Do you know what frustrates me the most about what is going on inside the bubble called Ottawa? The consistent lying.It comes in varying degrees, but there can be no argument that this government and the Conservative party, has taken the act of lying to a new art form.
Yes, all parties spin and show themselves in a good light, but the Conservatives go so far beyond that and I'm seriously perplexed as to how they get away with it.
I know that most 'normal' people don't follow this stuff, but that is the real tragedy, because the bits and bites they do hear are often untrue. I'm becoming more and more convinced that a segment of the media...not all, act as nothing more than a conduit to whatever message suits them. Conduits of information are a good thing. Conduits of misinformation make the country dumb.
What the government is saying about funding stopping should an election arise, is patently false, yet tonight, I heard Tom Clark, CTV, say that it's not black and white.
I do not ascribe bias here, at least not in the conventional sense. Bias toward their own agenda can't be ignored though. Profits, circulation, market place dominance...name it.
Take what's happening in Ottawa now. Ignatieff came out yesterday, after reading the update, and said it didn't address many things, but specifically, he had 4 issues. The press reacted with dispatch and reported that Ignatieff had put the government on notice and he wanted answers. Good. The conduit transmitted an actual event accurately. Throughout the day though, that shifted. Why?
Did Ignatieff change anything that he had said in the morning when he spoke throughout the day? No. (Read the transcripts or watch the interviews to be sure.) But to read the press yesterday afternoon and today, you would think the guy had completely reversed himself.
I saw panels, heard shows and honestly, to suddenly see Ignatieff and the Liberals being lambasted is farcical. Is anyone watching the government? Is anyone listening to the ludicrous claims...election
Gawd, I also heard Tom Clark tonight ask McCallum for his plan to reduce the deficit! Huh? The Conservatives offer no plan so the onus is on the Liberals, with no access to the current fiscal position of the country, to come up with a plan?
I don't know what is going on right now, but it seems that the government and Ignatieff will meet again tomorrow. Obviously, they are making progress. What that means is any one's guess.
I would still like to take this government down, but I guess if Ignatieff gets some answers, that was his mission at the outset and so be it.
What I don't want to see is any more, 'further from the truth' reporting. We get it. You want to go on vacation. Geesh, some of you even commented that you had cottages rented and that would be messed up! The horror! Small comfort to those who were just laid off and can't get EI, but hey...don't let them upset your deposit.
No melodrama intended here, but as we watch what is going on in Iran, is is too much to expect that in this country, we would have a fair and accurate accounting of events?
Update, fwiw - The latest.
15 comments:
I'm becoming more and more convinced that a segment of the media...not all, act as nothing more than a conduit to whatever message suits them
Well partly true - most of the media are no better than stenographers. Actually worse because the job of the media is too think and filter, verify information... except that they are too lazy....
but as we watch what is going on in Iran, is is too much to expect that in this country, we would have a fair and accurate accounting of events?
A lot is being said on how the internet is fueling the changes in Iran - odd when you consider the battle in this country for net neutrality and all the checks that the government has imposed in terms of mass surveillance.
Here is another example of a crass distortion of the truth: Anyone who has ever had a passing nterest in EI will know that only employees who are laid off through no fault of their own can even begin to claim the "big fat" and "lucratice" cheques of $447 maximum a week for a limited time, if they are lucky to live in the right area of the country. This, after they have paid into the scheme, often for years - it is not a handout of taxpayers' money. Emplyees who leave their jobs on their own volition or who are fired with cause cannot claim anything in the first place, no matter where they live. So, in order for the "45-day work year" to arrive in Canada, it is the employers who would have to develop some diabolical scheme of systematically laying off employees after only 45 days, without cause. How does Stephen Harper think this is going to come about and to work, year after year? Hyperbole? Worse?
cwtf, true. That is a massive conversation and I'm not sure the country is prepared. No. I am sure that they/we are not.
Anon, the lie is even larger than that, but your comment is a good example of what is trickling through as supposed reality.
If I am not mistaken, this 45 day work for EI is only until the recession ends
Anon @ 1106...true.
I guess I was wrong last night. I did not believe there was any chance Harper was going to cave on anything, and here it looks like he is actually negotiating. What a pleasant surprise.
Not that I trust him...
Gayle, 'devil/details' comes to mind.
IMO, Harper et al have been overwhelmed by this economic crisis, and are accepting input from Ignatieff from necessity, i.e., they truly don't know what they are doing. Your update indicates a poll result that 78% of Canadians do not want an election, and I think that is the only reason why Ignatieff isn't taking Harper out. As for the media, I sensed real disappointment that Ignatieff wasn't going to trigger an election. Everybody wants Harper out - he is incompetent as a leader - but, Canadians don't want an election, so for now we get Ignatieff showing him how to do it right. Disappointing, but Ignatieff's day will come.
The media, especially Tom Clark, seem absolutely shocked that anyone would go to an election on EI, Chalk River - management of files, but it's okay that Harper dropped the writ last fall because he can't share his toys in the sandbox.
They keep moaning about the number of elections in the last few years, but ignore who was behind most of them - Harper/Layton/Duceppe and the Harper. The moan about it being in the summer when the other coalition caused one through Christmas.
Tom Clark has a huge ego and talks far too much. I can't stand or trust him any more that I could Mike Duffy.
Igg's time will Come ! Just watch him....lololo
The media is a A^^hole in generally Clark is the pope of them ..I accidentally caught the few minutes on CTV with Clark's "panel" when they have the Big Brouhaha talking about no prospect of Summer Election...
between big laughs Clark just declared the Parliament as IDIOTS HOUSE.... well that is how the media is "working" nowadays..
Sorry for The Typo.
"Igg's time will Come!"
And while we patiently wait he is going to be painted profusely with the "not a leader" brush. What did Gilles Duceppe say earlier today? "Ignatieff stared into the mirror this morning and saw Stephan Dion staring back". That's just effing great, that is. Why was it OK for Harper to call an election last fall That Canadians didn't want? Today's Liberal/Conservative agreement was a mistake. End of story.
And of course this little gem from John Baird yesterday:
“I will not engage in such harsh language when it comes to my leader of the opposition. My leader of the opposition is right now working with my Prime Minister to do the right thing for Canadians.”
Groan...
What's that sound that Iggy hears? It's the bus that he helped to toss the hapless Dion under coming for him.
Full on democratic leadership convention coming soon to a theater near you.
December?
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