Storm warning, Saturday Oct 4
The gloom spreads north
House prices tumble amid freefall in sales
Day Twenty-seven
Here’s an instructive tale.
In the world’s greatest economy, bankers screwed up, government policies failed and millions of middle class people ended up suffering as a result. In an attempt to keep the economy from tanking further, the government decided to use taxpayers’ money to bail out the banks.
The administration came to that conclusion in, basically, one day. The law was just three pages long, but would cost $700,000,000,000. It was historic.
The people heard about it, wondered why the bankers would be saved when their own houses were being lost, and complained to their federal politicians. Actually, they buried them in emails and faxes and phone calls. They pointed out the inherent unfairness of the law and the huge gamble it represented. They called into question the wisdom of leaders who were so ready to use other people’s money to solve a problem they had themselves created, which would leave both Washington and Wall Street intact.
Bowled over by their constituents, a majority of the politicians voted against the bill, and it failed. As a result, leaders quickly made it better, tougher, more comprehensive and protective. The three-page law became 440 pages. And then it passed, but still with a vociferous opposition.
Is this an example, however imperfect, of democracy in action? Did the voters of America have a voice? Were they heard? Is this hopeful?
Not if you’re Stephen Harper, it ain’t.
Our current prime minister told voters in New Brunswick today that any Parliament he does not control after the coming election would be “dysfunctional.” That means, he warned, a minority government would be disastrous for the economy.
“Don’t go out and vote just to have an opposition,” he lectured. “Because I think if people start voting just for an opposition, we have the risk you have in the United States.”
Indeed. That risk is called democracy.
Just imagine if there’s an absolute Conservative majority government after October 14th, and if a financial or economic crisis befalls Canada. Imagine if the PMO came up with a fix which was unpalatable to you, but saved special interests. It might mean freezing bank accounts for a few months to prevent a run. Perhaps taxing RRSPs. Maybe suspending trade in stocks for a while. Or an emergency austerity program cutting social program spending. Or maybe a public bailout of CIBC or the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation, adding sharply to the deficit and guaranteeing future family tax increases.
If Stephen Harper had a majority, who would stop him? Opposition MPs would be outnumbered. The Conservative caucus would be docile and pliant. The all-powerful prime minister’s office would suddenly wield far more power over this country than the American president does over his – where Congressmen and women sometimes do what their constituents ask.
Before you tell me a scenario like this is far-fetched, that Canada is not America, that we have no crisis here and sweaterman will never be faced with such choices, consider this:
• The Bank of Canada has quietly injected $20 billion into the credit markets to ensure the system does not collapse. If it did, there would be no more car loans, for example. And precious few people building cars.
• The Toronto Stock market lost 11% of its value this week, equivalent to $150 billion. And there’s more to come. The magnitude of this drop is reminiscent of pre-Depression days.
• Oil has collapsed in value from $150 a barrel to $93 in just a few months. Commodity prices are plunging because of a global drop in demand as the USA implodes. In case you forgot, Canada is a commodity-rich country which has just allowed 400,000 manufacturing jobs to be erased and factories full of machines to leave for China. That was smart.
• Real estate values are tumbling everywhere, with Toronto being the latest to see absolute price declines. I sat in a government relations meeting in my riding this week and heard confidential numbers that housing starts across the region – Canada’s most populous – have crashed by half.
• In the past few days two of the leading experts on housing markets – one Canadian, one American – have warned bluntly that there will be a mortgage meltdown in Canada. It will be the direct result of tens of thousands of people buying houses without money – the inevitable residue of the Harper disaster called zero down and 40-year mortgages. This is Canada’s own subprime.
Sadly, we are much further out on the edge of trouble than Canadians appreciate, and certainly more at risk than we’re being told. There’s no protective bubble over this country. Nor do we have a superior system. It’s delusional to believe we will not be living out the drama we’ve all been watching on CNN.
And while we can’t much change the events that may take place, affecting us all, we can do one thing. We can prepare. We can keep democracy alive.
We can elect men and women who have pledged accountability to the people. We can ensure that Parliament does not become the rubber stamp for one man’s clouded and questionable judgment. We can make sure if a storm hits, new laws and strong measures will receive full debate, proper consideration and reflect the will of the voters.
I have worked with Stephen Harper and his crowd long enough to know their game. They speak disparagingly of the voter. They talk about ‘retail politics’ and the gullibility of people – about how they can be manipulated by simple messages. They see public service as marketing and have utter disdain for the democratic process.
When Garth Turner was too noisily independent and questioned the boss, out he went. When Bill Casey stood up for his constituents, he was punted. When Michael Chong opposed nation status for Quebec on principle, he was shunned. And yet when federal minister Gerry Ritz jokes about dead, poisoned Canadians, he’s defended. In this very election, my Conservative opponent was appointed over the wishes of local party members. If elected, she will answer to one person only.
In a few days we get to vote. To send a message. What will yours be?
131 comments ↓
INCREASE CDIC INSURANCE LIMITS.
Come on Garth, time for the Libby’s to announce they will increase the CDIC insurance limit and index it to inflation.
Otherwise those few of us who aren’t in debt up to our necks will start pulling funds from our great Canadian Banks!
U.S. did it.
Britian just did it.
Ireland did it and funds flowed INTO Ireland from other EU countries pissin’ them off cause they haven’t had the sense to do the same.
Harper says our banks are safe so there shouldn’t be much increased cost to CDIC if that were true!
“Bowled over by their constituents, a majority of the politicians voted against the bill, and it failed. As a result, leaders quickly made it better, tougher, more comprehensive and protective. The three-page law became 440 pages. And then it passed, but still with a vociferous opposition.”
Better? Yeah, they added 150 Billion dollars in PORK. Wooden arrow manufacturer tax cuts, nascar tax cuts etc etc. Just so the individual Senators would support the first 700 Billion. Only the first 700B that formed the original bill might be fully recovered whereas the 150B added to get the second version passed WON’T.
Better? My A**
I usually vote for whoevers campaign bothers me the least. 3 flyers from N.D.P. (1 shoved through the door jam rather then through mailslot). 1 phone call from Conservative. Nothing from Green or Liberal, so we might be in a coinflip if things hold.
Harper is not a leader.
He is just easily led by others.
Better? Yeah, they added 150 Billion dollars in PORK. Wooden arrow manufacturer tax cuts, nascar tax cuts etc etc. Just so the individual Senators would support the first 700 Billion. Only the first 700B that formed the original bill might be fully recovered whereas the 150B added to get the second version passed WON’T.
Better? My A**
By dj on 10.03.08 10:59 pm
Hey dj, Don’t you recognize a new defense measure when you see it??
With the fall of the US dollar they will need to replace expensive weapons systems that they can not afford, with something they can. Also something they can maintain. Since the schools and universities will be closed due to cost, they need simple replacements for the unmanned expensive systems they can no longer use.
(But harpo plans to buy them for us)(the unmanned weapons that is)
I wonder if I should put in a bid to make and supply wooden bows as well, as we have LOTS of wood in BC.
In a few days we get to vote. To send a message. What will yours be?
Like many other Canadian’s, my message will be Liberal’s were extremely dumb picking Dion as leader…leaving no other choice but to vote Conservative.
Pretty straight forward Turner.
Fine, but there is no apostrophe in the plural forms of ‘Canadian’ or ‘Liberal.’ Wish you Conservatives could communicate in English.
— Garth
Its time to collapse the RRIF and get out of a falling mutual fund scam. Cash is now king. And the sooner we get rid of Harper the better off we will all be.
B.F.
Any truth to the rumor I heard today that there were sudden unexpected turn outs for the advanced polls today? Plus Elections Canada was scrambling to get more trained Deputy Returning Officers into these advanced polls? You know what a sudden unexpected high turn out means don’t you…….the people who are peeved enough to want change, speak in the ballot box and not to the pollsters! Stay tuned as they say!
Better? Yeah, they added 150 Billion dollars in PORK. Wooden arrow manufacturer tax cuts, nascar tax cuts etc etc. Just so the individual Senators would support the first 700 Billion. Only the first 700B that formed the original bill might be fully recovered whereas the 150B added to get the second version passed WON’T.
Better? My A**
By dj on 10.03.08 10:59 pm
You forgot they also dropped the tax on Porto Rican Rum! I’ll drink to that!
One humorist quipped that the 440 page bill had some 167 extra pages added to Dubya’s copy that included colored pictures of trucks, dragons, eagles … ……….
There is no mercy when the jokers get with the program!
ROTFLMAO
Sweater boy trying to scare Canadians is laughable .
Someone should remind him of our bravery in places like Dieppe and Afghanistan .
It takes more than a clown in a cardigan to scare our people .
He is the last person on the planet I would want controlling a falling,failing economy .
Canadians will wake up to the fact that it is the Liberals who did and do most of the building in this great nation .
With apologies to Garth .
Our team is of NHL calibre their team is a bunch of beer leaguers .
Now that sweater dude has figured out Canadians ain’t buying his “Father Knows best ” Schtick they have been forced to produce a platform on the fly.
By Tuesday .
The crayons and napkins will be flying at “Death Star” central as they try and scratch out a semblance of a platform .
Still laughing at the incompetent bums .
Just a few points –
Great polls from Nanos today. I’m sure everyone has seen the numbers. Cons 35%, Libs 30%.
On a Conservative blog I was viewing earlier, it had Peter McKay in 3rd place in Central Nova behind both the Greens and NDP. I’ve sure got my fingers crossed on this one.
Re the US meltdown. They really had little choice, and it’s too bad they hadn’t acted on Monday. For Senators and Rep’s to hold out for more money for their own greedy purposes in order to vote for this bill is unconscionable. Even California stated it couldn’t make its payroll in a month’s time without obtaining credit.
As far as Harper’s statement in NB today, a minority govt. would be disasterous for HIM and HIM ALONE, certainly not NB or Canada. The Conservative candidate in my riding (Miramichi) is actually telling people that they have to vote Conservative so that we will be on the side of govt. I note, though, that Harper is not visiting this riding on his swing through NB, so I take it that he doesn’t have hopes of gaining this seat.
Message has been sent…you da man.
Yeah Democracy, such a quaint term for Capitalism. Ain’t it grand. And tell Rae his latest speech was just awful. http://www.canada.com/topics/news/features/decisioncanada/story.html?id=3fed49d2-ab8c-404c-a9e7-3fab681a03e8
Think about it, flawed reasoning and tactics intended to scare voters into doing something they otherwise wouldn’t.
The reverse and it would be as equally self-serving. Pulease.
Caught this from Andrew Coyne’s blog. Pretty cool.
http://www.myspace.com/bababrinkman
direct download
http://www.babasword.com/audio/bounce/Bounce.mp3
Very good.
Cheers!!!
I am at a loss to understand why the Conservatives maintain a lead in the polls. A party with no platform, A party that does not allow it’s candidates to participate in local all candidate’s meetings, a prime minister who comes to town in a veil of secrecy to meet with a selected few so the ordinary people can read about in the paper the next day. If this is how they treat Canadians when they are seeking our support, how will we be treated if they end up trying to run things again? I don’t know about everyone else but I am tired of being called an ordinary Canadian. This country has evolved because of unique adventurous individuals. These are extraordinary times. How we can accept “laissez faire” (or as Harper so eloquently stated “lazy fair” ), at a time that demands vision and intelligence is beyond by comprehension.
“Or an emergency austerity program cutting social program spending. Or maybe a public bailout of CIBC or the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation, adding sharply to the deficit and guaranteeing future family tax increases.” – Garth
The situation Dion faces isn’t pretty. CIBC just invested in an already cherry picked subprime U.S. selloff. Do they know what they are doing? They didn’t last time…
CMHC will most definitely take some hits with Flarehty’s ugly Canadian version of Sub-prime. How bad will it be, its hard to say but this one will hurt future spending/budgets.
And the markets! People might have to get used to a TSX hovering around 8 -8500 for a while. Y’all know what that means? Ventures is already a washout.
And our GDP? Major shrinkage ahead. Harper boasts a GDP growth of .6% without factoring in the one time 4.25 billion dollar selloff of Canada’s wireless capabilities and oil at record prices. Energy accounted for nearly half of our GDP. Where will our GDP be this fall with a big drop coming in energy revenues?
Who knows how many ugly lies Flarehty pulled with the numbers…
Dion is totally right to call a meeting with regulators, banking economists and premiers within 30 days. And for Harper to ridicule him for it as being “panicky?”
But Canadians aren’t stupid when they get the facts.
Look at this news link from the CBC which spun a bogus online survey poll from Can West’s Angus Reid:
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canadavotes/story/2008/10/03/debate-reax.html?Authorized=1&AuthenticationKey=1_38_7d533371-7252-4584-95b9-b7d7966a1a01.pakceabjanhgcj#socialcomments
The comments are telling, folks. Check the comments… 4 out of 5 are bashing Harper when they aren’t bashing the CBC for this type of Propaganda and the concensus is that Dion won! I’m not making it up.
Note as well, that there are very few commentors that have a thousand or more checks from those who “agree”. But the CBC has a search engine that allows the reader to look at who they are and what they are all about.
That too, is telling.
And check this out from Nanostradomus!
http://www.nanosresearch.com/election/CPAC-Nanos-October-3-2008E.pdf
CP 35 Lib 30 NDP 18 Green 9 Bloc 10
Nanos uses a phone survey of eligable voters and a 3 day rolling sample across Canada to compile their numbers and unlike CanWest/CTV Globemedia propaganda who use juiced polling in a bid to get Harper in to privatize the CBC, Nano’s is the pollster with integrity and numbers that can be trusted.
Keep in mind the movement of the numbers with just one solid night of polls coming in from Quebec since the French debates. Essentially, what I’m saying is that since Nano’s has a 3 day rolling average and this is just one nights worth of a three day rolling average in poll numbers since the French debates and there are three days yet to follow to give us a clearer view of where people are at, Oct. 4th and 5th numbers especially are the numbers that indicate the effect the debates have had on ordinary Canadians.
If this trend continues, indications are that it will be a healthy Liberal minority government and I believe they still have a shot at a majority.
Strategic ABC is picking up steam and knowing what I know concerning the quality of Liberal candidates across Canada, a Liberal majority is still in play but doubtful now that the Bloc has solidified their support in Quebec.
Folks, I initally called for a Liberal majority thinking Duceppe might have lost a step early on (foolish me, shaking my head) but Duceppes strategy in this campaign has been bordering genius. I’ve now downgraded my predictions to a healthy Liberal minority government, a government that will, with the support of Duceppe and possibly a couple few Greens, get this nation back on track again but don’t rest on this. You’ll have to earn it, Liberals. Work hard from here on in, and victory is yours!
CORRUPTION=HARPER
Money is the barometer of a society’s virtue. When you see that trading is done, not by consent, but by compulsion—when you see that in order to produce, you need to obtain permission from men who produce nothing—when you see that money is flowing to those who deal, not in goods, but in favors—when you see that men get richer by graft and by pull than by work, and your laws don’t protect you against them, but protect them against you—when you see corruption being rewarded and honesty becoming a self-sacrifice—you may know that your society is doomed. – Ayn Rand, circa 1959
According to casey research there,s some really bad news for us Canadians. The top five Canadian commercial banks could have have $800+ billion of credit default swaps on their books, which is several times their entire market capitalizations. How soon will they be looking for government guarantees?
Is this why Harper stopped the mosquito netting program?? Why we don’t donate to the African countries as we used to?
http://www.yayacanada.com/saba_harper.html
Through a blog called Impolitical I came across this news item which states that HarperCo has been manipulating and bailing out banks and unnamed financial institutions with taxpayer money since late 2007.
http://www.canada.com/topics/news/national/story.html?id=d673b22b-5a61-4863-8288-1eb2517c3d29
I hope someone can bring this to wider attention of Canadians.
Thanks, Mr. Turner!
Harper is not a leader?
Sorry atorynomore, Harper is the only leader we can trust in difficult economic times. The Liberal solution is to throw everything at the wall and see what sticks, Stephen Harper knows what is best for the future of all Canadians.
==
Here are some interesting photos about the Canadian economy, for your consideration:
http://www.1337hax0r.com/2008/10/03/its-the-economy-stupid/
The big question now is what are our polititions going to do to ease the pain. I just read where a couple in Windsor could not renew their mortgage because the house value was below the mortgage value despite them both having jobs and ability to pay. This is exactly what caused the U.S. problems and either we do something now or face a meltdown like our southern neighbours where even people with jobs and equity in their homes are losing them because prices are falling every day wiping out what they have paid and built up for many years. There is no reason our government agency gauranteeing mortgages can’t gaurentee mortgage RENEWALS to those able to pay. Eventually they will build equaty again and if they keep the house long enough will regain at least a good part of what it as worth six months ago.
A check of newspapers around the world tells me that credit is locking up world wide and only a complete idiot like harper and his sick finance minister believes we are above it. We need solutions to unstick credit now instead of waiting for the problam to blow over. There is no question that like the states did today to start to write off trillions of bad credit is the first step. Putting in regulations to prevent it happening again is step two. The solution of bankrupting millions of people is the wrong one as it will take a generation to recover, but that is harpers stay the course way.
World isolation , how will that feel??
With the removal of George Bush & the demise of John McCain , the end of the right wing ideology in the mainstream world governments will be complete with but one exception–Stephen Harper.
This must be a hard nut to swallow for a man who believes the right is the only just way to go–a world where the ultra in extremist religious views must rule unimpeded ; a world where we must jail the young & the homeless ; a world where a woman`s free choice must be denied ; a world where if you are found guilty of murder the death penalty will be your sentence even if questions to your guilt remain ; a world where no MP has a say ; a world where an independent thinker such as a Garth Turner or Bill Casey pays the ultimate price for supporting the people who elected him.
This is certainly a world that I no longer want for the citizens of this country.
Dr Mike Popovich—former life-long Conservative.
Garth – I would be interested in knowing your thoughts about outsourcing work to offshore companies (called Offshoring). Specifically, where I work, there are many white-collar jobs that used to be done by Canadians which are now being done off-shore in India. Our customer base is almost exclusively in Canada. Personally, I think there is something fundamentally wrong when a company can earn its revenues and profits from Canadians and yet send jobs overseas. What can or should be done about this in your opinion?
Garth if you are backing Dion you indoubtedly have your own cross to bear as a Liberal. Perhaps you should enlighten us dumb voters what great schemes “Frenchy” Dion has up his sleeve.
What of democracy?
The conservative candidates have been ducking debates like the plague.
Who does Diane Finley think she is?
The people of Haldimand are really angry and that explains the lack of con signs on the lawns.
Sorry Leasa looks like Dr Eric will be your new MP, either that or McHale.
Finley sidesteps yet another debate
• Finley sidesteps yet another debate
October 04, 2008
Emma Reilly
The Hamilton Spectator
(Oct 4, 2008
http://www.thespec.com/News/Local/article/445077
Bowled over by their constituents, a majority of the politicians voted against the bill, and it failed. – Garth
Timing is everything. Had this not been an election year for the congressmen who voted the original, on a back of a napkin, proposal down, would they have listened to their constituants?
Maybe Harper has all his fingers and toes crossed that Canada doesn’t implode by the 14th, because then he, too, would be accountable for the mess on voting day.
We’ll just have to wait and see what platform the CPC have developed in their blue coloured reality dome. I wonder why they’ve waited until one week before the vote.
Timing. They know they had to release it sometime, but the less time people have to digest it the better for them. And don’t forget, the advance polls are this weekend, before the announcement of the CPC platform.
If you’re an undecided, but leaning towards Harper, unless you really have too, don’t use the advance polls. Wait so you can see what Harper’s plan is.
Once you ballot is cast, you can’t change your mind and you might just regret it!
Trust me our Economy is strong, we are just in a minor slow down……MULRONEY, BUSH & HARPER……….MULRONEY, BUSH & HARPER… yup and the guy in the fuzzy blue sweater wth all his economic experience told Canadians not once but twice in French and English, we are going to continue on the same path…. we had both a reserve fund and 14 Billion surplus when Canadians gave him a chance…. then again so did Bush….. it now appears stealing words is not the only suit Harper wears or should say sweaters! Be-ware of the wolf in the fuzzy sweater!
From this morning G&M, this question missed the debates, the Canadian voter must know Harper wants more guns via armed security people in Canada especially at the border…tough on crime could mean innocent lives lost in his republican style cowboy justice system……..hit em hard on this Garth and Co.
Should a new Canadian government acquiese to U.S. border security demands?
Yes 22% NO 78%!
By the way no word on gun registration, could it be his newly appointed people with their increase in pay running things are enjoying their easy money?
Hey Garth, why don’t you save yourself all that energy and just post : BOO! Same effect.
Another great truthful post Garth……..GGG….spread the word…speaking of that, with the economy is it possible Dion to demand a special debate with Harper with three top people who have dealt with our countries finances…Turner Goodall and Martin on your team….and Flaherty….and heave on knows who on the other? Call them out in French and
English….go for it ….I bet it would watched on both sides of border.
He is just easily led by others.
By AToryNoMore on 10.03.08 11:21 pm
As illustrated by his continuing membership in the John Howard and Mikey [Let Mikey Eat It] Harris societies. Both groups sustain their membership through bi-polar, anti-magnetic, repetition-makes-it-true, dysfunctionals, who are prepared to share ‘one brain’ with no discomfort.
Grab a ‘negative’ TV … radio spot and go after the station managers. They’re all SCAM artists like Harper.
Thanks for that Garth, our very democracy in jeopardy when we have leader openly (or for that matter behind closed doors) flaunting their total disregard for our parliamentary system. Unfortunately it does not seem to be very high on either the public or parliamentarians radar, yesterday I posted a long piece decrying the recent escalation of undemocratic actions on this blog and elsewhere. The reaction from our fellow blogers? None! Wake up folks, without the democratic processes being observed and protected you may as well let our MPs just sit at home, for the King and his retinue will be running this dictatorship.
See http://www.garth.ca/weblog/2008/10/02/sucker-punch/
By rural on 10.03.08 8:35 am
My message is end Harper now! My vote goes Liberal. I have always been a Liberal voter but it was for good reason. Their policies and vision most closely resemble mine.
The very thought of a Conservative majority sends shivers through me. How can Harper and his Conservatives look after the economy when they are the reasons for it’s weakness. He has no plan, no policy for me to go over and make a judgement on. I will not blindly follow him and watch this country that I dearly love be brought to it’s knees.
All what I can ask of people is that they actually go vote and vote for the person who will work for you. Lets not let the system fail us. Hold your M.P. accountable.
Garth is not my M.P but he does set an example of what we need. My M.P. is Karen Redman in Kitchener Center and she might not be Garth but she has served me well.
One more thing to add. I like Dion’s approach of his 5 Point Action Plan.
http://www.liberal.ca/story_15109_e.aspx
For me this is the reason why I dislike Harper. He does not ask for experts advice. He fires them or hides their information or calls it irrelevant. No one knows everything. To put that power into the hands of a few is beyond dangerous, it’s damn foolhardy.
BeJaypurs!
Lotsa praise of Harper-Flaherty out there. ‘Specially in the Globe.
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20081003.welexnflaherty/CommentStory/Front
“If Stephen Harper had a majority, who would stop him? Opposition MPs would be outnumbered…”–Garth
Nice fear-mongering there…Why not add that a Conservative majority will lead to a plague of locusts o’er the land…
You said yourself that minority governments can lead to dumb excessive spending moves to keep them going. Remember what Layton and the NDP demanded in order to support the last Liberal minority budget?
The fact remains that any politician in any office remains a giant risk to the taxpayer. We vote ‘em in, and then they vote to take more of our money.
- Randall Denley, “Leaders fail Economics 101″, http://www.canada.com/ottawacitizen/columnists/story.html?id=09454ed0-9731-4cd7-9715-fb5ff5082104
The Uncampaign End of Day 4 in Dog Years – Day 27
So I cannot comment on the big picture Garth but to say that most of us are still in denial.
Working on a campaign is perhaps the best experience I’ve had in a long time. Last week I met a lady who knew St. Laurent – after the election I’m going to have a long conversation with this fascinating woman.
Thursday my phone guy showed up at the end of the day so now I have a phone and the internet just like any other campaign office. He knows my candidate – he says as the telco guy is originally from Squamish. I should have asked so you’re going to vote for him right? But I didn’t as I was more interested in what he thought of my candidate. All positive.
So Friday I walk into the office and there’s water all over my desk (actually old table – I have always meant to refinish). We had our first rainstorm the night before and I managed to locate my desk right under the roof leak. All my forms were soaked.
Mental note – bring hair dryer if it rains.
Did I tell you one meets the nicest people in the parking lot? Our office is a stone’s throw from the High School and there was this pretty student who chatted with me for a few minutes. We talked about her English class.
Her whole life is ahead of her and I in my little campaign office will fight for her future – that’s what this election is all about.
Just to expand upon Garths post I will repeat the last little bit of my post yesterday, you must decide which form of government each of the leaders represent and which form of government you want.
“Democracy”
-The presence of institutions and procedures through which citizens can express preferences about policies and leaders; existence of institutionalized constraints on the power of the executive; and the guarantee of civil liberties to all citizens.
“Oligarchy”
-A form of government where political power effectively rests with a small, elite segment of society
I will let you decide which description is the closest to the form of government we have experienced of late. I think my view is quite clear.
One astute blogger has called our present system a “democratic oligarchy” that is about an accurate description as can be found. We have a somewhat flawed electoral system with rules that seem to be unenforceable. Once elected the leader, any leader, rules with little or no regard to the other elected representative and some with little regard to their own party members and parliamentary rules, which also seems carry no penalty for disregarding.
Sorry atorynomore, Harper is the only leader we can trust in difficult economic times. The Liberal solution is to throw everything at the wall and see what sticks, Stephen Harper knows what is best for the future of all Canadians.
==
By Platty on 10.04.08 3:17 am
———–
Oh please.
Show me some proof of this statement.
During his tenure as PM Canada went from the best performing country in the G8 to the worst.
He also doesn’t believe that anything is going badly in the economy.
The only “proof” he has given is a “trust me, I can do it” statement. Well that doesn’t cut it.
He doesn’t even have the guts to put out his platform BEFORE the advance polls.
The Liberals have a track record over the past 15 years of running surplus budgets. The Conservatives have NO track record at all. Yours and Harper’s claim that he is the “steady hand we need” is pure unsubstantiated garbage.
“Or an emergency austerity program cutting social program spending.” -Garth
Given Harper’s philosophy this would be the likely option. During the difficulties of the mid-1990’s Harper had this to say: “On the positive side, the Liberal government in Ottawa has announced no new major spending, and particularly no new major social spending…. The family allowance programme has been eliminated and unemployment insurance has been seriously cut back.”
When these programs are most needed they are threatened by his “ideals” of less government, lower taxes, privatization of public service, and “free” markets. At that time he listed a series of other programs that at the time the Reform Party were pushing to have included: social programmes, employment programmes, training programmes, old age programmes, the health system, etc.
He knows that he cannot start his cuts without a personal mandate (hence fighting most of the campaign as a referendum on him) and have serious difficulty doing so without a majority. If the country is already in a deficit you can expect those cuts to start almost immediately after the election of a Harper majority government.
Dear, Mr. Turner
Ref: Lisa Raitt
An Election flyer delivered to my Home on Friday.
With our failing Canadian Economy our local Conservative Candidate has mailed me information that I found to be very offensive. The front and back of the flyer was just a mud slinging piece of garbage against Mr. Dion .with a small picture of Ms.Raitt asking me to vote for her…
As a senior citizen I want to here about the meat and potatoes before any mud slinging from a candidate with no experience. Ms.Raitt should look at her own track record at the Toronto Port Authority and the MILLIONS of tax dollars she has cost every Canadian across Canada .Since Ms.Raitt has been the C.E.O.
Mud slinging will not put more money in the pocket of seniors.
You must have a plan and Ms.Raitt has no plan. For the seniors in Halton.
Sincerely,
A Halton Senior Citizen
I said last week that Obama was making brave noises about the bailout but had not yet been taken behind the woodshed. Here is an excerpt from an interview with Congressman Kucinich:
- http://www.truthout.org/100108Bl, via Boyce Richardson at http://boycespaper.airset.com/ (October 2)
What happened? There are interests, principles. In the absence of genuine democracy, the interests of those wielding power will always beat out principles.
Pls change first line of last para of my 9:07 am by addind “power” after “principles”.
The sentence should read “There are interests, principles and power.”
http://www.cbc.ca/money/story/2008/10/03/bankofcanada.html
Bank of Canada greases financial system with $12B in new cash
Last Updated: Friday, October 3, 2008 | 1:53 PM ET
In one swoop, Canada’s central bank shoved another $12 billion into the country’s financial system Friday, an increase of 150 per cent from previous injections.
The move means the Bank of Canada has boosted the extra dollars it has pumped into the Canadian economy from $8 billion to $20 billion.
“In light of persistent pressures in these markets, the bank announces additional steps to provide term liquidity through term purchase and resale agreements,” said the central bank in a press release.
Central banks around the world have spent the last three weeks trying to reassure nervous financial markets that a sufficiently large pool of borrowing cash exists to allow firms to get funds to keep their operations going…………………………………………………..
Remember everyone. Trust Harper, he will look after us!!!! NOT
Pass the salt and pepper please. Please get your ABM card off the table, the butter might ruin the magnetic strip. For heaven’s sake, don’t leave your VISA bills on the table…we are eating!
Yes folks..that is Jack’s World . LMAO
http://www.ndp.ca/
My quote of the day from The Calgary Herald:
“For a guy who says he is an economist, Conservative Leader Stephen Harper seems to be lacking understanding in some very basic economic principles.”
http://www.canada.com/calgaryherald/news/calgarybusiness/story.html?id=dd63b02f-d2f1-49d1-b611-070cd502bdc2
It was stupid policies, not market forces, which turned the US real estate market into a sinkhole. If you want the same here, vote Harper. — Garth
I found this comment interesting because it led me to question what is meant by “market forces.” Whose policies?
In free market ideology, market forces are created by the market place. The “free” means that private interests control the operation of the markets, not public policy.
Those of us who support the concept of a mixed system would argue against the concept of “free markets” because we believe they need to be regulated through public policy. Free market idealists oppose public regulation.
It is easy to identify a right wing extremist because they consider anyone who supports the mixed concept as socialist or communistic.
Most of the mainstream media uses the hard right concept referring to anyone who is not a free market ideologue, as “left.” (When Garth ran for the leader of the PC Party he was seen as on the far right of the party, today he is considered left. It is not because Garth has changed that much but because the meaning of terminology has changed.)
In this sense the MSM tends to be pawn of what is easily identified as the hard right in Canadian politics and individuals in the media don’t even seem to realize it. It is not necessarily Liberal or Conservative. It depends totally on which party at the time represents “right wing” or establishment values (as opposed to public values).
There is a clear difference between the laissez-faire beliefs of the Conservatives and the belief in the need for public policies designed to control individual selfishness and greed. Laissez-faire theory not only encourages selfishness but it empowers it to work against the general interest and is hence anti-democratic.
“Hey Garth, why don’t you save yourself all that energy and just post : BOO! Same effect.
By Sugar on 10.04.08 7:45 am”
Well Sugar, and I’ll try to keep to one and two syllable words for you, it’s like this. Some people think you need facts to back up your views. Others don’t.
So, our ‘expert’ Whiz Kids Harper and Dim Jim think Canada is isolated, eh? Tell that to Frank Stronach…Go ahead Steve and Dim Jim…Go tell Frank how SAFE his arse is. Then go and tell all those Magna employees the same thing. I suggest you take the RCMP with you because out here in the REAL WORLD there is protection by House Rules…Here they are called Street Rules!
Russian bails out of Magna auto pact
Frank Stronach shocked investors in Magna International Inc. last year when he announced he was relinquishing sole control of his auto-parts empire and sharing it with a 39-year-old Russian billionaire banned from entering the United States.
…
In a stunning turn of events underlining the depth of the trauma in global financial markets, Russian aluminum tycoon Oleg Deripaska disclosed in a statement yesterday that he has been forced to cede his 20% stake in Magna to bankers who helped fund his US$1.54-billion investment in the company last September.
The news took Magna executives by surprise. It dumped Mr. Deripaska, believed to be Russia’s richest man, into the ranks of victims of the credit crisis.
And it immediately complicates the life of Mr. Stronach, who is seeing his own multimillion-dollar fortune wash away as Magna’s share price sinks.
“This tells us that the U. S. financial crisis reaches every corner of the globe,” said Peter Morici, professor of international business at the University of Maryland. “Whether you’re in Russia or in Alberta, over-leveraging will catch up with you.”
Russia’s “blingshevik billionaires” such as Mr. Deripaska have been snapping up super-sized yachts and buying British soccer teams in recent years as their wealth ballooned. But many have borrowed heavily against future earnings. And they could be paying the price now as inter-national markets crash.
Ah, the Paper Billionaires are NOT! Warning to all busines people and exspecially contractors. When one of these Paper Faux Big Shots wants work done get a Letter of Credit and make sure the bank is solid before hanging yourself out on their limb. Better yet, make them make a certified deposit in YOUR bank. They live on credit and will ruin your’s in their quest for ego stroking excitement. Ask any Cottage Country contractor about such slimeballs.
Canada – wake up!
If Stephen Harper is elected, we won’t recognize this country. He said so himself.
Harper represents the ultra right — he was the head of the neo-con lobby group, the National Citizen’s Coaltion. from 1997 – 2002. The NCC supports privatization, tax cuts (to the wealthy), and government spending cuts and opposes laws that limit spending by non-party organizations during election campaigns. They have continued to refuse to devulge their list of members.
Harper wants Canadians to think he’s moderate. He isn’t. He thinks we all suffer from amnesia. We don’t.
Harper on Healthcare: “It’s past time the feds scrapped the Canada Health Act.”
Harper on Pay Equity: “The federal government should scrap its ridiculous pay equity law.”
Harper on Canada: “a second-tier socialistic country”
Harper on the environment: “Kyoto is essentially a socialist scheme to suck money out of wealth-producing nations.”
Harper on the Maritimes: “a culture of defeat”
Harper on the West: “You have to remember that west of Winnipeg the ridings the Liberals hold are dominated by people who are either recent Asian immigrants or recent migrants from Eastern Canada; people who live in ghettos and are not integrated into Western Canadian society.”
Harper on the Republican “vision”: “America, and particularly your conservative movement, is a light and an inspiration to people in this country and across the world.”
Harper is a threat to everything we hold dear in our country.
The CON platform to be released this tuesday will likely look like this:
http://www.radioaustralia.net.au/news/stories/200807/s2305095.htm
Rural,
as opposed to calling our system “democratic oligarchy”, I suggest “nominal democracy” because of the methods involved.
In genuine democracy, government would act pursuant to the informed consent of the governed. In nominal democracy, government acts as it sees fit, and manufactures the nominal – not actual – consent of the governed by keeping them uninformed (denying information), by misinforming them with spin and half-truths, and disinforming them with whole lies.
Would you agree that this is a fair description of our current political process
Brain, could you give your opinion on why the CBC is so favorable to Harper and so hard on Dion. Their bias is so obvious.There are times when watching the CBC that one would not even know Dion was in the race. They concentrate on Harper and Layton and deliberately ignore Dion. I cannot understand why they do this, knowing Harper’s plan to privatize the CBC.
Local newspaper ads by the Conservative party are now attacks on N.D.P. in our riding. Now more Mr. Dion in stupid poses. Mr. Dion can rest assure, that no more Conservative attacks will be forthcoming, his party is seemingly irrelevent out here now. I never knew an ad can be taken out by 2 campaigns. James Moores riding encompasses the entire area the paper covers, but Yonah Martins riding only covers less then half of the area the local paper covers. Does Elections Canada factor the expence as 50/50 or would it be 75/25?
“The Liberals have a track record over the past 15 years of running surplus budgets.”
Proof positive that they could never balance a budget, just over tax Canadians and then go on a spending binge.
GARTH: My message is “NO NEW TAXES” THE LIBERALS ARE SCARY….thank goodness Canadians are beginning to see the light.
Health Canada’s “Healthy Canadians” website was launched recently to inform Canadian families of recalled food and children’s products.
http://www.healthycanadians.gc.ca/pr-rp/index_e.php
Why didn’t it inform us about the toxic toys that a toronto star investigator found recently in stores across the GTA?
http://www.parentcentral.ca/parent/article/511758
Oops!
there is protection by House Rules…
Should have read ‘there is no protection by House Rules…’
Nice fear-mongering there…Why not add that a Conservative majority will lead to a plague of locusts o’er the land…
By Paully on 10.04.08 8:32 am
Good, you finally figured it out.
Now, for all those NDP supporters – you need to get real. Layton has been living in the union cave for so long he doesn’t understand what’s going on in the private sector.
He spouting corporate tax stuff and ATM fees – hey Jack, the banks are worried and they’ve lost money and workers are under great pressure, at basic staff and working overtime, and realize they have to to keep things going.
And union idiots going on strike when times are bad – how intelligent is that.
I know its true – my husband is in the brokerage/banking business.
So, Layton doesn’t understand in the least – he’s willing to put private sector workers out of work.
He needs to get away from that kitchen table and visit shops, industry, businesses that are not unionized to get the “real” picture – it is grim.
NDP would be dangerous to our economy whether you like it or not – it is a fact.
The so-called change that Layton is offering is NOT change. I saw a speech by David Lewis, NDP leader in “1972″ and it was the same as Layton’s. He has not moved forward into the 21st century. He is not Obama – the change Obama is offering the US is what we “already” have here in Canada.
Wake up!
Word from most professional money analyst south of the border who have appeared on CNN state it will be not until 2015 that things turn around! strange that’s 7 years…….now where have we heard about the 7 year cycle before…. The Bully on the Hill said no new taxes….word is now out he just may cut many social programs and tax RRSP holding…… fact is he must raise money, perhaps that is why he is pushing for clear majority and add a new chapter in his book on how to keep public quiet and disrupt public debate.
Garth if you are backing Dion you indoubtedly have your own cross to bear as a Liberal. Perhaps you should enlighten us dumb voters what great schemes “Frenchy” Dion has up his sleeve.
By FredS on 10.04.08 6:46 am
FredS, you are a disgusting bigoted piece of human crap. If this is the kind of mentality being taught to you by the Alliance/CON party, not only have you been brainwashed, you’ve being conned & your too dense to even notice. That is scary.
I think its pretty plain folks right here by comments such as Fred’s, of the bigotry that the SHAM PARTY, hiding behind the Conservative brand name, & their leaders (the soldiers) are promoting. This whole scenario sounds to me like the leader of Germany in the 30’s who chose select handsome young blond men to become his elite soldiers. The mistake the leader of this sham party made was that he failed to educate his soldiers & Fred is a prime example of his failed results.
Tell me Fred, do you honestly think that the brain capacity of a French Canadian or any other nationality for that matter, is any different then yours? Did you grow up in a bigoted enviroment or did you decide to be one all on your own? I have to question your age as well because adult mentality detest bigoted minds like you seem to have had the misfortune to inherit.
Btw Fred, I am insulted by your remarks & furthermore, I’m proud to be a French Canadian.
Regards,
It’s a beautiful day in the neighbourhood…won’t you wear a sweater?
Mr. Rogers wore a sweater to make kids relax. Does it work with adults? Just what is under that sweater?
http://www.thestar.com/FederalElection/article/511637
Two articles offering good reading and cause for reflection on a campaign Saturday -
1. On evaluating our political leaders in a debate:
Dan Gardner, “Here’s why your favourite candidates win every debate”, at http://www.canada.com/ottawacitizen/columnists/story.html?id=bf76bc57-c5fd-4b02-b06a-396fa73c4564
2. On Harper’s special realionship with Alberta:
Noami Lakritz, “Albertans are too forgiving”, at http://www.canada.com/ottawacitizen/news/opinion/story.html?id=e8aa97ad-1a52-49ec-a5ae-73d70ebb00ed
SAINT JOHN, N.B. — Stephen Harper says he has a plan in place to weather an economic crisis and he’s not about to panic like the Liberals.
The Conservative leader, campaigning in New Brunswick, said yesterday he’s convinced the Canadian economy will be sheltered from the economic meltdown in the U.S.
So here we have it.He’s convinced we are immune from the meltdown yet has a plan.Not that anyone knows what that plan is.Doesn’t sound convincing to me.
He already was in panic mode when he went to see the Governor General.
Garth, my compliments on your very informative Blog. What Canadians are waiting to hear is an honest answer on the State of the Nation in Canada. What is you best synopsis for where we will be 1 year after the election?
In 2000 a little book came out edited by NDP MP Lorne Nystrom called “just making change” that contained a series of articles on the financial system. It was designed to explain the system in understandable terms.
No one paid much attention and I had not heard about it until several years later. It was not carried by the major book chains and to get a copy I had to order it directly from the publisher.
That book warned about the problems in the financial system and was designed to start a public debate at the time but was largely ignored in the drive towards right wing ideology by the media and both establishment parties.
I recommend it for those who are more concerned about what is happening in Canada today than those who are merely partisan.
Garth if you are backing Dion you indoubtedly have your own cross to bear as a Liberal. Perhaps you should enlighten us dumb voters what great schemes “Frenchy” Dion has up his sleeve.
By FredS on 10.04.08 6:46 am
Great – another CPC bigot….these kind of comments from CPC supporters should all be forwarded to Duceppe just to show how much Harper and the CPC supporters respect and give a damn about Quebec – other than they need their votes.
I just got a call while cleaning my windows for the winter. The phone rings and I had to run inside. Well, the guy said is was “Survey Canada”. I had a gut feeling and questioned him until he told me who he was calling for – uh, huh. It was the “Conservatives” polling and asking if I will be voting for my local CON MP. I said, no how, no way, no Con vote….my husband laughed.
So, Garth – is Survey Canada the Conservatives own polling or are they using taxpayer money to poll under the disguise of Survey Canada?
Excellent article
On a Conservative blog I was viewing earlier, it had Peter McKay in 3rd place in Central Nova behind both the Greens and NDP. I’ve sure got my fingers crossed on this one.
By Marg on 10.03.08 11:55 pm
I’d just bet that those Smart Nova Scotians would know how to put “Progressive”
back in “Progressive Conservative”.
Garth:
Why no mention of the LIBOR rate? Surely you must understand it’s significance & have looked at the rate lately? You claim to have this “in-depth” understanding of the investment & credit market but I’m beginning to wonder
About what? Most people have not heard of te London Interbank Offered Rate, and with good reason. The only point that matters to voters is the coming credit crunch which will restrict access to morgages, loans and lines of credit. The warning signs of this include the LIBOR, which is at a three-month high. Now, do you feel comfortably superior? — Garth
What am I doing?
I am voting Liberal in my riding that is east of yours in Ontario and three others in my household are as well … all first time Lib voters. We love the respect that Dion is giving the process, and Canadians, as he does his job.
A note to Rural: re the info you posted the other day I wish to say thank you, bunches. I used it and worked with another relative over the past few days over the net and we now have a convert from leaning to the CPC over to the Libs for this election cycle.
I am a grandmother and senior who has not voted Liberal for 40 years; but, please note .. I’ve never voted CPC, or Conservative either, during my whole life. Until the recent 18 months or so I did hold the conservative viewpoint as a respectable alternative. This has died. I’ve met people on the street who have always voted conservative but who sadly shook their heads and said never, ever again. In the grocery store yesterday, four women came together in an outpouring of hope for the Libs .. at the checkout. We didn’t know each other from Adam. It’s amazing to me how people are voicing their concern about the future of the country to pure strangers. I’m not working for my candidate in an official capacity .. just doing my little bit on the streets where I live.
Go Garth, go!
By A.R.Wainwright on 10.04.08 1:13 pm
Wouldn’t it be a “comfort,” if Peter, next to his “tatter patch,” replete with his “most loyal canine,” were to tell you to “stick to your knitting,” AR?
He’s a BS artist of the first water, on the continuum of Canada’s willingness to accept that type behaviour from a minister of the crown.
Contrast his approach with that of The Hon. Garth … and his communication abilities, and you’ll see why Peter MacKay found the right job when he was ‘fetching coffee’ for Condolleezza.
By RSandi on 10.04.08 12:37 pm
The guy who tried that with me found a tri-pod sticking out of his u-kno-what!
By PYOTR PETROBITCH on 10.04.08 1:37 pm
Peter, you took what I said wrong.
Ms. May will be the winner in Petie’s riding.
Thats what I mean by “Progressive”
Let us pretend the Federal Government was a Corporation.
The CEO was in command for a few years. He really didn’t get along with the heads of several subsidiaries but carried on as though nothing was going wrong. Some of his hand picked VP’s actually embarrassed him with their performance and were forced to resign or step down. The Board of Directors were becoming increasingly concerned that corporate confidential information was being found on the streets. The CEO then informs the Board that he is leaving his position but will want it back in a month and a half.
Now in the REAL world…what would the Board of Directors do?
Peter MacKay found the right job when he was ‘fetching coffee’ for Condolleezza.
BY PYOTR PETROBITCH ON 10.04.08 1:37 PM
The way he looked at her when they had joint press release?? He was disgusting. I thought I was watching a porn flick or something. Ugh.
I really hope May wins.
By G Cunningham on 10.04.08 10:32 am,
Remember that the CBC engaged in a huge campaign to “unite the right.” They have now started their “unite the left” campaign. In order to accomplish that, one strategy is to ignore the party they want to destroy. Don Newman and Jason Moscovitch actually admitted during the 2000 election that they were intentionally marginalizing the PCs.
It is cheaper for the media to cover a two-party system. It is not because the CBC does not like Dion or the Liberals, just as it was not that they hated the PCs, only that in the herd mentality of the media, they may have decided to marginalize the Liberals at this point (because of Dion’s inability to communicate clearly to the general public).
Eventually the CBC began to question their strategy to destroy the PCs but it was too late to reverse that direction.
The people in the media are driven by a herd mentality and as such they often work together to drive an agenda. There is usually someone within the organization that is able to manipulate the agenda from the inside and it would be fascinating to see how that dynamic occurs.
The bottom line is that the media prefer a clear divide within the country represented by two-parties of the extremes, which create better conflict, on which the media feeds. It makes it cheaper and easier for them.
What usually happens is that you end up with two parties that represent virtually the same economic interests as you have in the U.S. and as the bailout package illustrates.
“Hey Garth, why don’t you save yourself all that energy and just post : BOO! Same effect.
By Sugar on 10.04.08 7:45 am”
Hey Sugar, Garth will save the BOO for another two weeks and use it during Halloween! Right now the operative word is VOTE!
By RSandi on 10.04.08 12:37 pm
The guy who tried that with me found a tri-pod sticking out of his u-kno-what!
By PYOTR PETROBITCH on 10.04.08 1:39 pm
Pyotr, I can’t afford a tripod, so I bought a monopod because it is cheaper and it goes much farther!
By A.R.Wainwright on 10.04.08 1:52 pm
My comments were directed at MacKay’s dismissive attitude, AR. They had nothing to do with [my hopeful belief] that Elizabeth May will win the riding or your worthy ambition to that effect.
Gary Lunn toast on the coast :
Con-clone Gary Lunn is all done .There is no NDP contesting the riding . So no split vote .
Lunn won his riding by very few votes .
Buh,bye !
I have GOT to know what the problem is with Dion. I so totally do not get it. What exactly makes him a bad choice? Why is he not the best alternative to harper?
I really would like to know the reasoning from some people on why they think the Liberals should have chose differently.
Brain, could you give your opinion on why the CBC is so favorable to Harper and so hard on Dion. Their bias is so obvious.There are times when watching the CBC that one would not even know Dion was in the race. They concentrate on Harper and Layton and deliberately ignore Dion. I cannot understand why they do this, knowing Harper’s plan to privatize the CBC.
By G Cunningham on 10.04.08 10:32 am
…it’s about funding and knowing the CPC hate the CBC and would love the dismantle it…..job saving perhaps?
Well lookie here,another Repug in trouble.More workers in trouble and stressed not knowing what will happen.
http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-calif3-2008oct03,0,5726760.story
The warning comes as California is close to running out of cash to fund day-to-day government operations and is unable to access routine short-term loans that it typically relies on to remain solvent.
In May 2004 and 2007, he was named as one of the Time 100 people who help shape the world.
Guess anyone can be named to that list,the big question is.”What kind of Shape”?
As Lewis Black pointed out back in 2003.”One night I see Arnold on the TV with Danny DeVito, Twins,and the next night he’s governor of CA.I almost had a nervous breakdown”.
What may have worked for Ayatollah Khomeni has proven disasterous for the Con -clones .
Their lame attempt at creating a ‘cult of personality’ around Harpo was blown to smithereens by the proletariat and stupid TV ads feauturing a blue sweater.
For one thing a personality cult demands that the subject actually have a personality that is saleable .
Fumbling and bumbling their way through Parliament clueless about how to operate a Parliament these jackasses have all but ruined our once great nation .
I am at a loss to understand why the Conservatives maintain a lead in the polls. A party with no platform, A party that does not allow it’s candidates to participate in local all candidate’s meetings, a prime minister who comes to town in a veil of secrecy to meet with a selected few so the ordinary people can read about in the paper the next day.
The reality is that releasing of the platforms by governments during the elections never started until Chretien came along and waved his infamous Red book. Contrary, to the NDP, Liberals, Bloc and Greens say the Conservatives in fact do have a platform. The only difference is that the Conservatives have been releasing it one promises per day just as they did in the last election. In fact one political pundit even said that all you have to do is go to the Conservative website and see what they have announced to date and you will find their if you want to know the Con It is common practise for the opposition parties to release their full platforms in one shot because they must try an convince the electorate theirs is the best. It doesn’t seem to be working as the Liberals released their early and now have changed it or added new ones. The green shift plan changes and the new 30 day consultation plan Dion came out with this week are just two examples.
The Opposition parties are pissed at the Conservative strategy of not releasing their plan early because the opposition has no idea what is coming and they can’t criticize things they know nothing about. Some political pundits re saying this is a good strategy by the Conservatives.
The only point that matters to voters is the coming credit crunch which will restrict access to morgages, loans and lines of credit. By garth,
The Bank of Canada plans to lending as much as $4 billion to commercial banks and investment dealers in order to head off the credit crunch which will allow home buyers to obtain mortgages etc. Source: http://www.bankofcanada.ca/en/notices_fmd/2008/not300908_pra.html
In a few days we get to vote. To send a message. What will yours be? By Garth.
Actually it is none of your business but I will say it will not be for the Liberal candidate because of their leader selection. Now Garth if you were leader I may have changed my vote.
CBC is so favorable to Harper and so hard on Dion. Their bias is so obvious.There are times when watching the CBC that one would not even know Dion was in the race. They concentrate on Harper and Layton and deliberately ignore Dion. I cannot understand why they do this, knowing Harper’s plan to privatize the CBC.
By G Cunningham on 10.04.08 10:32 am
You got to be kidding. The CBC has never favoured the Conservatives nor have they ever supported Harper. I have been watching the CBC newsworld for the last month for most of the day and have found just the opposite of what you say. their commentators are very favourable to Dion and the Liberals in tone and manner. this is especially true of the one in the morning. Sorry don`t know here name. Over all though I think the CBC is trying to be fair to all parties.
Watching Newsworld all day? Dude. Go outside. — Garth
Garth, do you on your off time jump out of bushes and scare little old ladies? Just wondering.
Did I frighten you? — Garth
Garth,
The Liberals have the votes of my wife and I. I am voting because of the fact that you are conscious and at least willing to speak about the obvious.
If you guys get a crack at trying to fix this mess or at least mitigate the damage, you better make good choices.
As a voter, I would not be happy to see the same stupidity and corruption that is occurring in the US at a publicly announced $700 billion (2.1 Trillion actual).
Canadians are living in excess like Americans, and we cannot continue. Our greed is going to drag every last one of us down, and for what…22″ rims on Cadillac Escalades and Marble countertops?
I am truly disgusted in what I have observed in the last 5 years. I am 28 years old, and I cannot believe the excess that my peers and the boomers have bought into. What a shameful way to go down the toilet.
This is the first time I will have voted for a Federal Election since I was 19. I hope our future leader can do something good for Canadians.
I’ve now downgraded my predictions to a healthy Liberal minority government, a government that will, with the support of Duceppe and possibly a couple few Greens, get this nation back on track again but don’t rest on this. You’ll have to earn it, Liberals. Work hard from here on in, and victory is yours!
By brain on 10.04.08 2:08 am
The polls just do not support your forecast. Todays (Oct4) Nanos tracking poll shows the Liberals dropping back down to 28% with Harper staying at 35%. Dion`s personal leadership index dropped by 19% while Harper`s increased by 10%. This may be directly related to their English debate performance. The reality is that the Liberal brand remains strong but Dion is bringing down their support. The Liberals made a big mistake electing him leader.
My prediction was another Conservative minority and I am still sticking to that prediction. In fact I have said previously that we will have minority governments for at least the next three elections including the current one.
Garth Turner doesn’t have as much credibility as some of the gullible on this site seem to believe. All politicians lie and make promises they can’t keep including notably the Cons and the LIBS. The LIBS will never get even a minority gov’t with a weak unconvincing leader like Dion. They made a big mistake in selecting Dion and now he’s floundering like a fish out of water..hence the reason why Iggy, Rae and now old Martin are stumping for him. Many of the traditionally Lib enclaves in Toronto are showing many more Blue signs than usual. The LIBS have blown it…it looks like another few years of Harperitis!
You sound nervous. — Garth
Garth all I can say is,all those people who were saying your dire predictions for the future were needlessly alarmist,or other silliness like you didn’t know what you were talking about should be second guessing their posts by now.
I believe this article in MaCleans kinda hits the nail on the head and while some of it is probably worst case scenario it goes directly to the issue that if Harper and Flaherty insist Canada will be somehow protected,cuz well, we’re Canada,is denial run amok and nobody should give this bunch the benifit of the doubt until they come up with the big plan Harper says he has.
Anyone who wants a fairly good overview of the US situation and it’s consequences for Canada should read this article.
http://www.macleans.ca/business/economy/article.jsp?content=20081001_24737_24737
GARTH: My message is “NO NEW TAXES” THE LIBERALS ARE SCARY….thank goodness Canadians are beginning to see the light.
By david on 10.04.08 10:37 am
LMAO! Yeah, right, those were George Herbert Walker Bush’s EXACT words. He did not lie (in the mindset of a neo-con, who can never admit to error much less lieing being the socipathetic personalities they are). He did not institute any new taxes, he simply raised the EXISTING ones on the people who could LEAST AFFORD them. Today we see the RESULT of his so-called ‘economic policies’ instituted and paid for by his WEALTHY FRIENDS.
Gee, sounds like the No Plan of Harper to me, not Dion.
What was that about SCAREY? Ain’t history a BITCH? Remember, it is on their Permanent Record.
By C. B. Innes on 10.04.08 12:19 pm
So did John Ralston Saul, a very fine Canadian, but would they listen?
No, you would more success changing the beliefs of a die-hard terrorist fanatic than the Wall/Bay Street Bunch and their peons in power. Both are religious nutbars without a brain between them.
Well Sugar, and I’ll try to keep to one and two syllable words for you, it’s like this. Some people think you need facts to back up your views. Others don’t.
By I believe in Canada on 10.04.08 9:52
Garth is obviously one who does not believe you need facts or he would of provided some. Ranting on and on with scare tactics is not very productive.
Is Stephen Harper the best person to run the country? Unfortunetly with the selection we have I believe he is. How the Liberal party picked such a weak leader is beyond me. The only good outcome I can see coming out of this election is if the Conservatives get a minority and both the Liberals and Conservatives get rid of their leaders. Peter McKay and Micheal Ignatiff would be good fits but then again like me they are both small c Conservatives
Gee, I’ve been accused today of scaring people with too many facts. Get your story straight, will ya? — Garth
By Herb on 10.04.08 10:19 am
I an not even sure that we can even call our democracy “nominal” anymore, in recent time its gone way beyond that (at least in parliament) and no one seems to care, least of all those vying for our votes.
Garth?
The citizens of this country should understand LIBOR. This is a country where the population blames the banking system for the fact they’re now underwater in their mortgage.
Given that, they will not doubt look to the stock market for signs “things are all right”. If the market was to rally, they’ll assume everything is OK, when it’s not. Understanding it’s the CREDIT industry that’s in trouble NOT the stock market. The market, when not being emotional, is just a barometer of future earnings & economic activity.
Sorry Garth, I didn’t realize that being educated & understanding how things work was about being “superior”. And I’m not even involved in finance on a professional level
To-day was nice day to vote….and this I can tell y’all there are two more ex-PC votes in the Liberal bank and it felt good……..two votes for Canada and for my children and grandchildren.
….and then go on a spending binge.
By The Umpire on 10.04.08 10:35 am
That would be Harper!
Well here’s a tail of the pot calling the kettle black.
Mr. Ignatieff was down our way, and called the incumbant “weak” and “absent.”
Needless to say Dave Van Keseteren was taken aback, saying it was low to make such a personal attack.
Excuse me Dave, but what have you Cons. been doing for the past 18 months? But if you don’t like the heat, get out!
And from what I saw of his questioning tactics in committee, he was absent because he was using the Con guide to dysfunctionality!
A note to Rural: re the info you posted the other day I wish to say thank you, bunches. I used it and worked with another relative over the past few days over the net and we now have a convert from leaning to the CPC over to the Libs for this election cycle.
By DJ Allen on 10.04.08 1:29 pm
You are welcome, I just hope more folk take notice of the attacks upon our democratic processes.
For those that missed it there is a copy of my original article at http://shanejolley.com/2008/09/30/parliamentary-democracy
PS, My 5.47 “excaped” before I was ready, sorry!
Watching Newsworld all day? Dude. Go outside. — Garth
It is pissing rain in his locale. And very windy as well. Our carbon tax is not changing the weather yet, but hopefully next year.
Heard this driving home earlier.
http://www.rock101.com/Channels/Reg/DJsandShows/TwistedTunes.aspx Song is This Vote is Screwed Remix. Great song for an election that will return us the “dysfunctional” parliament we just had, albeit some new faces.
My wife and I just voted Liberal for the first time in our lives. Hopefully we can get the wacko reformer out of there.
But we trusted you to do the right thing.
http://www.canada.com/calgaryherald/news/calgarybusiness/story.html?id=dd63b02f-d2f1-49d1-b611-070cd502bdc2
“… two parties that represent virtually the same economic interests …” – C.B. Innes, 2:20 pm
As Noam Chomsky put it when I heard him on CBC Radio a few days ago: “… the two business parties, the Republicans and the Democrats…”
(And a Canadian commentator – Andrew Potter – added that, if Chomsky ever had any credibility, he lost it with that statement. Sheesh!)
By Bill-Muskoka (not anymore) on 10.04.08 5:26 pm,
The Nystrom book pre-dated Saul by several years and came shortly after the financial crisis of the 90ies. It is also published in a format that is easier to understand with short articles by a variety of authors. The focus is also a bit different because it is more specifically directed to the Canadian situation than the Saul book, which is more global.
I generally find polls, when they come at the frequency that they are now, to be like the irritating buzz of a mosquito so don’t pay them too much heed. That said, your cited numbers are a curiosity because Nanos also posted this a couple of days ago:
Canadians either lukewarm or have less positive views of Harper
http://www.nanosresearch.com/library/polls/POLNAT-F08-T333E.pdf
The pie chart indicates that 55% have not changed their view, 12% had an improved view, and 29% had a worse view. The net of that would be a 17% less favourable view. So how does one square that with your numbers?
Garth Turner doesn’t have as much credibility as some of the gullible on this site seem to believe. All politicians lie and make promises they can’t keep including notably the Cons and the LIBS. The LIBS will never get even a minority gov’t with a weak unconvincing leader like Dion. They made a big mistake in selecting Dion and now he’s floundering like a fish out of water..hence the reason why Iggy, Rae and now old Martin are stumping for him. Many of the traditionally Lib enclaves in Toronto are showing many more Blue signs than usual. The LIBS have blown it…it looks like another few years of Harperitis!
You sound nervous. — Garth
By DCM Dart on 10.04.08 4:52 pm
Yea well the idiot alienated Brian Baloney and Joe Clark hates his guts .
Kim Campbell .
At least we have a team of past PM’s willing to go out an confront the electorate .
Another reason I despide the
Con-clones .
Oh.yea Baloney has his Quebec machine in park and will not be helping ‘Sweater Man ‘
Work with that fool .
Sorry Garth, I didn’t realize that being educated & understanding how things work was about being “superior”. And I’m not even involved in finance on a professional level
By Irvine on 10.04.08 6:06 pm
You’re kidding ?
(And a Canadian commentator – Andrew Potter – added that, if Chomsky ever had any credibility, he lost it with that statement. Sheesh!)
By Herb on 10.04.08 8:23 pm,
Potter has been a major proponent of the view that the only way to influence change is to do it through the established system. That would make it impossible for him to understand or support the kind of views of someone like Chomsky.
He has probably bought into the “change” mantra in spite of McCain’s and Obama’s support for the Wall Street bailout.
Two and a half years of Harper’s steady hand on the wheel have only reinforced the reality that he is, at best, a regional leader.
The only region thriving under his leadership is the West–he is a dismal failure at developing solutions to real economic problems. What plans does he have for the West now that Credit is tightening, oil prices are dropping and home sales are stuttering?
Steve has Canada stuck in neutral–he soon will have us in reverse–and he has no idea how to get us into drive.
http://www.voteforenvironment.ca
“strategic voting” resources
ABC (Anybody but Conservative)
ps. does anyone know where to get some ABC signs?
Front page of the Globe today says the gloom spreads north, and right above is a picture of the smirking guy who’s been telling canadians for days that the economy in Canada is fine.
Oxymoron or just moron?
The Bank of Canada plans to lending as much as $4 billion to commercial banks and investment dealers in order to head off the credit crunch which will allow home buyers to obtain mortgages etc. Source: http://www.bankofcanada.ca/en/notices_fmd/2008/not300908_pra.html
By Van on 10.04.08 3:53 pm
So, Van, Who is the Bank of Canada????
Wouldn’t be us poor sap taxpayers would it????
So we have the same tap as our US neighbours, BUT not the control.
And now WE are on the hook for their F*&K up.
Thank you neo-con apologist.
Oh! and the reason that the pols are favoring your hero??? May it be that the owners of the polling Co.s and the MSM are the same people?????????
By-the-way.
If you want to see if M.Dion is both a brave and strong man (or even if you don’t)
Wiki: The Clarity Act.
That demonstrates both bravery and teamwork.
Garth, do you on your off time jump out of bushes and scare little old ladies? Just wondering.
Did I frighten you? — Garth
By Sugar on 10.04.08 4:10 pm
No. But mr. harper can do that just by looking at them in the street. (Without jumping from behind a bush)
The Opposition parties are pissed at the Conservative strategy of not releasing their plan early because the opposition has no idea what is coming and they can’t criticize things they know nothing about. Some political pundits re saying this is a good strategy by the Conservatives.
By Van on 10.04.08 3:45 pm
Van, I seem to recall a few months back that you portrayed yourself to be a very educated elderly retired senior man & lectured me on using words such as; in my opinion, in my view etc. Do you remember that little confrontation? Nope! I didn’t think. You tend to forget your own advice or is it you think you know it all? There! I feel vindicated. Feels Won-Der-ful
Btw Van, in my humble opinion, Mr. Dion is oodles above your idol Harpoon & he’s smarter too. He is a great leader for the simple fact that he cares about all Canadians, Canada & its sovereignty. He is respected by world leaders. In case you don’t realize it yet, to receive respect, you have to earn it by showing respect to others in return. That’s what a great leader is all about. Not the one we have the displeasure of calling PM. He goes along bulling his own MP’s, his constituents & his office staff. Nobody likes a one man show & that is exactly what Harpoon is all about. Mr. Dion actually has a plan to help guide Canadians through a recession & he’s not afraid to talk about it. Mr. Harper can’t even admit that we are in a recession let alone have a plan to ease the pain. Mr. Dion’s plan is Revenue Neutral, will stimulate the economy by creating more technology to better help polluters make affordable changes through corporate taxes. His plan will create more jobs outside of the minimum wage service industry which tends to be in the higher paid tax category which promotes more spending & the domino effect goes right down to the strengthening of our economy. Mr. Dions plan gives back refundable tax credits to all levels of income & for those who didn’t pay enough income taxes to use the credits; the credits will be refunded to Canadians if it is not already applied against income taxes It WILL create more good paying jobs & that’s what this country is sadly lacking right now. Less workers, less taxes = Recession. If it this scenario goes on too long, Depression. The only problem that Harper sees in the Carbon Shift is that he didn’t think of it himself.
Mr Dion doesn’t politic on lies or innuendo’s or wait in the shadows ready to pounce on someone else’s ideas like you know who. He has the smarts to talk with Canadians, sit with his caucus & listen to their ideas, change his views if their ideas are better than his instead of muzzling his MP’s & making them wear duct tape.
About the surplus; if it is as healthy as your dictator wants us to believe, why didn’t he put out his platform before the debates so that Canadians could make sound judgments by themselves? If his platform is so good, don’t you think Canadians would give him the majority he has been seeking ever since he was elected in 2005? Is it possible that he doesn’t have any & he hopes enough voters haven’t noticed & that he can keep enough votes to hold another minority? Is this another Flaherty boner with deficits in the billions?
As for polls, how many people actually tell the truth when they are asked if they will support a particular party? Well I’d like to inform you & your chosen party that people who would NOT LIKELY tell the truth would be in the neighborhood of about 50% or more. (OOPS, I keep forgetting to use the words; in my opinion or in my view) I personally tell them that I don’t plan to vote at all or I tell them that yes, I will support them (chuckles) but I do tend to tell that to all parties candidates or their canvassers that call or stop me on the street so there you go. Confuses the poll results. Some of my family & friends do the same thing & let me tell you, I have lots & lots of family & friends.It is kind of fun watching them gleeful walk away thinking they have recruited new supporters. Polls are based on 50% at the very least of little white lies & probably more on which ever pollsters do the polls & by which party they support or the one they are most afraid of. Not sure if I said that correct but you get the drift. Internet polls are the worst because seniors & middle class people do not take much interest in answering online polls. They are more apt to read local newspapers, talk with their friends about issues in the news & make their own judgment based on their own life experiences. You know the saying, “An Elephant Never Forgets” They don’t forget like Harpoon & his goons seem to want them to believe.
Soooooo, back to you Van, don’t believe all those pundits out there & while your at it, put a sock in it.
Cheers
make affordable changes through corporate taxes.
OOPS, that staement should of read; Mr. Dion’s plan is Revenue Neutral, will stimulate the economy by creating more technology to better help polluters make affordable changes through corporate tax cuts.
Regards
Brain, could you give your opinion on why the CBC is so favorable to Harper and so hard on Dion. Their bias is so obvious.There are times when watching the CBC that one would not even know Dion was in the race. They concentrate on Harper and Layton and deliberately ignore Dion. I cannot understand why they do this, knowing Harper’s plan to privatize the CBC.
By G Cunningham on 10.04.08 10:32 am
…it’s about funding and knowing the CPC hate the CBC and would love the dismantle it…..job saving perhaps?
By RSandi on 10.04.08 3:09 pm
Its a combination of three things. RSandi has a point. There likely are some people worried about their jobs today, never mind tomarrow. The second reason is that the CBC is not private, but a government mainstream media corporation. The world seriously watches their news in terms of propaganda and fairness more than any other media due to this fact. My guess is that CBC is overcompensating just a little because there is a reputation of them being favorable to Liberal governments in the past. I’m not sure to what degree this kneejerk reactionary effect is in terms of trying to be as unbiased as possible, but the pendulum can swing too far the other way with reaction and its certainly enough to make mention.
Thirdly, I’d say the CBC, like CTV and Can West, they run national headline stories often within 5 to 10 minutes of each other and while the majority of the time its warranted because they are providing a breaking news service to their viewers, sometimes stories get out there in the heat of the moment that can’t be taken back where they wish they could.
Often there are themes to news that are timeless. Examples would be Global warming/climate change or poverty or Afghanistan. Themes that last for years and years are much easier to prepare good journalism towards and this is where the CBC has been quite strong with their quality of news reporting.
CBC has the resources and the people to do specific themes justice. An example is what they’ve reported on Tasers or gun control as an example, but there are dozens of themes CBC has done well at. When media has time to prepare a story that will not go away, if the media outlet is in fact, good at what it does, it will show.
People run down the CBC on isolated stories or perhaps stories that have had very little time to prepare for because its “breaking news” and often, thats where the CBC does fall short of the mark. This election is no exeption.
But there are times where the CBC does shine. They will take an issue and tear it apart for example with a “reality check” and what they uncover is what I would consider to be good journalism. But the stuff they cover that requires journalism/editing that is “shot from the hip”… I’m afraid that is one of their weaker suits and it shows in this election.
I will say that when it comes to basket news or news other mainstream media jumps on right away, the CBC is not up to par in fereting out propaganda. Again, this election is no exception. Its my belief that when this election is over, a new theme will be created and it will be media propaganda and media concentration. Its my belief that the CBC’s own fate will rest on its ability to do so.
And do the decision makers within the CBC truly believe that Harper would privatize the CBC? They might not. I believe the threat is very real and and if there is a Harper majority, there would be major opposition against such policy. It is my own feeling that people like myself would howl loudly in terms of what the future would hold in regards to media concentration without the CBC around and how such concentration would lead to political propaganda and a major drop in the quality of mainstream media. I wouldn’t doubt that something like this would lead to a possible general strike but then, its pure speculation at this point and the unions might not come to bat. They might instead use the fall of the CBC as a sacrificial lamb to bolster their own cause for labor which I would believe to be incredibly naive and stupid if they were to leave the privatization of the CBC alone.
But… one never knows. When we ask the question, “who benefits”… there are those who have no qualms over profiting off of the misery and failures of others. Thats a fact. In reality, thats how I view Jack Layton. Very opportunistic, quite exploitive… if people really thought the NDP was for the ordinary person federally, well, I’ll catch myself in a can of worms here, but imagine the TD or the Bank of Montreal or NS or CIBC going broke. Would that effect alot of people? A lot of average ordinary Canadians, never mind above or below average, would alot of ordinary people be hurt by that?
People forget what recessions do to economies. The TD came close to bankrupcy in the early 90’s. The only thing that saved them was housing valuations appreciated but if the trend would have been the same as whats happening in the states, they’d be gone.
Jack Layton likes to get “tough on banks” for the “ordinary Canadian”. He talks of reducing interac charges through regs to save each Canadian $104 bucks per year. Well, thats 3.4 billion worth of revenue gone from our banking industry at a time when most banks are barely breaking even with their quarterly’s and the worst is yet to come. Is that sound policy? Introduce policies that insure banks lose money in the face of a recession?
What happens to a capitalist system without capital?
And how many average ordinary Canadians own Mutuals loaded up with our chartered banks?
And that recession… its coming. Nearly half of our April – July GDP was from energy that peaked at $150 a barrel. Its trading in the low 90’s and will likely flatten around the 60’s. We’ve lost 400,000 manufacturing jobs… what will drive this economy? Garth is right with everything he’s saying. Rising unemployment, falling real estate valuations, vanishing personal equity, falling GDP, its coming down like domino’s. If it wasn’t for the Harper party’s selloff of our wireless capabilities for 4.25 Billion and record oil & gas prices, our GDP would be more realistic and “the average Canadian” would be scared shitless.
The best Layton can do with the economy is suggest a meeting of party leaders and ask, “well, boys, what do you all think? Lets introduce an immediate $35 buck a tonne carbon tax, jack up corporate tax rates 4% and cripple our banking industry when its already buckling… good plan, no?” Jacks understanding of how to grow an economy is about as good as his ability to explain C02 intensity targets. (he couldn’t do it, by the way, he had to get Duceppe to do it for him in the debates)
And then there’s Harper. “Dion wants to talk to regulators, bankers and economists and unions? Thats poor leadership, we don’t need to know what they think (thats why we put muzzles on our civil servants and boot scientists and dissidents), my view is superior and unchallengable.”
Hate to break it to the readers out there who doubt Dion, but the sociologist gets it. Intel always comes before decisions. And even so, is a sociologist well aware of what shapes an individuals paradigm? This one does.
Only one kind of governmental system truly functions and that is the system that serves its people with its people sophisticated enough to know that they too, must also serve the system itself. Its never a one way street. Does Dion know this truth? He oozes it. He’s a powerful integrator, a smarter man than most will ever, EVER give him credit for and what is it that makes him so smart? He’s full of personal integrity from being humble, honest, passionate, and highly connected to the needs of others. These most excellent qualities in his character and guess what, people… they are also choices, choices that all highly intelligent people make.
Folks, this is the substance from of which all great leaders are forged and born and I’m going to tell you all something, something that you should all be aware of down the road.
Even if Harper gets the most seats in the next election short of a majority, he will not form the next government. Mark my words. This is already written in stone unless… the NDP has the balance of power and people want to see Layton prop up Harper some more. But that won’t happen either. I can all but tell you what will happen but if you are smart, Duceppe has made it crystal clear in the debates what our future holds.
And the Nano’s polls showing the Libs coming back to 28%? The Nanos poll that came out on the 3rd was 2% higher than it should have been, clocking out at 102%. Looking at the numbers, they simply didn’t budge enough to indicate any clear trend other than the east pop balancing the west drop with the English debate not giving Dion any extra pop with one night of numbers coming in. I was hoping for some Lib pop coming from the debates, but I think some support was lost in Saskatchewan as a result of suggestions that the Libs were on board with making polluters pay and when Duceppe came out with Sask C02 emissions in the 60’s… some support was lost in the west but these numbers are marginal and I don’t think it will effect things out west regardless. (God, the propaganda is heavy here, Garth)
Folks, it really comes down to maximizing vote efficiency.
I see the West shaping up like this:
Alta: 28 Cons
BC: Cons 15, NDP 10, Libs 11
Sask: Cons 9, Libs 4, NDP 1
Man: Cons 7, Libs 4, NDP 3
I looked at these ridings again last night and have these numbers virtually unchanged from 4 weeks ago (but a few seats did change places). I’ll have some predictions in terms of the East and I know that I’ll be changing numbers there in Quebec. Atlantic Canada, I’d be surprised if much has changed from 4 weeks ago. Ontario… Ontario is difficult to predict and its Nanos numbers that has me wondering but I think Liberal success will be there again. I’ll have predictions across Canada seat by seat before this election is over but the west is the only numbers I’m firm with for now (and really the only numbers I want out there right now) due to the fact that I haven’t seen much for changes in the east with new candidates running that weren’t yet listed 4 weeks ago or have those sober second thoughts, but I’ll have all this up here before its over.
Have a good weekend!
Garth,
Can you (or one of the bright lights out there) explain for your readers about the loans that the Bank of Canada is making? The $4 billion is loaned to the banks because they are under-capitalized right now due to losses from the worthless commercial paper they have purchased in the US market, is that correct?
If so, what happens when they can’t pay it back on October 30 or November 30, as there is a 30 day extension proposed? Are taxpayers on the hook for that $4 billion?
If so, I am not very happy. The banks have been enjoying unprecedented profits for years now and picking my pocket with fees while delivering no service and taking advantage of their workforce. This makes me angry that they are being bailed out on the sly without a big discussion in this election. It’s as if Harper and Flaherty just want to get through this election without talking.
The focus is also a bit different because it is more specifically directed to the Canadian situation than the Saul book, which is more global.
By C. B. Innes on 10.04.08 8:23 pm
I shall obtain and read it. Thanks. Likewise, my thinking is that the biggest problem is globalism. It is historically and fundamentally wrong in its goals despite sounding as an equalization ideology.
I think we could learn a great deal from the ancient traders such as those who built Petra. They responded to the trade that passed through their region and profited in a fair and equitable manner.
I find Thomas Walkom’s column So much for the ‘free’ market. Now what? to be a sound examination between two forms of capitalism, but there are more than these two choices. We seriously need to examine all our trade agreements and re-write them to be progresive for Canadians first and foremost. NAFTA is a failure for the people but good for a few businesses. That does not make it a viable form of trade by merely serving a few elite.
, in my humble opinion, Mr. Dion is oodles above your idol Harpoon & he’s smarter too. He is a great leader for the simple fact that he cares about all Canadians, Canada & its sovereignty. He is respected by world leaders. By Irene
I wouldn’t expect anything else from a Dion supporter just as I would expect the same type of comment coming from Harper supporter. Both sides think their leader is the greatest. The reality is that neither one is the greater and they both have their worts and faults.
Unfortunately for you is the fact that all polls about leadership ever taken since Dion became leader just doesn’t support your position. That is not my opinion but rather reality.
For the record Irene, there is not one politician in Canada that is my idol. The only politician that I did admire was Sir Winston Churchill. However I happen to believe that Harper is a better leader then Dion and have based my opinion on their respective performances in the house that last couple of years. IMHOP, Dion didn’t perform well at all by not allowing his members to vote on confidence bills, walking out like children and only allowing a few Liberal Mps to show up for critical votes. That is not leadership. IN fact if the Harper government was as bad as Dion is saying he is was the my question is was didn’t he bring the government down when he had the chance. Now just maybe and I say maybe that Harper government was not as bad as Dion is leading us to believe. ON the other hand maybe and just maybe Dion was trying to save his own leadership by not bring the Government down earlier then when the election was called.. He didn’t and that again Irene is not showing good leadership. If
I have far more respect for Garth Turner then I will ever have for Dion because Garth was honest about wanting an election as soon as possible while Dion on the other hand twiddled his thumbs or sat on his hands and went against his caucus members wishes. But then thanks to Dion’s indecisiveness Harper was allowed to run his government like he had a majority. Now whose fault was that? I am suggesting that you can lay the blame squarely at the feet of the Leader of the Official Opposition.
That is one of the reasons is that we are going to have another minority government and sorry to break it to you Irene, it is looking very doubtful it will be a Liberal minority. It sure isn’t going to be the NDP or Greens, The Bloc is out of the picture entirely. So I will leave it up to you to try and figure out who the minority government is going to be.
Regardless of how this election turns out one of the leaders will be gone after the election. If Harper wins Dion will be gone and if Dion wins Harper will be gone. MY money is on Dion going. No doubt your money is on Harper.
Have fun
Cheerio
By Bill-Muskoka (not anymore) on 10.05.08 8:28 am,
There two points in Walkom’s column with which I take issue.
The first is that the entire concept under which Canada operated until recently was that of “liberal democracy.” Note the small “l” which refers to a system in which capitalism is checked by democratic institutions. The old Conservative Party supported the concept of liberal democracy.
In the late 1960s and 1970s the so-called right wing became strongly opposed to liberal democracy. I believe that Stephen Harper himself has opposed the concept. What Walkom refers to as social democracy is what I know as liberal democracy. He is using the right wing jargon.
The other issue is his support for the Wall Street bailout which surprises me and baffles me at the same time. The fact is there were other ways to handle the situation other than put the average American in further debt to capital interests and engage in a massive transfer of wealth from Joe Public to Mr. CEO (especially when it was the greed of Mr. CEO that created the problem in the first place.)
This is an intellectually dishonest argument because the underlying reasons for designating the bills as “Confidence Motions” in the first place were politically motivated and hence bogus.
I particularly like Jack Layton’s bluster in that regards because he knows damn well that had the situation been reversed, ie. he had been the leader of the Official Opposition, his voting behaviour would have been similar. This might sell with some folks, but I give Canadians more credit at being able to separate the truth and circumstance from bill of goods being peddaled.
By C. B. Innes on 10.05.08 9:41 pm
I agree with both your points unreservedly. Good observations.
The REAL POLL is coming in a few more days on October 14th. That is the ONLY ONE I care about. The rest are meaningless, as usual.
Couldn’t agree more Garth!
Harper: Worth The Risk?
Out of Touch – while everyone knows the U.S. crisis goes far beyond their borders, Harper said there is no instability in the Canadian banking and insurance industry. Hello – anyone home?
Weak Leader – does a strong leader use his own words or parrot others? Using negativism and attack as the prime means of running a campaign?
Record – ensure elections are held at set intervals? Income Trusts? Environment? From surplus to almost deficit?
Platform? I can hardly wait! Is this the same person who accused Dion of panicking by revealing his economic platform so late as Harper did at the English debate?
Yep – Harper: DEFINITELY NOT worth the risk!