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"Democracy is so very inconvenient
Let's face it, democracy is a messy business. This is why right wingers have been trying to streamline it for so long, to remove that most meddlesome of elements: the people.
The Conservative government has finally figured out a way to do that in Canada: they're appointing their own representatives in ridings where the people have been so foolish as to - brace yourselves - not elect a Conservative.
Meet Sharon Smith - currently mayor of Houston B.C. and soon to be "liaison to the federal government" for the riding of Skeena-Bulkley Valley. Now I know what you are thinking: didn't the people of that riding elect their own liaison to the federal government, traditionally known for lo these past 140 years as a Member of Parliament? Why yes, they did, and his name is Nathan Cullen. But Mr. Cullen has commited the egregious sin of - please brace yourself again - not being a Conservative. In fact, he is a member of the NDP. Apparently, not being a Conservative means you can no longer represent the people of your riding.
Welcome to the world of one-party rule.
| Peace, order and good government, eh? Updated : Closed for renovations The site is currently closed for comments and trackbacks while I see if I can upgrade this puppy to the latest version of Movable Type. If things look a little odd around here for a bit, don't get too excited. I assure you that if things continue to look a little odd for long enough, I'll be getting excited enough for all of us. See you on the other side.... Sunday morning Go ahead. Have another cup of coffee. This is Rio Funk by Lee Ritenour.... Friday night So I took a few minutes, went to YouTube and checked out some Viking Death Metal. I had no idea that human vocal chords could make a sound quite like that. Here's Albert King and Stevie Ray Vaughan on Ask Me No Questions. There's another tune on the flip.... More like this, please I've given the Globe and Mail grief in the past for the way it has reported political stories so I suppose I ought to give credit when it's due. This article states things pretty clearly. The Conservatives are repeating allegations that a B.C. journalist doctored a tape of Stephen Harper talking about the Cadman affair – but only in places where they are protected from lawsuits. MP Pierre Poilievre, the parliamentary secretary to the Prime Minister, slipped out of the Commons by the back door this morning rather than take up the NDP's challenge that he repeat the claims outside the chamber. MPs cannot be sued for what they say in the Commons, but outside the door of the House, they have no special protection. That provides a pretty clear picture of Poilièvre working at avoiding responsibility for his own words. And later on, after quoting him saying clearly that it's "proven that the tape was doctored" there's this: In fact, it was never proven in court that the tapes were doctored. The Conservatives hired audio experts who suggested that the recording of Mr. Harper was doctored, but a court-appointed expert found it was not. I guess it would be... Shorter Jim Prentice The change in the administration in the United States presents an opportunity for us to pretend that doing nothing about greenhouse gas emissions for the last three years was actually a reasonable approach. Now if we can only figure out how to ensure that Obama doesn't actually do anything either, we'll be all set.... How to Make Money on the Internet |