tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35117130.post6695531880904161799..comments2024-03-28T10:07:24.955-04:00Comments on Northern Reflections: Lament for a Nation, Fifty Years OnOwen Grayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06464860078574618579noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35117130.post-47124704578760879412010-06-22T13:50:15.635-04:002010-06-22T13:50:15.635-04:00Absolutely true, Chris. But the lack of appealing ...Absolutely true, Chris. But the lack of appealing alternatives works in the Prime Minister's favour.<br /><br />Our leaders are not stupid. But they don't inspire much confidence, either.<br /><br />So we are left with the question, "What do we do?" Polls suggest that, if an election were held, the deck chairs would change a bit; but we'd still be deadlocked. <br /><br />Surely, we are better than this.Owen Grayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06464860078574618579noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35117130.post-55954279047504610942010-06-22T13:33:44.389-04:002010-06-22T13:33:44.389-04:00I agree about our apathy, but would say also that ...I agree about our apathy, but would say also that the alternatives aren't very attractive, which feeds the apathy.<br /><br />Also, because the alternatives aren't so appealing and not enough people really want the conservatives, another election may well produce the result we have now.<br /><br />With three parties opposing the conservatives, moving forward becomes very difficult as one of them can always veto.ChrisJhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13139508470517226199noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35117130.post-26159189112672712010-06-21T10:20:54.424-04:002010-06-21T10:20:54.424-04:00This is our democracy, CK. We will pay a price for...This is our democracy, CK. We will pay a price for our apathy -- unless we decide that there are some things which require our attendance at the polls.Owen Grayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06464860078574618579noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35117130.post-10603565991183509772010-06-21T09:18:25.352-04:002010-06-21T09:18:25.352-04:00Finally, someone who isn't putting the entire ...Finally, someone who isn't putting the entire blame on the opposition parties, but right where it belongs; on Canadians themselves, as you point out their apathy.<br /><br />http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c-21tbbV3FQ <br /><br />from the by-election in Novemember 2009;I wish I could say it's nothing more than a dumb copywriting mistake, but no, it is Harper's real intent. Easy for him to do, given how Canadians are such cry babies when it comes to going to the polls; sooooo easy to take advantage of.<br /><br />As I've said, to entertain a Harpercon majority would mean we're going to be stuck with him until he tires of the job or dies; not sooner, as I believe after eliminating the per vote subsidy; the next parliamentary 'reform' is to eliminate elections every 4 years.<br /><br />Sound ridiculous? After watching that video and seeing how Canadians are not only apathetic but would take to the streets to defend their own apathy (remember prorogation last january? Let's take it for what it was; folks weren't protesting prorogation; they were touchy about folks and the media criticizing their apathy).<br /><br />It is that apathy along with lack of support for opposition parties that will not only allow for a Harpercon majority, but that he will run it like a tyrant.ckhttp://sistersagesmusings.canoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35117130.post-91636636111419156312010-06-21T09:05:47.078-04:002010-06-21T09:05:47.078-04:00I absolutely concur with what you say. Democracy i...I absolutely concur with what you say. Democracy is the responsibility of all parties. Mistakes are sometimes the result of carefully plotted actions. Sometimes they are the result of inaction -- also carefully plotted.Owen Grayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06464860078574618579noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35117130.post-13072339163254268182010-06-21T08:52:03.727-04:002010-06-21T08:52:03.727-04:00What's truly distressing is that all of this h...What's truly distressing is that all of this has happened during a minority government - which means the opposition parties are equally responsible for letting things deteriorate to this point. And when you look at the cross-party efforts and political reforms happening in the UK under the coalition, the situation here is that much more depressing.Radical Centristhttp://thoughtundermined.comnoreply@blogger.com