Canada's first dictator?

[mikailus]

http://www.cbc.ca/canada/story/2008/12/0 4/harper-jean.html

Goddamn this! See why I hate the monarchy? See how useful it is for Canada? Harper wants to suspend parliament to deal with the coalition against him, a coalition that has been made for the sake of Canadians.

We need a republic now. Harper has done so much damage for the nation, yet Canadians are whining about the politicians instead of the problems, especially when it comes to democracy. Being attached to a foreign country makes us not only weak, divided and poor but also an international laughingstock and a failed state.

Fuck, we're going to have our first dictator.

[FUNKbrs]

At 12/4/08 08:08 AM, mikailus wrote: Fuck, we're going to have our first dictator.

Wait... and this is a reason NOT to be happy?

Dictatorships kick ass! They're uber efficient, fast acting, and extremely powerful. Plus, they have a history of being very progressive and socialistic.

Maybe I SHOULD move to canada!

[Malachy]

suspending parliament is not the same as doing away with the institution. It's more of a political ploy in order to keep the members out of their offices and the legislative buildings in order to avoid the confidence vote...Parliament will still be legal and a part of the government, suspending it simply means that the members will not be there.

How can you not know this about your own government? No where in that article did it mention anything about how weak Canada is or even of it's ties with Britain as a common wealth.

I can understand if Canada really is weak or if Canada really is hurt by it's relationship with the UK...but you haven't provided any semblance of an argument to explain how this instance is an example of it.

[mikailus]

At 12/4/08 10:48 AM, FUNKbrs wrote: Wait... and this is a reason NOT to be happy?

Mind you that dictatorships destroy their own countries from within.

[Elfer]

The governor general is just appointed by the Queen, not controlled by the Queen. It's not like Michelle Jean is some sort of British servant, she moved to Quebec as a child and spent her life doing a whole bunch of super-Canadian shit.

Anyway, the whole point of suspending parliament right now is to avoid ANOTHER election.

[mikailus]

At 12/4/08 11:48 AM, Elfer wrote: The governor general is just appointed by the Queen, not controlled by the Queen. It's not like Michelle Jean is some sort of British servant, she moved to Quebec as a child and spent her life doing a whole bunch of super-Canadian shit.

Anyway, the whole point of suspending parliament right now is to avoid ANOTHER election.

And I suppose the Queen has anything to do with Canada... how? Furthermore, considering the kind of government Canada is run on, doesn't anyone think that constitutional monarchy is and has been a failure?

[Elfer]

At 12/4/08 01:03 PM, mikailus wrote:

At 12/4/08 11:48 AM, Elfer wrote: The governor general is just appointed by the Queen, not controlled by the Queen. It's not like Michelle Jean is some sort of British servant, she moved to Quebec as a child and spent her life doing a whole bunch of super-Canadian shit.

Anyway, the whole point of suspending parliament right now is to avoid ANOTHER election.

And I suppose the Queen has anything to do with Canada... how?

Nothing. The GG is appointed by the Queen upon recommendation from the Prime Minister. The Queen doesn't actually do anything.

[mikailus]

Why have a Queen, then? What's the point if she doesn't have any real power? She's not even Canadian! She's an elitist foreign head of state succeeded by blood and rules for life.

[mightypotato]

At 12/4/08 11:48 AM, Elfer wrote: Anyway, the whole point of suspending parliament right now is to avoid ANOTHER election.

No, the whole point of prorogation (that's your big word for the day) is so Harper can avoid losing a confidence motion in the House.

Just because he would lose a confidence motion doesn't mean a new election would be called. If a coalition of parties can come together and show to the GG that they can form a stable government with a majority of seats, then they will be asked to form one.

[mikailus]

At 12/4/08 01:10 PM, mightypotato wrote:

:... the whole point of prorogation (that's your big word for the day) ...

Wordy rhetoric should have no business in any government that represents and serves the commoner.

[Elfer]

At 12/4/08 01:09 PM, mikailus wrote: Why have a Queen, then? What's the point if she doesn't have any real power? She's not even Canadian! She's an elitist foreign head of state succeeded by blood and rules for life.

Tabloids dog, tabloids.

[MortifiedPenguins]

Now, this is why I hate parlimentary democracies.

Well maybe hate is the wrong word, maybe detest a variety of parts to it.

[mikailus]

At 12/4/08 01:37 PM, MortifiedPenguins wrote: Now, this is why I hate parlimentary democracies.

Don't you mean constitutional monarchy? Monarchy in any form is a dictatorship or a lame duck for life. Why Canada hasn't become a republic I blame fellow Canadian ignorance and politicians.

[FUNKbrs]

At 12/4/08 11:37 AM, mikailus wrote:

Mind you that dictatorships destroy their own countries from within.

Right... because Hitler wasn't crushed by a coalition of other nations, no sir, his own people rose up from the inside and had him assassinated...

Oh, wait, no, they didn't... the Third Reich was destroyed mainly by an overwhelming foreign force. Oops.

And then there was Rome, where they had full blow Emperors.... who were destroyed by, you'll never guess... FOREIGN BARBARIANS.

Now, the USSR fell apart from the inside... but they considered themselves to be a communist democracy... hmm...

So... what the fuck are you talking about again? Do you even know?

[HogWashSoup]

You are not actually a country. Just the cold sour of the United States that we didn't care to keep.

[mikailus]

At 12/4/08 07:06 PM, HogWashSoup wrote: You are not actually a country. Just the cold sour of the United States that we didn't care to keep.

I agree and disagree. We're not really a country but still an old British colony we're too lazy to seperate and create a nation.

[Buffalow]

Ha. Ha.

Love,
America

[Prinzy2]

The three parties teaming up to form a government would be bad for Canada as a whole IMHO. Do you know what they are going to do? They're going to grab whatever they want for four years, then the Conservatives are going to wipe them clean and form a majority government in the next election.

One thing I heard was that the coalition is going to let Quebec separate if they choose to; Someone can confirm this or call it false, It was discussed at coffee and I'm not up to date with it all.

Anyways, suppose Quebec does separate? They won't have any more seats in Ottawa, so I'm wondering if the Conservatives will have the majority of seats in Parliament.