He could win that seat back for the Liberals, No 1. He could also bring in some much-needed votes in some ridings.
It's Heeeeere
- Thread starter Jo Canadian
- Start date
the whole "star" candidate concept bothers me.
we should want people that are best suited to representing their constituants and governing. It seems too much like the next illogical step after the "sound bite", where people are voting on form rather than substance.
However, given what we have to work with in politics today, do you want a "good form/mediocre substance" politician or a "rotten form/rotten substance" politician?
we should want people that are best suited to representing their constituants and governing. It seems too much like the next illogical step after the "sound bite", where people are voting on form rather than substance.
However, given what we have to work with in politics today, do you want a "good form/mediocre substance" politician or a "rotten form/rotten substance" politician?
I think that depends on the star, Caracal. Garneau has a background in science and has worked in a very politicised multi-national environment under a whole lot of pressure. I think those are assets.
We heard similar criticisms of Ken Dryden last time around, that he was just a hockey player and didn't have political credentials. The thing is that Dryden had been working on education issues for years before he ran.
We're hearing it about Deborah Coyne this time around too. People are saying her main qualification is having Trudeau's last kid. She's a constitutional expert though, and is better qualified than most of the MPs you'll see on the news. She's also going to lose and has been put up pretty much as a sacrificial lamb.
Now consider the qualifications of some of our other politicians that came onto the scene as stars....Stephen Harper had been a backroom boy and professional spinner/lobbyist at the head of the NCC. Paul Martin is so tied into corporate Canada that he can't make the right decision even when he knows what it is. Michael Ignatieff is...well...a war-mongering freak who hasn't even lived in Canada for the last few years. Peter Kent's journalistic integrity has been seriously in question for as long as I can remember.
We heard similar criticisms of Ken Dryden last time around, that he was just a hockey player and didn't have political credentials. The thing is that Dryden had been working on education issues for years before he ran.
We're hearing it about Deborah Coyne this time around too. People are saying her main qualification is having Trudeau's last kid. She's a constitutional expert though, and is better qualified than most of the MPs you'll see on the news. She's also going to lose and has been put up pretty much as a sacrificial lamb.
Now consider the qualifications of some of our other politicians that came onto the scene as stars....Stephen Harper had been a backroom boy and professional spinner/lobbyist at the head of the NCC. Paul Martin is so tied into corporate Canada that he can't make the right decision even when he knows what it is. Michael Ignatieff is...well...a war-mongering freak who hasn't even lived in Canada for the last few years. Peter Kent's journalistic integrity has been seriously in question for as long as I can remember.
you raise good points, reverend. I just feel at times that politics is beoming more and more shallow (if that is possible).
Ahhh the revs in his glory promoting the totally corrupt system of government we have .I fecking hate these fecking assholes and i pity the fool canvasser that shows up on my door step .I'm libel to give them a sound thrashing :wink:
Tories promise to reduce GST to 5% over 5 years
A teaser:
The Conservative Party has unveiled a major plank in its economic platform: a reduction in the GST.
Tory Leader Stephen Harper announced that as prime minister, he would reduce the GST immediately by one percent -- from its current seven per cent to six per cent.
And then, by another one per cent over the next five years.
He said the immediate cut would result in $4.5 billion every year going back into the pockets of Canadians. [/teaser]
Sounds like a snow job to me. If he cuts GST he will have to cut in other areas to make up shortfall. Like cut social programs, increase income tax. Each 1% cut will cost 4.5 billion dollars. So when it hits 5% that is 9 billion less money for the feds. So you know how and where he would make up shortfall.
Consumer spending is good now and if he cuts gst that much he will over heat economy and interest rates will go haywire, bank of Canada will have trouble with setting rates, and as an economist Harper should know better. It is just an election ploy.
A teaser:
The Conservative Party has unveiled a major plank in its economic platform: a reduction in the GST.
Tory Leader Stephen Harper announced that as prime minister, he would reduce the GST immediately by one percent -- from its current seven per cent to six per cent.
And then, by another one per cent over the next five years.
He said the immediate cut would result in $4.5 billion every year going back into the pockets of Canadians. [/teaser]
Sounds like a snow job to me. If he cuts GST he will have to cut in other areas to make up shortfall. Like cut social programs, increase income tax. Each 1% cut will cost 4.5 billion dollars. So when it hits 5% that is 9 billion less money for the feds. So you know how and where he would make up shortfall.
Consumer spending is good now and if he cuts gst that much he will over heat economy and interest rates will go haywire, bank of Canada will have trouble with setting rates, and as an economist Harper should know better. It is just an election ploy.
Election delays broadcast of 'Tommy Douglas Story'
A teaser:
CBC-TV has postponed the broadcast of Prairie Giant: The Tommy Douglas Story, a two-part miniseries about the late politician, regarded as the father of Canadian medicare, until after the election.
The four-hour special, scheduled for January, will now air March 12 and 13. [/teaser]
Thanks Harper who incompetant bufoon. I was looking forward to this. But you could not wait for an election. You have shown yourself to be a power hungry madman like your hero in America. You crave and want power so bad, you have to distrupt ordinary Canadians lives. Well you will be gone as Conservative leader soon after your loss on Jan 23. Goodbye and good riddance.
A teaser:
CBC-TV has postponed the broadcast of Prairie Giant: The Tommy Douglas Story, a two-part miniseries about the late politician, regarded as the father of Canadian medicare, until after the election.
The four-hour special, scheduled for January, will now air March 12 and 13. [/teaser]
Thanks Harper who incompetant bufoon. I was looking forward to this. But you could not wait for an election. You have shown yourself to be a power hungry madman like your hero in America. You crave and want power so bad, you have to distrupt ordinary Canadians lives. Well you will be gone as Conservative leader soon after your loss on Jan 23. Goodbye and good riddance.
Do you have a better system, Momsie? Did you ever stop to consider the best way to change the system we have?
I understand your distaste for our political class, but refusing to be represented doesn't strike me as much of a way of improving things.
I see Doug McCallum who was trounced trying to get a fourth term as mayor is trying for the Conservative nomination, to replace Gurment Grewal.
The funny thing is he was a member of the Liberal party last time and supported the Liberal Candidate Sukh Dhaliwal last time, and Mr.Dhaliwal is tunning again this time. It was a tight 3 way race last time and McCallum got the boot as mayor as people were sick of him, so I don't know how well he will do.
Ex-Surrey mayor aims to replace controversial MP Grewal
The positive for NDP in this riding of Newton-North Delta is the 3 provincial seats Delta North, Surrey- Panorama ridge and Surrey Newton that encompass this federal riding all went NDP in last provincial election.
The funny thing is he was a member of the Liberal party last time and supported the Liberal Candidate Sukh Dhaliwal last time, and Mr.Dhaliwal is tunning again this time. It was a tight 3 way race last time and McCallum got the boot as mayor as people were sick of him, so I don't know how well he will do.
Ex-Surrey mayor aims to replace controversial MP Grewal
The positive for NDP in this riding of Newton-North Delta is the 3 provincial seats Delta North, Surrey- Panorama ridge and Surrey Newton that encompass this federal riding all went NDP in last provincial election.
Question: can Harper reduce the GST by one percent? Wouldn't it take the agreements of NB, NS, and NF to do so? Anyone know for sure?
It's a federal tax, so he can reduce it. Those with HST agreements with Ottawa would still get the same amount.
Funny how his usual supporters are going after him on this one. Even the Fraser Institute wants him to drop other taxes instead.
The question I have is where he thinks he's going to get the money to pay for his military plans and the kickbacks for his corporate supporters.
Funny how his usual supporters are going after him on this one. Even the Fraser Institute wants him to drop other taxes instead.
The question I have is where he thinks he's going to get the money to pay for his military plans and the kickbacks for his corporate supporters.
I told ya before Rev I'm an Anarchist You know what I'd like to do with the whole lot of em .Like i said i pity the fool that shows up at my house looking for my vote :wink: I know who I'm voting for but he'll never win.We get another minority and i know who's running the show :wink: Its all been predicted a couple of years ago and its starting to freak me out .It's all coming true and I don't think it can be stopped now .Only time will tell eh?
Well Jack Layton will be at local riding campaign office this Saturday. I will be there. Since I am a volounteer. :wink:
I know who I've voting for.
I'd volenteer to work with the NDP myself but...university, no time. I might donate some money though.
I'l be damned if I'll get sucked into strategic voting. I'm going to vote for what I believe in thanks very much.
God help the Cons. campaign worker who comes to my door and tries to get my vote. Nobody else will help them.
I'd volenteer to work with the NDP myself but...university, no time. I might donate some money though.
I'l be damned if I'll get sucked into strategic voting. I'm going to vote for what I believe in thanks very much.
God help the Cons. campaign worker who comes to my door and tries to get my vote. Nobody else will help them.
Reverend Blair said:
Almost all economists unanimously agree that its far better to cut income taxes than consumption taxes. Although I do like a good tax cut, I think Harper is wrong on this one. But he knows that, of course. He's counting on the greater appeal this will have on the voters instead of income tax cuts. These cuts are more tangible and transparent. You hear about these cuts to income taxes but they are usually back-loaded years out, and its much harder to see how much you benefit at the end of the day. But a tax cut platform is only effective if the party behind it actually gets elected, so this is smart politics by Harper. Cynical, but smart.
What good is a income tax cut spread out over 10 years it does feck all for me and my family :evil: .Your supposed tax cut gets eaten by inflation .Net cut fecking zero .Martins tax cut will do feck all for the average working family .The rich will get richer and we'll get to pay for it :twisted:
Momsie said:
Make 'em read Fight Club?:wink:
I know you're an anarchist, Momsie. I don't have that kind of faith in people, but hey, if it works for you...
My point is that I don't see a lot of anarchists honestly trying to change the system so it's more to their liking. It's all well and good to say that it doesn't work, but yelling and screaming that all politicians are the same and only in it for themselves isn't true and certainly doesn't advance your cause.
No1 said:
Try to stand beheind him and wave during the photo-op.
Andygal said:
That's what I like to hear. If more people did that, we'd have a whole different set of people running the country.
MMMike said:
It is cynical. I'm not at all convinced that it's smart though. A lot of voters are now hearing the experts go after Harper on the news and say that he did this just to get votes. Voters, especially Harperites, may understand the GST more readily than they understand income taxes, but they've also been conditioned to listen to whatever shill the Fraser Institute pushes in front of them.
A lot of people want to know how Harper is going to pay for all of his programs too.
Reverend Blair said:
Most voters don't give a rat's ass what "experts" say. For the vast majority of people voting is more an emotional reaction than rational analysis. And its a hell of a lot easy to sell a cut in G.S.T. on an emotion level than income tax cuts spread over the next decade.
As surprised as I am, Harper is walking all over the Liberals in the early going. Brilliant strategy so far. Get the SSM issue on the table on the first day - he had to as it is part of the party's platform - avoid the 'hidden agenda' label. Follow it up the next day with the G.S.T. uppercut that pushed SSM off the map. Then set out a moderate proposal for health care reform. I'm holding my breath, but I like this campaign so far.
Hearing a thirty second sound bite followed by an analysis by an "expert" that usually supports Harper induces an emotional reaction too...especially when the cut is small and vague. 1 percent now and another 1 percent sometime later.
Yeah, but Layton is slamming Harper. Keep in mind that Canadians like their social programs and they like Layton better than they like Harper. They are wondering what they lose to pay for these tax cuts.
Except that it isn't fading. Every Liberal and NDP (and Green and CAP and Marijuana Party) candidate in an urban centre mentions it whenever they get a chance. Urban ridings are where you guys need to make inroads.
Except it never pushed anything off the map and when people hear about the GST cut, with promises of more to come they look at:
People wonder where all the money will come from. They know they have to pay one way or another.