Liberal Chest-Thumping
So I read in the Post that the Libs are willing to topple this minority government if the Tories don't back down from their pledge to install their own program for Child-care as opposed to the Liberal proposals. I'm gonna call that bluff right now. I'd like to think that the Liberal Party of Canada isn't that stupid to think that this would be a smart move.
I support the initiative to give my family a little extra cash. My wife wants to be a stay-at-home. She is one of many Canadians who do not want an insitutional day care system. What the Libs are saying is that the only to raise children in this country is to let the government decide how and when it is to be done. What the Conservatives have said is that they'll give families a little more help so that they can make their own decisions.
The Libs are a bunch of freaking idiots!! Honestly, who are they to tell me and my wife how we have to raise our family? Do they not think that parents can be trusted to use the funds in a responsible manner (beer and popcorn, anyone?)? Do they think that it's much more important for both parents to be in the workforce, therefore further helping the economy to grow? Of course they do. Why? I have a number of theories on this one but you could sum it up and say that they're out of touch with reality.
The Libs need to remember that they lost the election and that the Tories have earned the right to implement their own agenda. The also need to remember that they have no leader, no money, and are rapidly losing any shred of credibility that they have left. I doubt they've seriously considered what the consequences would be for a swift end to this minority parliament, mostly because they don't have the guts to follow through on this pre-throne speech BS.
I support the initiative to give my family a little extra cash. My wife wants to be a stay-at-home. She is one of many Canadians who do not want an insitutional day care system. What the Libs are saying is that the only to raise children in this country is to let the government decide how and when it is to be done. What the Conservatives have said is that they'll give families a little more help so that they can make their own decisions.
The Libs are a bunch of freaking idiots!! Honestly, who are they to tell me and my wife how we have to raise our family? Do they not think that parents can be trusted to use the funds in a responsible manner (beer and popcorn, anyone?)? Do they think that it's much more important for both parents to be in the workforce, therefore further helping the economy to grow? Of course they do. Why? I have a number of theories on this one but you could sum it up and say that they're out of touch with reality.
The Libs need to remember that they lost the election and that the Tories have earned the right to implement their own agenda. The also need to remember that they have no leader, no money, and are rapidly losing any shred of credibility that they have left. I doubt they've seriously considered what the consequences would be for a swift end to this minority parliament, mostly because they don't have the guts to follow through on this pre-throne speech BS.
posted by Jason at 4:22 p.m.
3 Comments:
And regardless of yours or my beliefs, you would do well to remember that the Liberals have as much right to vote against the Conservative plan as the Tories have the right to vote for it.
You may not disagree with their mindset, but it is their right to vote for whichever programs they would like to see implimented. Since their place isn't going to be implimented, why would they be expected to vote for an opposing and very opposite plan? If everybody had to follow the government line, what would be the point of having opposition parties? We'd be better off with a one-party system.
It's these disputes that make our system of government both interesting, as well as more representative.
No one here is denying that politics is interesting... at least for nerds like me. I highly value the system we have because it can, although not always, provide the means for meaningful and informative debate and disucssion.
Sometimes though what we see is a little too much politicing. Maybe my memory is a little foggy on this one but I'm pretty sure that the Tories did the same thing when Paul Martin was elected with a minority parliament: we'll bring them down, bla bla bla. Granted, this is part of the game and shouldn't come as a surprise.
Looking at it from another angle, though, I don't think there are a whole lot of people in the general public who want another election so soon. Can you imagine heading back to the polls sometime this year for the third time in almost as many years? I think there's a bit of a feeling that Canadians want this parliament to get some work done.
That being said, of course the Libs have the right to vote against whatever policies they choose. But ask yourself this: in whos' interests are they acting? The Party's or that of the people? There's no rule that says the parties can't compromise to make things work. If anything the Martin years have shown us what can go wrong when you don't.
On child care though, the Conservatives have my support. It is a universal option (money goes to everyone) when the other proposal only affects those who use what they want to make. That's not in my interests and I voted for a party that is willing to do something about that.
There's no doubt that forcing an election now would be stupid. And in my opinion Graham's continuing to express his (and his party's) bitterness over the NDP and Bloc voting to bring the government down is just silly. For him to come out and say "they brought us down, they can prop their favourite government up" is just so very juvenile.
Nonetheless, their job as official opposition is to, well, oppose the government. It would be nice though if they opposed it in a more mature, constructive manner. A strong Liberal party is, after all, good for the country no matter what side you're on. Look at how the Liberals ran wild when they had no real opposition for all those years. Opposition keeps government on its toes, and that's always a good thing.
As for compromise, that's a dream that will likely never come to fruition. The parties are too divided by regionalistic and idealistic distrust to cooperate to any great extent.
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