The death of Tina Fontaine has once again sparked demands for a public enquiry into the epidemic of murdered and missing aboriginal women. But, yesterday, Stephen Harper again rejected those demands:
"We should not view this as sociological phenomenon," the prime minister told a news conference Thursday. "We should view it as crime. It is crime against innocent people, and it needs to be addressed as such."
Mr. Harper has never been interested in the causes of crime. He cares only about punishment, thinking -- with his usual tunnel vision -- that stiffer punishment will put an end to it.
But there's more to it than that. He is adamantly opposed to any and all public enquiries -- because he knows that the opposition can use an enquiry to ride to power. Just as he did. A public enquiry would inevitably find fault with public policy -- his public policy -- starting with his ditching of the Kelowna Accord.
So it in Mr. Harper's self interest to refuse to hold a public enquiry into murdered and missing aboriginal women. For, despite his claim that he is a Conservative, the truth is that Mr. Harper is a Randian. Both he and the dour Russian emigré stand four square for the notion that selfishness is a virtue.
10 comments:
There was an article in the Globe and Mail a few years ago comparing the Harper ideology with Ayn Rand's ideology. I left a comment that said 'Ayn Rand wrote second rate romance novels for teenage girls.' I received a reply that I should be killed, and it did not appear to be sarcasm.
Why anyone would threaten an anonymous commenter on such a trivial issue made me laugh. But the Harperites always make me laugh.
Perhaps you laugh, Anon, because you know that -- when you deal with the Harperites -- you're dealing with pooled ignorance.
Far from being a Randian Harper shares nothing of Rands ideology.
for one thing with his evangelical christian beliefs she would consider
him intellectually bankrupt She was an atheist. It also is a stretch to throw Harpers refusal to hold a public enquiry into aboriginal women missing or murdered on to Rands doorstep.She would consider him to be entrenched in mediocrity with his dogmatic mind and his pursuit of power. Of course anyone can disagree with Rand. I do, but Harper shares nothing of her ideas.
The Vancouver Club. Does it exist and does Harper have a paid up membership?
Of course Dick Picton was not just cleaning up!
Thanks for the link, Steve. It sounds like an enquiry would air all kinds of dirty laundry.
I'm not claiming that Harper quotes Rand chapter and verse, Pam. But several American neo-conservatives -- like Alan Greenspan and Paul Ryan -- are on record as being among Rand's disciples. Harper comes by his ideology second hand, by way of folks like these.
And, yes, Harper claims that he is not an atheist -- although a good argument could be made that neither he is a Christian.
Surely, Rand's faith in unbridled individualism is reflected in Harper's policies. And Rand's contention that government is organized tyranny finds its way into Harperian pronouncements.
I would argue that Harper, like many of his supporters, doesn't understand where his public positions come from. He only knows that they have been market tested.
I disagree. Pooled ignorance of Harper's cabal means, they are of Harper's Borg. They are briefed on, what they may or not say, before a session of Parliament. Harper's Borg are not permitted their own opinions.
Harper had ordered the Police---They are not to speak to Harper's cabal, unless he gives his approval. Harper's Borg is very extensive.
Harper's reach is extensive, Anon. And anyone who works for him knows that independent thought is forbidden.
They may not be ignorant. But, if they expect to keep their jobs, they must feign ignorance.
Too bad HARPER CAN NOT GET IN...
The Calgary Petroleum Club is a private club located in the heart of Calgary's business district. The Petroleum Club offers world class dining and meeting facilities to its members and guests.
319 - 5th Avenue S.W.
Calgary, Alberta T2P 0L5
(403) 269-7981
Club Opens at 7:00 a.m., Monday to Friday 5:30 p.m. on Saturday
harper is a busboy there...
His services have been bought and paid for, Mogs. Peter Lougheed couldn't get in, either. But he was not in favour of all out development of the Tar Sands.
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