Wednesday, March 19, 2008

Election? What Election?

This is one of those posts that is bound to make some folks uncomfortable, and bound to cause me grief for daring to stand up and tell the truth. If there's anything I've learned, it's that you don't dare go against the Old Boys' Club. So here I go... I'm going against the Old Boys' Club! Again.

I just finished reading an interesting article in McLean's online:
  • Click Me!


    • I think you'll find it interesting. It would seem that no one has an appetite for, at least not any political party per se. The Liberals, badly in debt, cannot really sustain the cost of a hard-fought election right now. The recent results from their 4 bi-elections would also give them pause before attempting to crash Harper's bizarre. (sorry, I had to beat Peter Whittle to that one)
    ... but they are certainly doing their best to crash Harper's Party! There really is a Blue Majority in Ottawa now, even though I should call it "The Purple Majority" as there are so many Liberals propping up Harper's government. It makes one wonder!

    Here is a party with a large crew of Lieutenants on hand: Martha, Bob, Iggy and yes, Stephane. And no one seems in a rush to challenge the electorate for their opinion on who should govern us and Canada. Makes you wonder! I wonder what is on the go? I wonder is there a leader in that bunch?

    And indeed I do wonder, especially when I hear of an MP get up and give a long poetic speech in the beat stylings of Dr. Seuss's "Green Eggs & Ham", who I hear is the single biggest hold-up to any Canadian Government investment in Labrador... why? Because they can't get along with him! I used to only hear this from Conservative MPs, hacks and cronies, and insiders...but now I get phonecalls from Liberals in Labrador (and St. John's, Labrador's present capitol, since it's no longer Battle Harbor) telling me "You know, if it wasn't for him, we'd have those soldiers here now. We'd have massive developments. But how on earth do you get a long with someone who votes against everything you do, everything you say... calls the Prime Minister of the land an outright liar in the face of parliamentary rules and now starts spouting Doctor Seuss in the House of Commons!" All that was missing was a beret, a drummer and stand-up bassist and a lot of smoke...man...

    Enough is Enough. Maybe it is time for an election after all, something to shake things up. We need something better for Labrador. We need more. Labrador seems like Canada's Tibet, at least in treatment... and we certainly are not helping ourselves!

    posted by Ward Pike at 11:10 AM

    8 Comments:

    Blogger Mark said...

    Ward, with all due respect, this might be the dumbest thing you have ever written.

    I like your blog, don't agree with much of it, but respect your opinions and the occasional challenge that you through out to readers.

    But the notion that by removing your Opposition MP you would "get more" from the government... it's nothing short of an endorsement of the worse kind of parochial and corrupt brand of politics.

    Disappointing.

    9:48 PM  
    Blogger Ward Pike said...

    Hmmm... Mark from Nottawa sent a comment, but it seems to have disappeared.

    Anyhow, Mark you only feel that way because he's a Liberal. That's thew only reason! The LPC is a cult. Stop drinking the kool-aid!!

    Challenging the positions of any democratically elected member is the right of the electorate... not being UNDEMOCRATIC you wingnut!

    We need an election to STOP the insanity, the foolishness, the madness. Perhaps if craziness were challenged it might abate.

    We should have recall power at any time. THAT would be proper democracy.

    But in this Liberal Party of Canada crafted constitutional monarchy, complete democracy is a farce at best.

    7:24 AM  
    Blogger Mark said...

    Funny how the comments you disagree with always disappear.

    There you go comparing Labrador to Tibet, and five minutes later deleting comments you disagree with. How appropriate.

    My point was not in defense of any politician - merely pointing out that the antiquated idea that "if we votes fer some buddy on the right side the guvament will send us a bunch of goodies in return" is disappointing coming from someone as smart as you.

    We all would love to see a greater federal presence in Goose Bay, or for that many any part of the province. But count me among the minority who wants to see my tax dollars spent as a means of achieving public policy objectives, not shallow and pathetic attempts at buying electoral votes.

    Then again, anyone foolish enough to believe Harper's promise on Equalization is probably gullible enough to believe in his commitment to Goose Bay.

    By the way, who challenged your right to challenge the position of anyone? Who accused you of being undemocratic? Cripes you're as paranoid as the Premier. Been in St. John's too long... maybe it's in the drinking water.

    9:25 AM  
    Blogger Ward Pike said...

    Dear Mark,
    Your comments are automatically approved. Your first one came to my hotmail as a notice, but went into junkmail. But I went to the comments approval page and it wasn't there.

    Don't be petty, small or antagonistic about it. You're a very intelligent individual also!

    But, my friend, you are misrepresenting my commentary. I am not suggesting this MP necessarily be removed, but the behavior has to change!

    However, it is our democratic right to remove any elected individual as the electorate.

    Do you disagree with that?

    Regards,
    Ward

    10:08 AM  
    Blogger Mark said...

    and presto! it re-appears!

    resurrected is perhaps the more appropriate descriptor...

    Have a Happy Easter

    10:08 AM  
    Blogger Mark said...

    It is indeed your democratic right to vote however you choose.

    If you're asking me if I like the idea of recall, I don't. An election every couple of years (as is the trend with a minority) is more than enough for me. In fact, once every four years suits be just fine. If after four years you're unimpressed, by all means vote for someone you think is better

    Fatigue sets in if you have elections more often than that and voters become apathetic in response to non-stop electioneering and the childish behaviour that accompanies it.

    The problem with recall, Ward, is that it would never end.

    The victors in our system rarely win 50% in their own seat, so in theory, you could dis-elect an MP mere weeks after an election. It would never stop.

    I think after the fiasco in California, we'd all be remiss to consider re-call a step forward in terms of democratic governance.

    10:12 AM  
    Blogger Edward G. Hollett said...

    The behaviour has to change.

    That would be the critical behaviour directed toward Stephen Harper.

    Interesting perspective. I am sure your local Tory friends are interested in your opinion that Danny Williams' attitude is hurting the province as a whole. After all, if you think Todd Russell is doing damaged with a little humour, Danny Williams' vicious, personal, spite-filled attacks on Stephen harper must be really holding things up.

    It's also interesting that - as usual - your first response is criticism to mount a vicious, personal and entirely inappropriate attack on Mark.

    Then you flip into some stock partisan diatribe of yours that, again, as usual makes no sense.

    There must be an election coming: the blogs written by blind Connie partisans have sudeenly sprung to life spewing venom.

    1:11 PM  
    Blogger Ward Pike said...

    Oh Ed, there is no personal attack on Mark. Only on your beloved cult and benefactor, the Liberal Party of Canada.

    You are loyal to your employer, sir, I'll give you that!

    Don't label me anything other than an independent. I am not a member of any Conservative Party and have better sense than to be associated with your cult, the Party of Flip Flops, the Liberal Party of Canada.

    You and Mark both put Todd and Danny in the same category.

    Danny has not spewn any green eggs and ham styled poetry to the best of my knowledge. Premier Williams is not in the same legislature and is the head of a parliamentary government the same as Prime Minister Harper.

    But yes, I do find it uncomfortable hearing visceral diatribes from any politician and believe it is counter-productive to hurl fecal matter at another head of government in the same country (for the time being) who you have to work with. This is not a David and Goliath scenario... this kind of discourse, no matter how credible and righteous, CANNOT well serve the peoples of Labrador or for that matter, Newfoundland and Labrador.

    6:17 AM  

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