Democracy Hijacked?

As much as I am not a Harper fan, and believe me, I am the furthest thing from one, I'm really peeved with this latest state of affairs.  I didn't vote for Harper, but a lot of people did.  Enough people for he and his party to legally and democratically be given the mandate to form a government, albeit a minority.  That's the way it works and it's a pretty good system usually.  By the way, if you didn't vote, shut up.  Your bitching about what's happening now means nothing.  But right now, it seems to me democracy, something I really care about, is being hijacked.  The fact that it's being engineered by the three stooges is just salt in the wounds. If this happens, and it looks like it will, I hope Stephane Dion goes down in history as the shameful weasel who schemed his way into the head office of the land. To my way of thinking this isn't that different from the shenanigans Bush pulled to steal the American election from Gore. Even when the people had spoken loudly at the polls. It's reprehensible, it lacks integrity and it sends a horrible message to the rest of the world as we enter one of the worst economic recessions in recent history.  Nice call guys.

Comments

[Tom Pike]

Love the picture by the way.

[Tom Pike]

Just another perspective

1. Harper declares he will work with the partys for a civil more parliament in the thrown speech. Even I believed him after the last one was so poisonous.

2. With no stimulus Harper pulls all the other parties funding right after a general election when it hurts them the most and hurts the Conservatives the least. No phase in or warning.

3. Harper lies and stirs nationalist sentiment in Quebec in order to delay a vote on his budget to save his government. This is the worst part of the whole episode.

Only with the threat of the coalition does Harper start to back down. The coalition is the only stick this group has to keep Harper from making a total mess. What do people think he would have done if this budget passed? Something more reasonable? This is exactly the way our democracy is supposed to work. If you don't get a majority and commit something heinous enough to vote you go down. If you can muster up enough voted mp's that is the design of our parliament. This next part is critical to understand. Who the leaders are and even their policies are irrelevent unfortunately. It has nothing to do with what people want or voted for. That part is done and parliament is supposed to work according to the rules. I have yet to hear a constitutional expert say what Jean has done is not dangerous.

[Neil O.]

I voted for Harper, or rather Colin Carrie in my riding in Oshawa. I think Harper is the best thing for the economy and we should stick with him. I always had a feeling about you that you were a conservative (despite the stereotype of actors and the left).

Anyway, back on track. This smack in the face of democracy is appalling. If we have to go back to the polls, as much as that would suck economically, it's nowhere close to what we'd spend with the Coalition in power. Tax & spend, not to mention $30B 'stimulus' package. That's a far cry from $300M it would cost for another election.

[Tracey]

Well said Neil. I too am not a Harper fan, again, not even remotely...however, that doesn't necessarily make me a Dion fan...nor does it make me a supporter of the Bloc or the NDP...so why should Harper's perceived incapabilty be replaced by a coalition that Canadians already expressed a lack of support for? It's tough enough to remain inspired to vote when you aren't necessarily happy with any of the choices, but this 'coup' means that our votes don't really count at all. Democracy?

[M. J. Roberts]

Neil, you, I and apparently 64% of the rest of the country realizes that Canada is a democratic country. Unfortunately, Mr. Harper hasn't quite got the understanding of that (at least not until perhaps now). He likes to think he can run the "show" all by himself, anyway he wishes, no matter who he has to muzzle, fire, threaten, severely tick off to get his way. A lot of us may not agree with or appreciate how the other three leaders have played this drama out, but really, did Mr. Harper leave them any other choice. That little economic pep-talk that Mr. Flaherty delivered certainly didn't in any way assist everyday Canadians in any way, shape or form. It even had the international community scratching their heads wondering why, in a climate such as the world is exhibiting, would "Canada" (read Mr. Harper here) make such flawed decisions. We may not be happy, who is currently, about what is happening, but I give the opposition leaders credit for at least doing something to stop the dictatorship that is Stephen Harper. Hey, now we may even get to hear from the conservatives members elected by the people actually say something instead of the gag order that has been placed on them. I know for a fact there are a number of elected Conservatives who are anxious to have a say about Mr. Harper and his "ways" We just have to hang in there, Neil, and see where this rollercoaster ride will take us. Sorry for being soooo long winded, but thanks for the opportunity to put this into words.

[Laurence Cutner]

Coo! Coo!

[Matty G]

Agreed, Neil. The funny thing is, I keep hearing "Because 60% of voters didn't vote for Harper, that makes this coalition democratic." How does that work for the people that voted Liberal or NDP - both federalist parties - now that those parties are getting in bed with a separatist party?

[mouseslb]

How right you are Neil!!!mouseslb