Comments on: Hmm, Harper claims he needs almost 3 months to figure out how to govern. http://scottdiatribe.canflag.com/2010/01/08/hmm-harper-claims-he-needs-almost-3-months-to-figure-out-how-to-govern/ My personal opinions on social and political issues from a progressive standpoint. Thu, 09 Feb 2012 00:01:18 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Derek http://scottdiatribe.canflag.com/2010/01/08/hmm-harper-claims-he-needs-almost-3-months-to-figure-out-how-to-govern/comment-page-1/#comment-22113 Derek Sun, 10 Jan 2010 18:24:26 +0000 http://scottdiatribe.canflag.com/?p=7432#comment-22113 So why not have a dictator or a monarch then? Surely a dictator or a monarch can personally oversee all the issues of the kingdom better than an elected man? In all seriousness though, there are a number of crippling issues with our parliamentary systems, not least is the ability to suspend parliament. The whip votes are problematic, the personality cults surrounding party leaders is problematic, the aversion to delays in legislation is no reason to pass bad legislation. Confidence measures should not be employed as regularly as they are as it creates unnecessary political coercion between the desires of the executive branch and the will of the legislative branch. The first past the post electoral system is bananas given the variety of political interests in our country, it should be proportional representation. The ABC voting pattern basically guarantees that a slim minority of Canadians are having their interests met, while the majority have to rely on the various opposition groups to muster enough courage to prevent the government from pursuing their slim focus, and as such the political system suffers and languishes due to the expedient time-reflective decisions the parliamentarians are forced to make, regardless of the soundness of the legislation being proposed. Couple this with our lackluster media reporting the 'issues of the day' and the result is a lion riding a horse in China or a dog that falls into a river or other such nonsense. So why not have a dictator or a monarch then? Surely a dictator or a monarch can personally oversee all the issues of the kingdom better than an elected man?

In all seriousness though, there are a number of crippling issues with our parliamentary systems, not least is the ability to suspend parliament. The whip votes are problematic, the personality cults surrounding party leaders is problematic, the aversion to delays in legislation is no reason to pass bad legislation. Confidence measures should not be employed as regularly as they are as it creates unnecessary political coercion between the desires of the executive branch and the will of the legislative branch. The first past the post electoral system is bananas given the variety of political interests in our country, it should be proportional representation. The ABC voting pattern basically guarantees that a slim minority of Canadians are having their interests met, while the majority have to rely on the various opposition groups to muster enough courage to prevent the government from pursuing their slim focus, and as such the political system suffers and languishes due to the expedient time-reflective decisions the parliamentarians are forced to make, regardless of the soundness of the legislation being proposed.

Couple this with our lackluster media reporting the ‘issues of the day’ and the result is a lion riding a horse in China or a dog that falls into a river or other such nonsense.

]]> By: kmartin http://scottdiatribe.canflag.com/2010/01/08/hmm-harper-claims-he-needs-almost-3-months-to-figure-out-how-to-govern/comment-page-1/#comment-22109 kmartin Sun, 10 Jan 2010 16:37:15 +0000 http://scottdiatribe.canflag.com/?p=7432#comment-22109 <a href="#comment-22082" rel="nofollow">@Chrystal Ocean</a>, You liked DIon..OK..that explains everything @Chrystal Ocean, You liked DIon..OK..that explains everything

]]> By: Steephill http://scottdiatribe.canflag.com/2010/01/08/hmm-harper-claims-he-needs-almost-3-months-to-figure-out-how-to-govern/comment-page-1/#comment-22083 Steephill Sat, 09 Jan 2010 14:12:57 +0000 http://scottdiatribe.canflag.com/?p=7432#comment-22083 Okay I am confused, so prorogation is allowed but coalitions are not? This governance stuff is so confusing. I just want one elected leader to govern and determine the direction of our country. I don't care about the people around her/him, they are not important. I will elect the leader who will direct all public institutions. If they are in any sort of political trouble or under public scrutiny, I expect them to take every measure within their preeminent power to avoid critique - I would certainly do the same thing. ; ) Okay I am confused, so prorogation is allowed but coalitions are not? This governance stuff is so confusing. I just want one elected leader to govern and determine the direction of our country. I don’t care about the people around her/him, they are not important. I will elect the leader who will direct all public institutions. If they are in any sort of political trouble or under public scrutiny, I expect them to take every measure within their preeminent power to avoid critique – I would certainly do the same thing. ; )

]]> By: Chrystal Ocean http://scottdiatribe.canflag.com/2010/01/08/hmm-harper-claims-he-needs-almost-3-months-to-figure-out-how-to-govern/comment-page-1/#comment-22082 Chrystal Ocean Sat, 09 Jan 2010 00:47:01 +0000 http://scottdiatribe.canflag.com/?p=7432#comment-22082 Now don't you go making fun of Stephane Dion! I liked the man. ;-) Just wish the LPC's court-jesters-in-waiting had supported him. Now don’t you go making fun of Stephane Dion! I liked the man. ;-) Just wish the LPC’s court-jesters-in-waiting had supported him.

]]> By: Big Winnie http://scottdiatribe.canflag.com/2010/01/08/hmm-harper-claims-he-needs-almost-3-months-to-figure-out-how-to-govern/comment-page-1/#comment-22080 Big Winnie Fri, 08 Jan 2010 22:46:37 +0000 http://scottdiatribe.canflag.com/?p=7432#comment-22080 You'd think after 4 years he would have figured how to govern. BTW, the opposition parties won't have to force an election, the Conservative budget will contain enough poison pills so that the budget will be defeated. You’d think after 4 years he would have figured how to govern.

BTW, the opposition parties won’t have to force an election, the Conservative budget will contain enough poison pills so that the budget will be defeated.

]]> By: Alison S http://scottdiatribe.canflag.com/2010/01/08/hmm-harper-claims-he-needs-almost-3-months-to-figure-out-how-to-govern/comment-page-1/#comment-22079 Alison S Fri, 08 Jan 2010 22:45:26 +0000 http://scottdiatribe.canflag.com/?p=7432#comment-22079 Yeah, more like planning his next Machiavellian move. Yeah, more like planning his next Machiavellian move.

]]> By: Anon ABC http://scottdiatribe.canflag.com/2010/01/08/hmm-harper-claims-he-needs-almost-3-months-to-figure-out-how-to-govern/comment-page-1/#comment-22077 Anon ABC Fri, 08 Jan 2010 21:33:34 +0000 http://scottdiatribe.canflag.com/?p=7432#comment-22077 This might explain why he needs 3 months to plan his agenda: Q: Have you heard about the new Harper Value Meal? A: Order anything you like and the guy behind you has to pay for it. This joke is attributed to anonymous sources, so don't shoot the messenger if you don't like it. lol. This might explain why he needs 3 months to plan his agenda:

Q: Have you heard about the new Harper Value Meal?

A: Order anything you like and the guy behind you has to pay for it.

This joke is attributed to anonymous sources, so don’t shoot the messenger if you don’t like it. lol.

]]> By: Kursk http://scottdiatribe.canflag.com/2010/01/08/hmm-harper-claims-he-needs-almost-3-months-to-figure-out-how-to-govern/comment-page-1/#comment-22076 Kursk Fri, 08 Jan 2010 21:12:07 +0000 http://scottdiatribe.canflag.com/?p=7432#comment-22076 Don't like it? Force an election. Oh, right..... Don’t like it?

Force an election.

Oh, right…..

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