Campbell proposes to give Corporations the vote

[L Gilbert]

lol Now you see why I really like the Swiss gov't. They do referendums on stuff like this, so gov'ts can't pull this kind of crap.
But it is still only one vote per business in LOCAL elections.

 

[dumpthemonarchy]

lol Now you see why I really like the Swiss gov't. They do referendums on stuff like this, so gov'ts can't pull this kind of crap.
But it is still only one vote per business in LOCAL elections.

The public should be able to initiate a referendum on some big issues. Quebec can.

No ref, on the HST coming. Another big wet kiss for biz from Campbell.

 

[L Gilbert]

The public should be able to initiate a referendum on some big issues. Quebec can.

No ref, on the HST coming. Another big wet kiss for biz from Campbell.

We SHOULD be able to do a lot of things, but politicians like Campbull and Glen Cluck keep changing the sidelines, goalposts, and rules of the game so they have the final say, not we regular folks. That's what happens in a plutarchy.

 

[dumpthemonarchy]

We SHOULD be able to do a lot of things, but politicians like Campbull and Glen Cluck keep changing the sidelines, goalposts, and rules of the game so they have the final say, not we regular folks. That's what happens in a plutarchy.

Trying to change BC's system of governance some years back seems like a mistake. It failed big time and now modest changes to the system seem impossible. Referendums in English Canada are necessary to keep pols in check. Yes, gov'ts hate competition.

A better way would have been modest changes, like referendums and more transparency and accountability. Court houses in BC have a patchwork of rules to keep information secret. We need ways to prevent govts from scheming and then launching grandiose plans on us like the HST.

 

[lone wolf]

Transparency? Wasn't that an election promise somewhere?

 

[JLM]

I think old Campbell is going to have some bigger fish to fry here pretty quick.. How he's going to approach the electorate on paying these bills for the 2010 Charade, that are mounting up even faster than ever now in that he's having to buy back $millions worth of useless tickets because most people won't buy paying several $thousands to stand in the mud to watch events. He was told umpteen times that the lower mainland didn't have a suitable climate for Olympics. NOw the a$$hole is going to wish he had have listened to the people.

 

[ironsides]

See - they cannot do that here but - given the right to vote basically gives them much the same power.

Result is the same. :-(

 

[Cobalt_Kid]

This is the same politician who as mayor of Vancouver passed a by-law making the municipal government immune from lawsuit over lack of adequate inspection of new housing before the whole leaky condo thing broke and who tried to sell off the entire province of BC after his parties win in 2001. Is it any wonder he thinks corporations should have direct control over local governments now. They already control who gets elected by funding the campaigns of the people they want in office then expect favorable treatment in return, remember the whole BC Rail sale fiasco.

There's little doubt in my mind that if the current trend continues we'll all eventually be thinking of ourselves as employees(or property) of one corporation or another and no longer as citizens.

 

[Cliffy]

This is the same politician who as mayor of Vancouver passed a by-law making the municipal government immune from lawsuit over lack of adequate inspection of new housing before the whole leaky condo thing broke and who tried to sell off the entire province of BC after his parties win in 2001. Is it any wonder he thinks corporations should have direct control over local governments now. They already control who gets elected by funding the campaigns of the people they want in office then expect favorable treatment in return, remember the whole BC Rail sale fiasco.

There's little doubt in my mind that if the current trend continues we'll all eventually be thinking of ourselves as employees(or property) of one corporation or another and no longer as citizens.

You are absolutely right but what are you going to do about it?

 

[Cobalt_Kid]

You are absolutely right but what are you going to do about it?

I don't live in BC anymore so there's not much I can do directly about Campbell.

I guess joining a party and getting involved at the local level is the first step, something more Canadians need to do.

 

[taxslave]

Actually there is some merit to allowing corporations to vote in local elections. They pay usurious local taxes without any representation. Even non residents that own property in a municipality get to vote so why not the major taxpayers. Or they can take their marbles and go play in another sandbox while their former employees starve with no jobs and super high taxes to pay for all the frills they used to get for free.

 

[Cliffy]

Actually there is some merit to allowing corporations to vote in local elections. They pay usurious local taxes without any representation. Even non residents that own property in a municipality get to vote so why not the major taxpayers. Or they can take their marbles and go play in another sandbox while their former employees starve with no jobs and super high taxes to pay for all the frills they used to get for free.

Most get tax cuts and deferrals to build in communities which benefit from a broader tax base provided by the working class. Some companies give back to the community in the form of support of sports events and some infrastructure (in Quesnel West Fraser, I believe, helped build the aquatic center) but others like Poop and Take It were lousy corporate citizens and contributed little while raping our environment (not too many were sad to see them go belly up, except for those who lost their shirts when Poop took a dive, leaving their contractors out in the cold.)

I suppose it would depend on the structure of the corporate voting is set up. Small local business employs the majority of people so they would have to equal rights as the biggies.

 

[petros]

If a coropration (dead hand) is given status of living and I decide I want to end an irresponsible dangerous corporation can I be charged with murdering it?

 

[Cobalt_Kid]

A lot of corporations(most) are more comcerned with short-term profits and the bottom line, giving them more say in local affairs could make serious social issues even worse if they're sidetracked to meet the needs of a an interest that is already well represented by lobbyists who are more than willing to fund the political campaigns of people who share their interests.