Stop Harper

From Christian, comes this forward:

A group of Canadian artists and over 80 prominent Canadian women have joined together to outline concerns about Stephen Harper’s policies on a woman’s right to choose, on Iraq, on military spending and on cuts to healthcare, amongst other issues. Members include Sara h McLachlan, Chantal Kreviazuk, Raine Maida from Our Lady Peace, Sum 41, Avril Lavigne, Treble Charger, Sarah Harmer, Sarah Polley, Be Good Tanyas, Naomi Klein, Maude Barlow, Judy Rebick, Doris Anderson, Ursula Franklin, Linda McQuaig, Michelle Landsberg, and others. As we approach next Monday’s election, please read their statement at www.stopharper.org

Which leads to my current thought: What’s so dangerous about voting Conservative in this election is not actually Stephen Harper. While I thoroughly disagree with many of policies, I do actually think he’s on the level. However, the scariest part of the Conservative platform is that he promises all parliamentary votes will be free. This means that not one single conservative has to toe the party line. It also means that should someone (say a far-right leaning backbencher) bring forward a private member’s bill, and it goes to vote, there’s no telling how the outcome will be, regardless of party policy. While Stephen Harper may promise to never raise the issue of same sex marriage, there’s nothing stopping anyone else in his party from doing it.

So remember that when you vote on June 28th (and you are going to vote, right? Because if you don’t & you don’t have profound, deeply-held convictions that prevent you from participating in our electoral system, then you’re a fucking idiot (to be blunt)), that if you vote Conservative, you’re actually voting for your local MP more than you are Stephen Harper (or rather, the Conservative Party Platform). So make sure that you whole-heartedly agree with your MP on all counts, or you might in for a surprsie in a few months.

4 Replies to “Stop Harper”

  1. This is the most ridiculous and uninformed site on this planet. Before you start to get into this kind of protest – do some reading. First read “While Canada Slept”, then read “Cold Terror” – and there is more literature written by journalists etc. who have been documenting the political scene for years.

    Your protest against Harper is so uninformed. When I see Martin talk – I pray that he will NOT be the next prime minister, and I am not religious.

    Your lack of thought is just sickening and doing more harm than good for this country – scare tactics are what the Liberal party uses and you are right in there with them – you cannot possibly see how angry I am with your poor stewartship and huge lack of information.

  2. This is the most ridiculous and uninformed site on this planet. Before you start to get into this kind of protest – do some reading. First read “While Canada Slept”, then read “Cold Terror” – and there is more literature written by journalists etc. who have been documenting the political scene for years.

    Your protest against Harper is so uninformed. When I see Martin talk – I pray that he will NOT be the next prime minister, and I am not religious.

    Your lack of thought is just sickening and doing more harm than good for this country – scare tactics are what the Liberal party uses and you are right in there with them – you cannot possibly see how angry I am with your poor stewartship and huge lack of information.

  3. Hmm. We clearly have some fundamental differences of opinion as to Canada’s military role. I would, suggest, however, that perhaps citing more reputable sources than those two books, both of which have some rather dubious & unsupported arguments in their pages.
    I agree that Canada should increase military spending – but what’s more important is concise, focussed foreign policy – in many ways, I agree with Gilles Duceppe’s arguments from the debates about the future of Canada’s military – buying equipment without a specified purpose for equipment – why should we spend billions on aircraft (or helicopter) carriers unless we know why we need them?
    I agree with you, however, that I don’t want Paul Martin to be the next prime minister however. I’d personally like to see Jack Layton. But given the choice of Martin or Harper, I’d take Martin. And purely for social policy reasons of the Liberals.
    I’m not terribly upset about scaring people away from voting Conservative, but I’m quite pleased that I’ve evoked such a reaction in you. Although I’m not sure why you’re so angry about something on this site – trust me, I’m simply not that important.

  4. Hmm. We clearly have some fundamental differences of opinion as to Canada’s military role. I would, suggest, however, that perhaps citing more reputable sources than those two books, both of which have some rather dubious & unsupported arguments in their pages.

    I agree that Canada should increase military spending – but what’s more important is concise, focussed foreign policy – in many ways, I agree with Gilles Duceppe’s arguments from the debates about the future of Canada’s military – buying equipment without a specified purpose for equipment – why should we spend billions on aircraft (or helicopter) carriers unless we know why we need them?

    I agree with you, however, that I don’t want Paul Martin to be the next prime minister however. I’d personally like to see Jack Layton. But given the choice of Martin or Harper, I’d take Martin. And purely for social policy reasons of the Liberals.

    I’m not terribly upset about scaring people away from voting Conservative, but I’m quite pleased that I’ve evoked such a reaction in you. Although I’m not sure why you’re so angry about something on this site – trust me, I’m simply not that important.

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