The Debate
I enjoyed watching the Canadian federal party leaders debate last night. Somebody told me that most bars in Toronto were showing the American VP debate or the baseball game. Too bad. It was a good opportunity for Canadians to gain some understanding of where the parties stand. It was also an opportunity for Canadians to take a closer look at Mr. Dion, who has been the subject of a pretty nasty smear job on Harper TV commercials.
The surprise of the evening was Elizabeth May, the Green Party leader. I thought she came across as smart, articulate, and well-researched. I enjoyed her comment about Harper's so-called environmental work. She complimented him on what he's done with National Parks, then added, "Everything else is a fraud". Har!
The debate really pitted everyone against Harper, and that is pretty much as it should be in my books.
7 comments:
Well, it was a shame that the debates in the U.S. and in Canada were on the same evening, it's retarded.
I have to say though, it was refreshing to see politicians actually talking about the specific issues. I think the debates in Canada should have been reprogramed, I understand that is hard to do at last minute...and no one predicted the genius move of McCain to find a charismatic person for Vice Presidential debates etc.
So...probably many Canadians didn't watch the Federal debates...hopefully they will watch them today online.
It was fun to see how everyone ganged up on Harper. I was pissed at Harper when he talked about health care and pretended that it was the LIberal governement who made health care cuts in the 90's when in fact...the Conservaives made so mny cuts it was ridiculous.
As for Toronto...with Harris, I don't know if the province will ever recover from his cuts to hospitals it may be permanent damage.
One of the reasons I fear permanent damage is because citizens are ignorant of how good well run and happy citizens take care of their own country. I was glad when May mentioned Sweden.
Countires like Sweden and Denmark and Germany are forerunners for environmental, recycling, and job market creations.
They are also some of the highest taxed citizens n the world.
DUH!
It takes money to protect doctors and nurses jobs...I think Layton is right we need to have time period whre students can get medical degrees with a break on loans...but it will take taxpayers to accomplish these innitiatives.
Until people understand how they spend their own money and how they are obsessed with oil/gas, and wasting resources...they will be obsessed with taxes.
People need to pay more taxes...it hsas to be the people who make more money. It has to be corporations gettting carbon taxed. It has to be something liek a carbon tax across the board.
Unfortunaely...this kind of fresh personal analysis is almost a spiritual thing. People need to suffer before they change many times.
It seems that people will have to feel it in their pocket books or hit rock bottom before they will stop driving and take a bus...or agree to a carbon tax.
If Canada continues to not make jobs...and politicians say "make jobs" but they rarely sy specifically what these fantasy jobs are...
More buses, more drivers, more doctors, more garbage and city workers...more designers and inventors of green products. And more of these services in rural areas. Have people maintain public garbages, street cleaning, bike manufacturers...I can think of a million business that could get support from governemnt "invention competitions".
Vertical farming is something Canada could jump on right now.
Organic and environmental prodcuts could b e something Canada businesses could start to spend money on developing and the government could designate an "inventors" project...have competitions for products and have homemakers be the judges.
But I don't think people will understand how important demanding higher taxes is until they hit rock bottom...it's like the apocalypse has to happen in order for people to adapt.
It's depressing.
But, I was very surprised how thoughtful and articulate Stephen Dion was I think he was a shining star.
I expected Layton and May to be good...and they were.
The Globe and Mail complained about the format, arguing that no Prime Minister would stand a chance in this format, being attacked from all sides. That's sour grapes. They had good reason to gang up on him. If his policies weren't so obnoxious, he would have had an easier time.
There was a good moment when the Bloc pointed out that Harper had dismissed some arts programs because they were not efficient.
The idea that art has to be efficient is interesting because then Layton said that the arts that were controversial or innovative get cut.
Gaston Bachelelard said :"Experimentation must give way to argument and argument must have recourse to experimentation"
The thing is...peopel say they think art isn't "practical"..
...and then when it comes to politicians they vote for leaders like the Liberals and Conservatives whose platforms in Canada have always been "dreams and promises" with cuts and not being able to follow through with their "programs".
Zydeco...Harper set himself up for this kind of group attack. He deserved it and sure no other person would hve fared well...but Harper is not practical.
If anything should be experimental...it should be the arts.
But not politics. We don't need the Liberals to make promises of programs. The programs haven't worked in the past...why should they work no?
Doesn't it make sense to have a practicl approach to government...take care of people (support universal health care, spend more money...by taxing corporations and families who make over 200, 000 a year) support street and sidewalks(garbage and waste management and improvments) support environmental innovations (spend money on inventions and designs )
rise teacher spay so more peopel study teaching...and open schools and educational facilities and health care facilites.
It's not rocket science to take care of each other.
I've never made a secret of my stand...I think a good mix would be Layton and May. They tend to focus on the practical application of working for us.
They are civil servants...we don't need any more politicans.
Oh Zydeco, a good insight from you is that they did all gang up on Harper. What worries me about that situation last night is...that not one of the leaders seemed to be able to shine as the leader to vote for. They seemed like a "team" and that might be problem for voters when no single leader came out from the fray against Harper.
My gut tells me that the "team" effort of the leaders against Harper would be great if they all followed through TOGETHER to help the citizens of Canada. THAt is what civil servants should act like...
Totally agree. I think that Duceppe looked good too, which is odd.
I think the debates in Canada should have been reprogramed, I understand that is hard to do at last minute...
I think the debate in America should have been reprogrammed. I understand that is hard to do at last minute.
So...probably many Canadians didn't watch the Federal debates...hopefully they will watch them today online.
Most people I know who watched a debate that night watched either the Canadian debate or tried to watch both simultaneously.
I enjoyed watching the debate too. The attack almost seemed organized or are the four leaders just as pissed as the rest of us with Harper?
I also enjoyed Elizabeth May and her smart pointed comments. She was a breath of fresh air. This is probably appropriate since she's the Green leader!
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