The mess in Ottawa was created by one thing: the proposal to remove the $1.95 per vote annual subsidy paid to political parties.
For now, let's forget why this proposal was tabled, the manner in which it was done and for what strategic reasons it was done. It is unimportant.
What we the people have learned is that nothing is so sacred to the politicans as money. It is their singular focus. We look no further than the uproar and chest thumping that is occuring in Ottawa this very minute for proof. Never have MPs acted so fast, and cooperated with such swiftness, over such a small thing as they have in the last week. And it was all started by $1.95.
It reminds me of the instance several years ago when the speaker of the house read into law a pay raise bill in record time so the house could adjorn for the christmas break. Remember that? The speaker read with such speed that the words were incomprehensible, and the MPs clapped their hands in self congratulation that they had performed this service to Canada with such efficiency.
While they play their little game, we the people are left to observe the farce.
We the people.
We the people require our elected members to discharge their duty in the service of Canada.
We the people demand that the politicians be mindful of the oaths they took upon their election.
We the people demand that politicians remain focused on the great challenges facing our country and be aware that their petty squabbles hurt our country's ability to solve them.
We the people require our elected representatives to work together and remember that parliament is the one forum in our nation where voices from sea to sea to sea are brought together in the hope that our country will be better tomorrow than it is today.
It is time that Ottawa learned that we hold the power. And what better way to demonstrate it than to immediately cease all donations and attendance to political events until January 31. No donations. Do not attend any holiday events.
Do this to show your support for integrity and truth in politics.
No more donations until the politician's can prove they deserve it.
One more thing, I recommend a week of silence in the blogosphere to commemorate the death of this parliament. It's done. Stick a fork in it.
As of 12:00am Monday December 7th, no blogging whatsoever for 7 days. Let the blogosphere remain silent to show our politicans that we will not accept things the way they are.
I am appealing to the entire blogosphere, red, blue, orange, and green. If you believe in this message, pass it on.
Humbly yours,
Kirk West
Citizen
8 comments:
now is not the time to be silent, ya silly! now is the time to make your voice heard... over and over again! don't be silent. stand up and shout out.
"... And it was all started by $1.95. ..."
Put it to a simple referendum and let Canadians decide if they wish to fund 86% of the BQ !
Anon,
Sudden silence from the blogosphere would be deafening.
No doubt you have good intentions Kirk, but the Separatist Coalition would prefer that we be quiet, roll over and let them come to power. Now is not the time to act like pathetic sheep.
Daisy
Yikes - no blogging - I would go through heavy withdrawal!
I do not believe this is the time to be silent. The blogesphere is why the outcry and backlash has become so huge. To go silent would be perceived as acceptance.
This bill proposal hits the 3 socialist party's where they live and breath... not only does it take away the gravy train of funding that they survive off of (because not even their own political leaders contribute to their parties) but it also was designed to hit unions hard by making it illegal for civil servants to strike...they are employees of the people, get paid more on average then similar jobs out there (i.e. haven't we all heard the comment "get a cushy gov't job" or something similar) and therefore it hits hard at both the top heavy liberal silly servants and on the bottom end the No Damn Plan party's power base of union supporters.
Hey Kirk, wheres that "Lois Brown"?
(Some Rep we got there, takes a win & disappears!) --
Anyway:
_____________________________
Dear Friend,
You may have heard today that the Liberal-NDP-Bloc coalition was stopped in its tracks to overthrow the government this week.
Regrettably, Stephane Dion and Jack Layton have reacted by saying that they are more committed than ever to their separatist partners and their undemocratic takeover.
Fortunately, individual Liberal and NDP Members of Parliament are hearing from Canadians like you and are questioning the deal.
So please continue to contact your local Member of Parliament (click here to find yours) and tell them how you feel.
You can help stop this deal and defend democracy.
The Governor General has given the Canadian people an opportunity to let their voices be heard. So make sure you speak.
Thank you for signing the petition to save Canadian democracy, its been a huge success. We've only been live for two days and 138,435 people have joined us. The message is getting out and we must continue to keep up the pressure to ensure democracy is respected.
Sincerely,
Canadians for Democracy
www.canadians4democracy.ca
PS – Rally's are being held across the country. Please attend if you can. Click here to see times and locations.
“”For now, let's forget why this proposal was tabled, the manner in which it was done and for what strategic reasons it was done. It is unimportant.””
I disagree. Do we chide a child who has accidentally hit his friend and cut him out of youthful exuberance as much as the child who has both purpose and intent to hurt his playmates?
Intent is important whether is shows even handed ideological decisions (like cancelling the $1.95 AND the tax refund for political contributions), or simply trying to kill off the competitions by killing the subsidy that hurts them the most.
Intent speaks to character an important consideration in a leader; you cannot separate the decision from the rationale!
I can see the point that parties should be responsible for their own fund raising but there is also a point of assuring a level playing field so that all voices and ideas get a fair hearing in an election; being the richest party does not signify being the most correct or even the most popular party at any one time. IMO the $1.95 was a reasonable compromise to get rid of corporate donations and influence.
An aboriginal party or a Poverty party for example would be hard pressed to raise the same amount of money per member than the conservative party but that does not diminish or nullify the importance or value of those voices in a true working democracy.
What is it about the etremes of the NDP and Conservatives that neither believes disenting voices should exist? Is not discourse and rational discussion to prove your point of view enough without attempting to destroy the other parties. More voices, not less makes democracy work.
I can agree that funding a separatist party has unusual/bizarre connotations, yet under Canadian law it is not illegal. Conservatives gave them “Nation within Canada” status, have approached them before for support yet claim they are unworthy to be party of the government. If Conservatives truly believe that the Bloc should not be allowed in Gov because they are treasonous, do something about it. Pass a law or propose a constitutional amendment to make the integrity of Canada sacrosanct, or ban the organization. At the same time however they must slap down the voices of western separatism and Harper must disavow the “Alberta firewall” comments.
Proportional Representation would also be a way to marginalize the Blocs importance.
As for your call of no donations until they get their acts together I can’t fault that, I’m not too pleased with anyone.
I have no doubt self interest sparked the sudden cooperation between the parties but I also have no doubt self interest and petty baiting not idealism sparked the funding issue in the first place. There was no need for this crisis at this time when more important things were afoot; neither should the leader of a nation misrepresent that system, its rules, history and precedents just because he does not like how the game is unfolding. I’m generally pissed off.
Let’s have a giant game of survivor Baffin Island. All MPs get air dropped, they agree to form a model society and make it work for a year, or they kill each other off and the last MP standing gets of the island with his/her pension intact.
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