How does it feel?
Do you think he accurately represents what the majority of Canadians stand for?
Do you think legalized Gay marriage had anything to do with the swing to Canadas new era of conservatism?
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How does it feel?
Do you think he accurately represents what the majority of Canadians stand for?
Do you think legalized Gay marriage had anything to do with the swing to Canadas new era of conservatism?
Honestly, I think a lot of Canadians were ready for a change. Tired of the liberals, but with few options, the Conservatives got the popular minority vote. However, Mr. Harper is now running a truly divided house, so it's going to be very challenging for his party to pass new legislation or try anything too radical. No fears, I'm sure we'll be heading to the polls within months. Hmmm, now we need to convince Belinda to run for Leader of the Liberal Party - she loves the gays:)
what's the situation with the taxes up there?
are the liberals there as big spenders as those here?
You can't accuse the liberals of being big spenders anymore. How soon we forget the HUGE budget surplus Clinton had when he left office to the astronomical debt that Bush has saddled us with. The only thing the republicans do is dish out tax cuts to the rich.Quote:
Originally Posted by jIgG
I wouldn't worry too much about too drastic of a change in Canada for the moment. Mr. Harper only has a 20-seat lead, give or take, on the Liberals. So he's forming a minority goverment. This means he's got to tow the line and co-operate with the other parties, or they can all vote against his bill and then we're back to the election box again.
I predict that we'll be having another election before the end of the year. Experts are calling it in 18 months.
I don't think Harper will be trying to recall the gay marriage legislation because the NDP and Liberals would vote against him for sure. And then, they'd be running the next election on discrimination and scaring all of the immigrant population with a "you're next" kind of slant.
I figure 6 months will be enough for the 666 to start showing through the make-up on his forehead.
Cheers
Michael
Well, I'd wonder how much of the conservatives' success in this election is the result of frustration with the liberals and the corruption tied to them versus an invitation to bring about and pass conservative legislation and agendas.
If it's the latter, then that could create some difficulties for Canada's progressives. If it's the former, that doesn't offer the conservatives much of a legislating mandate and seriously limits what they can do with their newfound authority.
Have to agree with Michael... for the moment Harper and his Klansman won't be able to change something as fundamental as equal rights... though he might take a stab at it.
What many are forgetting here is that he won a minority, less of a minority than the Liberals had in fact upon dissolution. In addition the 'let's change' attitude was part of his campaign as well as the NDP who made significant gains... so if you look at gains.. conservatives gained 25 seats, the NDP which is right of the Liberals gained 11 seats... so i'd not say Canada has moved right or left, but that disastifaction and the mood for change got us Harper...
So its a wait n see time but I think in all reality, he will trip over his feet and we'll be launching another campaign in the fall... where it will be his record on the line and no 12 years nonsense that he used this go round plus the liberals will have a new leader too, so the scandals will be put to rest mostly.
It is going to be interesting.
Well a lot of this reminds me of when Bush won in 2000.
The election was contested, and everyone thought Bush would get nothing accomplished. Then lo and behold a few months later Congress passed the tax cut package he ran on. It sounds like the Conservatives took a page out of the Republican campaign playbook from 2000 - which was tax cuts to stimulate the national economy.
Harper's suggestion for a tax credit for children is mostly a gimmick..... the Republicans included that same one here. The across the board cuts, like reducing the national sales tax, or cuts in the rates for income or capital gains are the ones that would help the economy. (And it certainly did ours)
I would imagine in a country with lots of potential oil, gas and mineral enterprise, a reduced capital gains tax would be very beneficial. That's probably all those red neck Albertans will seek to remove it.
Steve
Shouldn't there be a law that says that you cannot overturn civil rights laws? I would think that is one of the most fundamental things in the world, and the government should enact some kind of protection for civil rights bills. It's obvious that they need protection from right-wing zealots who want to stomp on equal rights for all human beings. I swear, I get so worked up about this sometimes. I simply cannot fathom how anyone can say that one human is more deserving of certain constitutional rights than others. Makes absolutely no sense to me. How can ANYONE be that stupid?
Desslock, you don't get it.. the Canadian political system will keep him from doing anything other than keeping house until the Liberals get a new leader and come back in a year or two.
Abortion is safe, gay marriage is safe, health care and education...
sure, he'll make a few minor changes, but you gotta remember, this guy in America would be considered a Centerist Democrat.. he's not what you think.
He's Conservative for a Canadian, but who ISN'T
How does it feel? Too early to tell really. No huge surprises really. And that is basically all I have to say about this subject.
Quote:
Originally Posted by desslock
great... but our's doesn't need much "help". we've had 8 years of surplus in the budget... crazy, eh?
The thing is... I think now that I've calmed down a bit.. that this is a good thing.
Canada's next PM will probably be Belinda Stronach and the Deputy PM will most likely be Scott Brisson. (A blonde woman and a gay man... Dubya will die of a coronary, and that's worth the price of admission right there..)
LOL! :D Good one. I think you're right about Belinda; No idea about Brisson. I'll have to look him up.Quote:
Originally Posted by Jasun
Well.... I've been trying to switch back and forth all day here from reviewing Raw Ass Fuckers, and the Canadian election results. I do look forward to following this in the news. I watched CSPAN's live feed of CBC until they cut it off around 1am last night.
Steve
Actually, I did want to comment on one more item:
No, I don't think so. Although I'm sure it did play a part with some voters. Had Gay Marriage been a compelling reason to vote Conservative we would have seen a lot more people not get voted back into parliment.Quote:
Originally Posted by Squirt
The Liberals would have been decimated, the NDP would have fared even worse, (instead they improved over last election) and the BQ probably would have lost quite a number of returning members too.
Just my take on the idea though.
LOL Now there's a combo for ya. :)Quote:
Originally Posted by desslock
A lot of great input here. I've learned a lot more about Canadian politics just reading this thread!
I thought maybe liberal Canadians might feel a sense of shock, like we did in the states with Bush taking the presidency. It seems that your political system is setup to avoid major change happening overnight from the results of one election and that system makes a lot of sense.
Maybe the U.S. can learn a lot from this system of government? Are there any drawbacks to the current Canadian political system?
wow. it's now three whole days since the election and the sun still rises in the east, women can still get abortions, and gay men can still marry....
maybe "harper and his klansmen"(aren't ad hominem attacks just so passe?... except for Fiberals, i guess?) won't be so bad after all.
as sun tsu(or whoever) wrote 'never underestimate the enemy' ...
today's tories are well organized and brimming with capable people and ideas... u might find that they might, just might be in power for a long time to come!