mice, take your pick.

Lorne McCuaig
Revelstoke.

when you read the small print

".....and put it all together the budget says much but does little"

When was the last decade in which we've had a budget "of significance".........?

"the brain"

Seems you were a little upset by my comments about Canada splitting and joining the US!

Perhaps you should stop defining yourself as a member of a group (ie a Canadian) and form you own sense of being an individual.

Some people need religion as a crutch, some people need nationalism. There is no difference between the two. Both require a willing suspension of disbelief and an need to be led.

Yes, it is time to stop being a sheep and learn to think on your own.

I laugh at people like you, I really do. I pity you too.

Stockboy Day

It now appears that one of Harper's cabinet ministers has more than that picture of himself in a wet suit to live down.

Let's see how 'ethical' Mr. Harper handles the latest indication that he's a far sleazier operator than even Paul Martin ever was.

This could be interesting. Why no one in the press has gone after Harper's connections to John Reynolds is just another mystery. Compared with the hatchet job delivered to Paul Martin's reputation by a certain Vancouver Sun reporter on Feb 20, 2006, this conservative example of criminality and violating the terms of the election act should provide an interesting counterpoint.

What do you think Cappy?

Realisticman? jw?

Could we have your thoughts on buying a seat for the stockboy?

These guys aren't even good crooks - they leave evidence behind.

Gotta watch that word 'contingent' it'll catch you every time eh cappy?

G

I'm not sure what you're talking about. Send me a link and i'll respond.

John Reynolds didn't do anything wrong. He's a good guy. I've met him a couple of times.

I'm not your gopher -

Reynolds is up to his neck in cahoots with a character called Saxena; he negotiated the deal with Emerson and is clearly connected by an electonic umbilical cord to Stephen Harper.

I'll let you do your own research to figure out what is behind all that - I don't do links for people who don't read anything but the business pages. The fact you've met John Reynolds is not a surprise.

Look at Kim Bolan's column in the Vancouver Sun of Feb 20 of this year. Take my word for it, nothing in that column is fair or factual - it's a complete lie and a fabrication made of whole cloth. I'll be doing a complete deconstuction of it in the next few days.

As for the Stockwell Day deal. There is now, according to CBC, evidence that the fellow who vacated his seat for stocky to run as the new leader of the party, did it because of a contingent agreement (before the fact) that he'd be paid off.

You may not know anything about the election act in Canada, but that's illegal bud and if Harper doesn't ask the stockboy to step down while the RCMP investigates (as they once before pretended they had)- well, pee wee's image is going to look worse than it did in that leisure suit he wore on his first trip to Afghanistan.

I'm Misunderstood ?

GW

Did you intend to lump me in with Cappy?

I've never been so insulted,I may never come back.

And no, political corruption doesn't suprise me in the least.

The trick to tell if a politician is lying: their lips move

jw - this....is what I was reacting to

I agree with the sentiment that this is the 'appearance' of things...but not with the conclusion.

I don't think dear leader Stephen has abandoned his 'ideology' at all.

Sorry if I filed your card in the wrong cubby-hole my friend.

What do you actually believe Stephen Harper is up to?

I've made my own view entirely clear. Mr. Harper, in my view, isn't all that concerned with trappings - he's an ideologue through and through - in my estimation those kinds of leopards seldom if ever change their spots.

He's Machiavellian to the core - that's true - but once your down to that core he's a thoroughgoing neocon fundamentalist westerner - and a complete disaster for the kind of country and future I believe in.

Nothing has ever induced me to vote Liberal in my life - and probably never will, but if there were a formal strategic alliance in place and the designated candidate to beat the neocons in the next election were Liberal, that's who I'd cast my ballot for.

Now, excuse me while I go and wash my hands.

Stephen Harper...centrist

Stephen Harper has appeared to move his positions to the centre in a bid for his majority of seats.

It is one thing to change ones opinions over the years as you get older but it is another to change almost everything you have spent your political advocating in a matter of months. e.g. from "so called global warming" to the various half hearted attempts to appear concerned about the environment. The one that really takes the cake is his support for the Canada Health Act.

Remember, in a short period of time he has taken people who have crossed the floor to his party without a by-election, appointed someone to senate then to cabinet(all on his first day,taxed income trusts, used energy royalties to calculate transfers to the provinces. He campaigned on accountablility but his MP's and cabinet are kept silent. The merits of these various things can be debated but SH said he would never do this.

Take into a huge character flaw of accusing the Liberals of supporting child porn, crime, terrorism and the Taliban without apologising for these egregious lies. There is not a single political party in this country that supports these things. However, SH did support the illegal invasion of Iraq.

Harper

You know, there's always the chance Harper would rather be in power and make nice with the mushy middle than remain an ideologue and sit in opposition.

I know I know, I actually laughed when I wrote that.

However, I've never met the man so unless someone knows him personally I wouldn't dismiss the possibility.

Point #2, for those of you here on the Right, okay, I mean you JIm, who think its not okay for Harper to be accused of crimes he has yet to commit, please recall that outrage when attacking Jack Layton or Carol James.

Aint Flattax special?

Last time I looked at my passport, it said I was a part of a group.

And your belief in "individualism", defined as "me first" isn't a religion?

Yah, just shit on leaders and followers alike, there's no such thing, its dog eat dog and every man for themselves. Nice religion.

Laughter and good old fashioned pious pity... that's, funny. That's not the first thing that comes to mind when I think of you.

I'm in Revelstoke. Come look me up sometime. We'll make like were long time friends. I've got something special to give you... all by myself.

Lorne McCuaig

the brain

Quote:

I'm in Revelstoke. Come look me up sometime. We'll make like were long time friends. I've got something special to give you... all by myself.
Lorne McCuaig

Haha

Sorry Lorne, I don't lean that way.

Brainiac...

BWAAAAAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAAAAA!!!

Nice job, taking flattax apart like a hammer to a cheap Chinese toy. Hope you're gettin' some up there in Revelstoke. You're too cute not to....

Flat, I was kind of hoping you'd be one of the ones to weigh in on the Galbraith thread. Care to defend your economic theories there?

Cappy

I kind of wish that in your push for lower taxes, that you'd kindly make some suggestions where our tax revenue should come from?

Why we're still taxing income when we want everybody to make more of it to help themselves out of the gutter is beyond me. We need to start taxing the evils - pollution, waste, lousy maintenance, poor decision-making etc. all need to have their costs assessed and punished.

Harper made a weak start at it with the tax on Hummers, but the loopholes are big enough to drive....well....Hummers through.

We need to have more than a "me-too" taxation regime with the rest of the North American Confraternity of Bobblehead Idiot-Economists. Our taxation regime needs to make it attractive for people to move their asses and their capital to Canada to improve everybody's standard of living. Including their own.

Make no mistake, the most valuable capital a nation can own is its human capital. And taxing its ingenuity can be its most serious mistake. As it has been for the last hundred years.

Sin tax

Is there anybody else who thought that Harper's new 'tax on Hummers' was just a new sin tax? (Yes, I know, I know, but I meant the cardinal sin.)

Or is it just me that's looking wistfully UP at the gutter?

No hidden agenda

Stephen Harper is a young man. And he is the PM of Canada.
Often accused of a hidden agenda he has soldiered on.
He knows Canada is a liberal society.
It's no secret. But he has the time to be PM for a very long time.
It's no secret he needs a majority government to truly be in the drivers seat.
Once there, he will not expose some kind of evil agenda.
Why would he? Given my above argument that he is in it for the long haul. Why would he take some kind of right wing path, that would expose him as having some kind of extreme right wing jihad, which would allow him to be voted out in the next election.
What would he do then?
He is not wealthy. He would need another job.
How about the President of Alberta?
This guy is smart. I have no idea where he is going.
I am a Conservative who is wowed by this guy's performance.
I heard him on 3 radio interviews yesterday ( picked by his choice )
And this guy is a super salesman.
If I was a liberal in Canada, I would be concerned that the tide has shifted.
I guess I am happy, but I would have liked the Country of Alberta.

IAMC

What the hell was that?

This:

followed by this:

Makes me wonder how you live with the internal contradictions.

Must be a struggle huh?

Surely makes me feel a lot better about Stephen's plans when one of his acolytes is so doubtful about that right-wing agenda.

DO you work all day on these carefully considered disquisitions Ron?

I hope you're not in a line of work that involves operating heavy machinery.

zalm

When it comes to the dismal science, the only theories that matter are those of adams, hayak, and friedman. eom.

dismal science - you must be joking

Nothing remotely scientific about economics.

They even had to create their own "nobel" prize out of whole cloth.

What a laugh you are flattax.

Evil Agenda

You're right there. What he will do is work secretly behind closed doors on SPP/NAU.

A hardcore idealogue like Harper does not change in the span of a few months.

My question is if he wants to govern like a Liberal then why not just become a Liberal?

This whole Stocky scandal hopefully will play out so we'll expose these guys for what they really are.

And the whole John Reynolds Saxena scandal, well that's on a whole different level.

Time to sharpen the knives

It will be interesting to see if Rae's team wait for the majority before massing around Dion with their knives.

Objective Research my a...

apathysux

If you rely on the CBC for your research I'd have to say that you've swallowed the bait. That's like asking Ford to comment on the new Toyota.

The Coming NA Parliament

What role is Harper Conservatives playing in this?:

http://www.aim.org/aim_report/5319_0_4_0_C/

Let's not be mistaken here though, the Liberals have very much been on side with a NAU, and the NDP, well they've been all but silent.

Realisticman....

...FYI that is not where I do my research. It was the first link I could find. Try ..the government of Canada site archives. All actions of the government are published there. In fact, when the cuts were made that was where I first read the entire list.

BTW, I put more faith in what CBC reports than any other station in Canada. It is the only one that still trys to serve the public interest.

apathysux

Well said apathysux

R/man - you can't seriously tell me you rely upon Kevin Newman for your news. That stuff is as bad as a Fox product.

There's very little wrong with Newsworld. It's far from perfect and the new executives the CBC have brought in from the States have degraded the place and hung up a lot of cheap glitzy tinsel around the shop, but - given that, it is clearly the best option on television.

Wouldn't you agree? Where do you go for your facts? I've noticed lately they seem rather out of date and....well, just plain wrong.

Rose colored glasses

"Once there, he will not expose some kind of evil agenda.
Why would he? Given my above argument that he is in it for the long haul. Why would he take some kind of right wing path, that would expose him as having some kind of extreme right wing jihad, which would allow him to be voted out in the next election."
If you want proof that this statement is absurd look no further then Gordon Campbells election promises and his present selloff of BC's public resources.
Politicians, like Harper, campaign to please the masses, while representing the elite who foot their bills. It's an old story and is not about to change, money talks.
Harper is religous and far right and does not represent the majority of Canadians, as neither do the Fraser Inst., National Citizens Coalition or the Thomas D'Aquino group of CEO's. Yet they are always quoted by CanWest.

flattax

Adams?

As for Friedman, when did his theories hold sway? Oh about 15+ years ago eh? They were tried and found to be a failure.

The world has moved on.

Radio 2, yes

CBC, here in BC in particular, is absolutely unabashedly ultra left wing. I mean, if there's a union story from Nova Scotia involving a business with 8 people it will likely be on the local newscast. It has become an absolute character of itself. Ask anyone that works there, either here or in Toronto. English Montreal is nowhere near as pinko as elsewhere but BC takes the woolly cake. No wonder it's audience is counted on one hand.

I've never watched Kevin Newman. I only know who he is since his picture is in the ads in the press. The only news I watch is local, and only for the weather, occasionally Jim Lehrer on PBS.

I also read.
from Neil Reynolds, Globe & Mail, 3-23-07

Mr. Flaherty channelled much of the surplus back to the provinces where it belongs. In this act of restraint, he proved himself a finance minister of stature. When the Conservatives took office, they promised to establish clear-cut lines of responsibility between federal and provincial governments. Mr. Flaherty demonstrated that he's prepared to get on with it, to decentralize unilaterally.

Au Contraire

Oh I don't know, you should listen to AM 690 radio 5:30 - 8:30am. And, your idea of left wing is probably someone who believes in spending on social capital and the progressive income tax.

Puffmaster Cluff is about the furthest thing from left wing I could imagine.

And, without some actual evidence I can't see you've made your point at all R/man.

In fact, the absence of any recent coverage of the BASI/VIRK case on CBC (even given the embarrassingly late entry of Canwest puppet and Campbell acolyte Vaughn Palmer into the fray as a benchmark) is convincing evidence of something else entirely.

I must admit that occasionally Stephen Quinn sits in for the puffmaster on AM 690 in the mornings and HE is capable of asking, and pursuing, a decent line of inquiry that counters the spin imposed at mind-control center in Victoria. Something you ought to watch out for by the way.

As for all local TV news. You are clearly joking - their current idea of relevance is getting the stupidest person in the neighbourhood behind a microphone and in front of a camera. They are all a complete waste of time. I understand the ‘A’ channel actually charges suckers for the privilege of looking stupid on the evening news.

Most ridiculous comment ever?

This might take top prize for most ridiculous comment on the Tyee I've ever read:

Surely you meant this as a joke. Do you even know what "ultra left wing" means?

Quote:As for all local TV

SLOW DOWN! I wrote that I only watch local TV for the weather.

I think that I do, actually. In fact, at one time I sold 'underground' newspapers on the street. They were definitely not right wing.

Examples

Okay so what are some specific examples of ultra left wing biases of the CBC in BC that you can point to? Other than the vague 8 person union story from Nova Scotia.

If you only watch weather news, how would you know about ultra leftism? Don't tell me, the leftists have infiltrated the weather reports too!

The Coming NA Parliament

kl

What's your point here?

A Carter Democrat suggesting $200 billion in aid for Mexico. Is that a problem for you?

Do you feel they should stay put?

The Panama Canal is also mentioned and he was part of the "giveaway". Was that wrong? Should the USA have held on to the Canal?

Seems all the right-wingers are against this plan. Do you know what Harper's opinion is? Is he for it as the other left-wingers are?

Local news, weather and the CBC

realisticman, take my advice and avoid this discussion. Once in a while we all say something we can't defend. Today is your turn. Cut your losses and walk away.

Unintelligible

Realisticman

Your last past is unintelligible.

My point? You state the CBC news is ultra left wing. I disagree and I asked you to come up with specific examples. You came up with an unintelligible response about Carter and Mexico. Can you be more clear in your posting as to how this is an example of ultra left wing reporting by the CBC?

Gordo's bait and switch BC

Gordo's bait and switch
BC Rail scandal court date April 02, 07
TILMA's treasonous act, corporations first BS April 01, 07
These (g campbell and r kline)traitors should be brought up on charges of treason as WE/Canadians are at war in Afghan for their freedom and democracy and OUR own democracy and Freedoms are being threatened by a sell-out to the greedy corporate so-called elite war mongers.

http://www.therealnews.com/web/index.php

My vote will go here as it

My vote will go here as it seems the NDP have sold out too. sad http://canadianactionparty.ca/cgi/page.cgi?zi

Thanks to Frank

Actually, kl, I was referring to the text in the link that you gave a few posts up but Frank is right.

Canada Action Party

One problem with CAP is that it was founded and run by Paul Hellyer.

Now I'm not going to write the guy off completely for his belief in alien visits and that the US is withholding alien technology from us in order to protect the oil industry.

But at some point CAP has to have a reason to exist and a reasonable chance of some success. Currently their raison d'etre is all financial, revolving around the Bank of Canada and debt. Socially they're to the right of the NDP, or at least they were under Hellyer himself who was always quick to disassociate himself from "socialists".

As for their electoral prospects, they have none. They've never threatened to elect anyone. The Greens on the other hand may not have seats but they have a lot more support across the country and its only a matter of time till they elect someone.

CAP is just a protest vote. Which is fine as long as that's recognized.

realisticman

I'm curious why you haven't returned to comment further on the housing plight of your young friend from yesterday.

I'm certain it's just an oversight.

Thanks to Frank

Okay, I didn't realize you were posting to the NA parliament link.

The link between that post and Harper is that I feel Harper is working behind the scenes, inching us closer into a NAU. This is something he has not been up front about with Canadians.

You asked what Harper's opinion is? Considering he had Stockwell Day and Gordon O'Connor at the SPP meeting in Banff it it clear he is in support of an NAU of some sort. On this front he needs to come clean. Mulroney laid the foundations for an NAU, Chretien and Martin continued laying the groundwork, and now we have Harper.

Non big business right wingers are against such a plan in the US because they fear an onslaught of Mexican workers. Big business in the US wants our oil and our water. Here in Canada, the right, and in right I mean big business and the occassional Cappy and IAMC, Flattax, favours a union because they see an NAU as a means to even more unfettered Capitalism. In other words they think that by attaching ourselves to the US we can all somehow get rich.

But Frank....

But Frank, just look at the reticent websites of the NDP and The Green Party in comparison to the issues The Canadian Action Party is willing to take on:

http://www.canadianactionparty.ca/home.html

They are actually saying out loud what The NDP and The Green Party are both trying very hard to daintily tiptoe around.

This is the present article they have boldly posted on their website:

"The Meta-Morphosis and The Sabotage of Canada by our Own Government."

Their leader Connie Fogal (the widow of that very good and fine man, Harry Rankin)has great qualifications herself....and she's even from Saskatchewan, Frank. ;-)

I'm not a member of The CAP but I think they really deserve some serious attention and consideration paid, especially at this most critical juncture in the history of this country.

But...

Oh I agree Lynn that they have put forward some stuff I very much agree with. But, their electoral prospects are as bad as if one of us on the Tyee decided to run.

I remember when CAP started and how Hellyer distanced himself from the NDP and the National Party. Well, Hurtig almost won a seat in Edmonton and had much better long-term prospects than Hellyer but he threw in the towel.

The NDP is not perfect, nor would I ever claim them to be, but how much room to the left of the Liberals is there in this country?

In a first-past-the-post system its inconsequential in most ridings who you vote for. In mine the Conservative candidate will win over 50% of the vote just as he has in every election I know of since the Depression. So sure, why not vote CAP or Rhino or whatever? Its fine to do so because the Cdn electoral system isn't really interested in what we really think anyway.

But in places where the NDP has a chance of winning I don't see the point of CAP even running a candidate. Even if they win 0.01% of the vote that just might be enough to elect a Conservative instead of an NDPer.

Of course, if one is not a "socialistic" NDPer and is in fact a Lib on most issues but an economic nationalist then CAP is a good fit. The Libs are as right-wing as the Cons when it comes to economics. So CAP can represent people in-between the NDP and Libs.

But its a very narrow slice of the Cdn electorate to try and carve out a niche within. CAP has been trying for 20 years to win a seat and haven't yet.

lynn

Which leads me to wonder what their strategy can possibly be......

Or have they been bought/scared off?

Crucial times

I agree that the next election is going to be quite the minefield to manouevre to keep Harper from getting a majority but I am disappointed in the leadership of the NDP who seem quite content to lay low in such crucial times.

Actually, since The Canadian Action Party is the only party that advocates using our public Bank of Canada to fund public expenditure (as Cynic above notes), The CAP in the end, shows itself to be more of an advocate of social infrastructure than The NDP. It is at least not afraid or hesitant to take on the private banking system.

Privatization (and the ensueing loss and dismantlement of our social services, not to mention our human rights), depends on the elimination of national central banking control by sovereign governments. Privatization and the banking system are thus inexorably linked. Just as a public Bank of Canada is linked to the maintenance of a strong and healthy social infrastructure...medicare, education etc.

As Cynic above notes:

So where are those bold political voices speaking out in defense of us and The Bank of Canada?... can't even find anything on their websites.

But from the CAP website:

They have either betrayed us or abandoned us. Take your pick. The effect is the same: The reduction of our standard of living.

We are slowly but surely being turned over to third world conditions. Look at the emasculation of our medicare, our public broadcasting, hospitalization, education, public transit, etc etc. Come to Vancouver's downtown eastside where third world conditions now prevail for masses of
condemned humanity. Our elected representatives have submitted to the Command of the international financial agenda for whatever is their rationale."

Me too

Rick W wrote:

I wonder about that, too, Rick...

Ya think there is a strategy? ;-)

Very sad

The local NDP (Victoria variety) had to have its spine stiffened by a significant push from the grass roots (both through direct contacts and letters to the editor) and a lead from the press to actually engage on the issue of Gordon Campbell's plan for the Legislative Library.

Mike Farnsworth seems finally to have understood that he and other members of the opposition caucus actually have to stand up and speak out before they're noticed and they have to begin to THINK for themselves if there's to be an effective oppostion to the on-going sellout of this province. To this point not much has happened but, there are some signs of life now. Campbell’s caucus is showing signs of cracking as the few moral folks left on that side of the house gradually realize what their leader actually represents

Hopefully Farnsworth, Krog, Adrian Dix and others will be able to awaken their own leader and this simple sign of life would prove to be just a dead cat bounce.

As for Jack Layton, he should certainly be reaching out to both Elizabeth May and to Dion with innovative ideas for a coalition and alliance to defeat the Harper clique in the next election. Stealing the CAP policy on using the Bank of Canada to actually build an independent and humane country would be an excellent place to start – as you’ve pointed out Lynn.

The other parties have been stealing CCF/NDP ideas for so long that no one could possibly object.

errata

should be 'would prove NOT to be just a dead cat bounce....'

lynn

Could be, but I've read all of Hellyer's books and I just don't think that he was that interested in increasing spending on social programs. Seemed more interested, at least that was my impression, in simply keeping the level of debt down after providing the social infrastructure he felt required to.

Irregardless, CAP has not been a threat to be elected in any riding anywhere in the last 20 years. It would be like you running Lynn, I'd vote for you but I'd like to think there's even an outside chance you could win your seat.

Perhaps I still feel a bit jilted at the way Hellyer looked down his nose when it was suggested perhaps he should cooperate with those dirty socialists.

It's the same old, same old

Daylight Saving in Canada
http://www2.marianopolis.edu/quebechistory/encyclopedia/DaylightSavinginCanada.htm

Extract From Victoria's Monday Magazine (letter to the editor):
"Ever wonder why in May, 1918, Sir George Foster, the minister of trade and commerce who introduced the legislation bringing daylight saving time to Canada, would write to business friends to tell them how good it felt to hear the farmers "squeal" about its enactment and how it would have workers - who wanted an eight hour day - working longer hours?

When it was enacted into legislation on May 14, 1918, DST's purpose was to undermine the growing farmers' and labour's political, social, economic and union movements."
- submitted by Foster Griezic, Victoria

Too early in the morning -- but somehow this seems to fit with the current discourse.........................
Everything in this country is about politics. Anything that happens to give the working stiff a break is purely incidental.

Too late, too late for a very important date?

There's really not much I disagree with in your comment, Frank, certainly not about Hellyer or about the electoral chances of the CAP....but if I vote, they will get my vote if they remain the only party to actually take on the critical issues that need to be faced... well, faced yesterday, actually.... and if they remain willing to boldly defend the protection of Canada's sovereignty.

I have said this before but when exactly does the NDP consider an "opportune" time to speak out fearlessly about the grand sell-out of this country?

When the saddest of garage sales is finally over? When we have lost all right, all strength, and all momentum to protest?

That said, I am hopeful, like G West, that at least some elected members of the NDP are attempting to awaken their leader and that they are beginning to speak out despite a more cautionary and conciliatory approach, (and ultimately an ineffective one) by their leader. I thought MacLaughlin, MacDonough stayed waaaay tooooo long at the party... I feel the same way about James. If there ever was a time when we needed bold, inspiring and imaginative leadership it is now.

And this is a time issue, despite the tendency for too many to deny this, and there is not a lot of time left. The neo-cons are certainly ruthlessly sticking to their carefully timed agenda, it's about time the left realized this is The Grand Prix Race for Self-determination... and that they need to apply some serious steam heat to the challenge... and as Rick W, notes some serious "strategy" as well - that's if we want any autonomy over the direction our once free and independent Canada will take in the future.

The Canadian Action Party

The Canadian Action Party for truth We need to act NOW!
http://canadianactionparty.ca/cgi/page.cgi?zi
Is this what we want for our future?
Not me these are treasonous acts against US all CANADIANS.
As such WE should as Canadians bring a Class Action Suite against the traitors in OUR Federal and Provincial Buildings
This is very close to becoming real with TILMA
Action NOW!