Shafting democracy in Canada.

[HeresyLives]

If there was a gold medal for shafting democracy at the Winter Olympics, Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper would win it. Just before the games open in Vancouver, he has halted parliament in its tracks, suspending it for the second time in little more than a year.

Canada will not have a House of Commons until March 3. Instantly, we are a part-time democracy, a shabby diminished place packed with angry voiceless citizens whose votes have been rendered meaningless. Harper didn't even visit the governor-general of Canada for the formality of asking permission as he did last Christmas. Instead, he phoned her and got his PR man to send out an announcement to the nation.

Rage and shame are flowing on the internet because there is nowhere else for voters to turn. Even The Globe and Mail, Canada's national and excessively staid newspaper, had a front-page editorial steaming with reproach. The Globe often leaves me frustrated, but I was moved when I read it and … did what exactly? I took a stand. I joined a Facebook group called Canadians Against Proroguing Parliament, an earnestly pathetic act that may be part of the reason our nation is so lessened on the first day of 2010.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2010/jan/01/democracy-stephen-harper

[HeresyLives]

1. Public urged to `kick, scream' in protest

OTTAWA–Green Party Leader Elizabeth May is urging Canadians to "kick and scream" in protest against Prime Minister Stephen Harper's decision to shut down Parliament for the next two months.

In a widely circulated Facebook post on Thursday, May accused Harper of counting on Canadians' cynicism and apathy toward politics and she implored the public to prove him wrong.

"We need to kick and scream at this insult to democracy – because that is what it is. We need to support each other, efforts by other parties, non-political leadership," May wrote.

http://www.thestar.com/news/canada/article/744853--public-urged-to-kick-scream-in-protest?bn=1

[Name removed]

2. Deleted message

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[HeresyLives]

3. I'll go for a coalition, a merger, whatever it takes

to get Harper out of there, and to move this country forward.

I just don't see it happening. Especially a coalition.

None of the parties are getting anywhere, and none of them will budge.

[CHIMO]

4. If They Could Think

There are plenty of ways.

Just think of the Sun newspapers being their advocates.

They first have to decide what they want as a political party. And since funding is now from the individual then one has to grab the individual.

What better example.



In the next decade, I hope Latin America will continue to fight back
http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/cifamerica/2010/jan/01/goodbye-noughties-latin-america

[HeresyLives]

5. Plenty of ways to do what?

None of them agree on anything.

Dion got the closest on a coalition we've ever had, and the Cons promptly made mincemeat out of it.

[CHIMO]

8. Agree

None agree.

If one puts on their thinking cap they can come up with lots of ways.

Harper is doing what Bush did. We make history and you write about it.

I am not going to give Harper any new ideas here. There are many ways to come up with alternatives to his world,

[Canuckistanian]

6. Agreed. I think Elizabeth May is ready for a more important role

I was impressed with her performance during the last leaders' debate, even though I've been a staunch NDP supporter.

I may just volunteer my time to the Green Party for the express purpose of dethroning Harper. Even though my rural Conservative riding is unlikely to elect a Green.

I'm sure going to give our local MP, Scott Reid an ear-bending, though.

[HeresyLives]

7. How will helping the Green party

dethrone Harper?

[Canuckistanian]

10. Strategic voting

But only if the Greens and NDP are co-operating.

[CHIMO]

9. I Wouldn't Bother

Harper runs things from the top and giving Scott an earful only allows them to prepare an answer to something about which they perhaps are not aware.

Elizabeth does bring some new views into the picture.