Guess Who Doesn't Support Our Troops?

If you guessed Stephen Harper's Conservative Party, you are correct. While dear leader and company pull out all of the rhetorical stops about supporting the troops when it serves their ideological purpose, they are decidedly niggard when it comes to helping them when they are no longer fodder in distant lands.

The most recent insult to those brave men and women (I don't dispute their valour, only the cause that so many gave their lives for) comes from that national disgrace, Calgary West MP Rob Anders (yes the same Anders who embarrassed all of us when he voted against making Nelson Mandela an honorary citizen, decrying him as a communist and a terrorist) when he dozed off while vets were making a committee presentation on homeless vets. Caught in his act of somnolence, he lashed out at the vets, calling them “NDP hacks” and supporters of Vladmir Putin.

Just another of the many reasons Harper and his troops are unfit to govern.

You can read the entire sad tale about Conservative hypocrisy and demagoguery here.

Contemporary Fascism: Harper Government Suppression Of Information Continues Unabated

In reviewing some of the traditional hallmarks of fascism, it is frightening to observe so many of them on the Canadian landscape, not the least of which is the Harper muzzling of federal scientists, who can no longer talk about their discoveries without government permission.

Do these other characteristics of fascism look familiar?

1. Watch for signs of extreme nationalism. One of the key components of fascism is a heavy emphasis, by the government, on patriotism and national pride, often through propaganda. Pride is often encouraged above all else, especially in the military.

2. See if there is denial of civil rights. In fascist regimes, civil rights are often ignored or not adhered to. The people under the leadership of the fascist leader are persuaded to allow drastic reductions of civil rights for the good of the state.

3. Note if there is censorship of the media. Key to the definition of fascism is control of public information. In fascism, the media is either run by the government, controlled by the government or in cooperation with the government through corruption.

4. Look for signs that religion and government are strongly linked. Fascist regimes use religion as a propaganda tool to influence citizens and gain their admiration.

5. Recognize if there is suppression of organized labor. Fascist government are often placed into power by the corporate powers of a nation. The government provides for the corporate interest and either disallows to heavily suppresses the laborers in order to keep business on their side.

6. Take note of any suppression of free expression. Part of the definition of fascism is the government's need to control the thoughts and actions of the citizens. To achieve this, fascist regimes will limit freedom of expression by disallowing the arts and free speech. High levels of education are also sometimes discouraged or eliminated.

For further reading on a very worrisome trend, I highly recommend this article by Nick Fillmore.

Oh, one more thing, and I suppose I state the obvious here: I have nothing but bottomless contempt for all of the Conservative backbenchers and ministers without whose collaboration this insidious assault on our rights and freedoms could not be taking place.