tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7884128379999766348.post1393016590072389926..comments2024-03-28T22:02:16.520-04:00Comments on Politics and its Discontents: An Imperiled Democracy: Civic Illiteracy In CanadaLornehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15741324981120408977noreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7884128379999766348.post-5983960829288019022015-03-21T16:27:22.068-04:002015-03-21T16:27:22.068-04:00I completely concur, Mound. It is time for people ...I completely concur, Mound. It is time for people to lose any defensiveness they might feel in challenging what has become the neoliberal status quo and fight vigorously for the things that may life truly worthwhile.Lornehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15741324981120408977noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7884128379999766348.post-6247082653962997962015-03-21T16:24:29.435-04:002015-03-21T16:24:29.435-04:00You have distilled the essence of the Harper philo...You have distilled the essence of the Harper philosophy and strategy into a few sentences, Pamela, aptly describing how this man and his minions have shown ongoing contempt for the kind of broad-based consultation and consensus that makes for a healthy democracy. It is, as you suggest, imperative that Canadians live up to their civic responsibilities, educate themselves about the issues, and turn out in vast numbers in October. Otherwise, there appears little chance of recapturing our heritage.Lornehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15741324981120408977noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7884128379999766348.post-43413919122765004892015-03-21T16:00:55.326-04:002015-03-21T16:00:55.326-04:00This morning I wrote on a similar theme and conclu...This morning I wrote on a similar theme and concluded that our best hope now of restoring Canadian democracy rests with bare-knuckle progressivism to knock the neoliberal stuffing out of the Liberals and New Democrats and thereby reconnect them with eligible voters who are currently disaffected by political parties that don't address their deep concerns. <br /><br />The scourge of neoliberalism has advanced under Harper, with a good bit of cooperation from the opposition, into a state of illiberal democracy which, unless staunched, tends to lead to autocracy.The Mound of Soundhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09023839743772372922noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7884128379999766348.post-23386489243041156252015-03-21T15:10:41.600-04:002015-03-21T15:10:41.600-04:00The problem Lorne is that Harper only needs 40% to...The problem Lorne is that Harper only needs 40% to win. All of what he says and all of his policies, particularly in an election year is directed at his base.The rest of Canada mean nothing to him,because he doesn't need them to win.Harper never takes his eye off the prize, 4 more years. So he can advocate the most offensive and sometimes ridiclous things, and the fact that the majority of Canadians with furrowed brows think, what hell is he saying means nothing, because Harper is not speaking to the majority he is speaking to his base, because that is the Con strategy in winning and it may work. The creation of the income-splitting tax for only 15% of Canadians is a glaring example of Harper consciously courting his base at the sacrifice of the needs of the majority of Canadians and he does it openly. What Canadian PM caters to the few, while angering the majority.Harper does. Most PM's want the majority on their side and they develop policy with the majority in mind, otherwise their career in politics is short lived.What Harper is doing is unprecedented. It's success relies on low vote count. Canadians need to turn out in droves to vote in October, because if Harper gets 4 more years, we ain't seen nothing yet!Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07842215982128591742noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7884128379999766348.post-41709862236688305592015-03-21T11:50:40.449-04:002015-03-21T11:50:40.449-04:00Only strong medicine, if we will take it, Owen, ca...Only strong medicine, if we will take it, Owen, can rid of this canker within our midst.Lornehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15741324981120408977noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7884128379999766348.post-79571934786572816652015-03-21T11:47:36.720-04:002015-03-21T11:47:36.720-04:00Likewise, Rural, I appreciate your efforts. In the...Likewise, Rural, I appreciate your efforts. In the final analysis, there really is no alternative to 'fighting the good fight,' is there?Lornehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15741324981120408977noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7884128379999766348.post-43776736447452380142015-03-21T11:02:13.238-04:002015-03-21T11:02:13.238-04:00As usual, Lorne, Dobbins aptly diagnoses what'...As usual, Lorne, Dobbins aptly diagnoses what's ailing us.Owen Grayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06464860078574618579noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7884128379999766348.post-22724908371317606472015-03-21T11:01:31.757-04:002015-03-21T11:01:31.757-04:00Your opening paragraph says it all Lorne, yet we k...Your opening paragraph says it all Lorne, yet we keep writing in the vain hope that we may influence a few into realizing that our democracy is a fragile thing already starting to slide down the slope to destruction. I too see a bit of a turn around by our public media and really hope it is not 'too tittle too late', never the less we shall keep up the effort at this end and thank you for doing the same here.Ruralhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11814103548500393628noreply@blogger.com