Those without an interest in Canadian politics (our second-favourite bloodsport after hockey) can skip this message.
OK, the election's over, now can the left-leaning wingnut media in particular, and the Liberal fear-mongers and those taken in by their hysteria, get over themselves? It's a campaign that I felt sank to new lows in terms of advertising in the mass media, and more so in the whispering campaigns. Both major parties were guilty. More frightening to me however is how the negative messages keep resonating, in spite of clear denials and being contrary to known facts (for the few prepared to actually determine facts). Realistically, how scary can a party with roots in the populist Reform party and the traditional Progressive Party (remember the Red Tories?) really be? And anyone who leaps to the conclusion that this group is in league with the U.S. neo-cons just because the party name is "Conservative" needs a long lesson in Canadian political history. While they may seem the right edge of the spectrum in Canada, I think you'll find they are hardly right-wing in terms of U.S. ideology (or is that idolatry?). The only government that has implemented martial law in this country is not the Conservatives, but the Liberals (FLQ "crisis"). Compared to the Liberal record in my lifetime, almost anything else in our range of experience in Canada would be better. (see exception immediately following) The closest thing to a fascist government I have experienced was the leftist Ontario NDP government of Bob Rae, which unilaterally tore up legal contracts with public service unions and changed their conditions of employment adversely without any course of appeal. I have an acquaintance in the Canadian military (front-line infantry division) who commented on the Liberal ad that included the reprehensible "soldiers, with guns, in our streets" line. His response (after years of Liberal military underfunding), "when will we get the guns?" Another wag commented to the effect of, 'Guns, sure. But will they actually be issued bullets?' By comparison, I figure a minority Conservative government should be pretty innocuous. There are some things in their platform I liked (which is not to be mistaken for a wholesale endorsement). I would like to see accountability in government. It disturbs me that the lead whistle-blower in the Adscam debacle was not elected, losing out to the incumbent representing the party that committed the crimes. That's hardly a ringing endorsement from the electorate for clean, transparent government. I would like to see the fiscal imbalance corrected (the feds have hiked taxes on individuals during the past dozen years, while reneging on commitments to the provinces and municipal governments who actually have to fund most of the programs, like health care). I would like to see the national gun registry, which was designed to make legal and responsible ownership of guns onerous while ignoring the issue of illegal guns, dismantled. I'm not a gun owner, just a taxpayer. I would like to see some honest debate on the issue of Canada's commitment to Kyoto, unlike the Liberal photo-op announcement with no serious follow-up. I would like to see us seriously address the issue of Arctic sovereignty, not just talk about it for another decade. Regarding biofuels, the Conservatives were the only party of the three majors with a quantifiable, verifiable policy: 5% average ethanol content in gasoline and 5% biodiesel content in diesel fuel on a national, annual basis by 2010 (which would have been the end of their mandate if they got a majority). BTW, I see the media have already set the tone for their relationship with PM Harper. Last night he went to the hospital after having some difficulty breathing. The media reported this as an asthma attack, and one commentator went so far as to question if he was fit for office due to the condition. Of course, in reality, it was not an asthma attack (Harper has not suffered from asthma since childhood), he was just being cautious. Not mentioned by any media source I have heard is that he went to a *public* hospital. Unlike the alleged defenders of public health-care, Liberal leader Martin (who goes to a private clinic operated by a friend) or NDP leader Layton (who apparently can't tell the difference between private health care and public, having gone to the private Shouldice Clinic for his surgery), Harper actually uses public health care. Yup, this is definitely a scary, scary guy; he actually *uses* the public health care system. He may actually follow through on the promise to have a free vote on same-sex marriage. Democracy. Definitely scary, scary stuff. Actually, that free-vote thing was a Liberal promise for the last Parliament, but when push came to shove, they panicked and did not allow a real free vote - the Cabinet were required to vote in favour or resign their cabinet positions. Not surprisingly, they all followed orders. This guy might actually reduce taxes for people (GST promise), not just corporations; gotta hate that. And the very idea that post-secondary education might include apprenticeships, well, clearly this guy is out of control. Letting parents decide how they wish to provide care for their children rather than having big government warehouse them in institutional daycare (that they just keep forgetting to actually provide), well, that's just wacky. Protection for whistle-blowers from their political masters, really, who wants that kind of work environment? Next this guy will want to take the handcuffs off the Ethics Commissioner. OK, that's not really their idea, after all the Liberals promised that for three straight elections, but somehow just never got around to it (at least not completely). I know, they were busy, there was a lot of graft to be spread around, so actually governing the country just never really got onto the agenda. Sorry, is my sarcasm showing? Personally, having worked on the Green Party campaign this election with a woman I considered a really solid candidate, I am quite disappointed with the outcome for an environmental agenda in this country. The Conservative environmental platform would have fit on a business card. The Liberals were disingenuous enough to promise some of the same measures again for the fourth election in a row, having accomplished less than zero on the environmental front. The NDP environmental platform was essentially, hey, we're leftists/socialists, of course we'll protect the environment. (Communist regimes having such a glowing record on the environment.) The only firm commitment I could find on a date in the NDP platform was to meet Kyoto targets by 2020 - eight years late, but with no specifics on how this would be accomplished. I hope this doesn't mean more Rick Mercer commercials. However, it is up to us as citizens of whatever political stripe to work to build the country we want. So, can we stop complaining about the outcome, and start working constructively to improve the country instead? Or, will we, like most Canadians, just go back to sleep until the next round? Darryl McMahon Joe Street wrote: > Hey Kenji; > > The neocons are not all in the stix. Pre election day I put a 2'x2' > sign on my lawn (and I live in the city) with the conservative party > logo and big blue letters that read "STAND UP FOR USA INTERESTS" > (For those who don't know the conservatives' slogan this year read > Stand up for Canada) The sign was kicked down several times until I > put it inside my window. Little good it did eh? > > Joe > > Kenji James Fuse wrote: > > >> Canada is about to become a provincial territory of the Empire of >> the USA, what with the newly elected reactionary and neo-con >> Conservative party, led by homophobe and misogynist Stephen Harper. >> >> >> The 'harmonization' between the two countries, who once held the >> longest unprotected border, was begun in the eighties with the >> treasonous Brian Mulroney's Free Trade Agreement, and continued in >> backroom deals with the thirteen-year reign of the Liberal Party. >> >> Now, we will witness this harmonization process rapidly accelerate, >> in all areas. Canada will increase it's military support of >> American campaigns, including the invasion of sovereign states and >> the Star Wars project. Gone are the days when Canada was a true >> peacekeeper, and US deserters were welcomed with open arms. >> >> Offshore oil drilling in British Columbia, which has been halted >> under a moratorium since the idea was proposed in the nineties, is >> strongly supported by the Conservative Party. Fortunately, as they >> are only a minority government, the Opposition will block this >> horrendous undertaking. >> >> What is wrong with rural Canadian voters? How can they fall for the >> 'grassroots' posturing of a bunch of corporate thugs like the >> Conservatives? Not that the Liberal Party is much better, in terms >> of selling the country to the highest bidder, but at least they >> seemed genuinely committed to the struggle for resistance to >> American absorption. >> >> Can any of you send me the words to the Star-Spangled Banner? I >> wanna become a good American before it's too late... >> >> Kanuck Kenji >> >> -- Darryl McMahon http://www.econogics.com It's your planet. If you won't look after it, who will? _______________________________________________ Biofuel mailing list Biofuel@sustainablelists.org http://sustainablelists.org/mailman/listinfo/biofuel_sustainablelists.org Biofuel at Journey to Forever: http://journeytoforever.org/biofuel.html Search the combined Biofuel and Biofuels-biz list archives (50,000 messages): http://www.mail-archive.com/biofuel@sustainablelists.org/
