tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30594727.post8231020231202662240..comments2023-08-01T04:17:03.628-04:00Comments on Liberal Arts and Minds: The Trick that Wanted to be a TreatKarenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04291881352139075405noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30594727.post-43849649746455103732007-10-31T23:38:00.000-04:002007-10-31T23:38:00.000-04:00Scotian, you and I are in sync vis a vis ho Canadi...Scotian, you and I are in sync vis a vis ho Canadian's think.<BR/><BR/>I still worry about media, because Harper plays into the sound bite world. It's beyond the dated KISS principle. It's now down to KIS&S. Keep it simple AND stupid.<BR/><BR/>Media buy it and many only the time to read that headline.<BR/><BR/>I know we are smarter than this and I know, if told the truth, we as Canadians will rally.<BR/><BR/>Who will be the truth tellers? We await you.Karenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04291881352139075405noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30594727.post-89536581887826167262007-10-31T23:31:00.000-04:002007-10-31T23:31:00.000-04:00Wilson, with respect, I'm well aware of the differ...Wilson, with respect, I'm well aware of the difference between the two party's.<BR/><BR/>One works and with evidence one does not. Guess which party is the loser.<BR/><BR/>rockfish. The US economy is something I'm not sure many Canadians are paying attention to. We should be, so good point.<BR/><BR/>Same price tag? Point well taken.<BR/><BR/>Sandi:<I>But there is no newspaper left in Canada with that kind of self-confidence, is there?<BR/><BR/>Is there?<BR/><BR/>...so why aren't our dumb MSM not realizing their being had and why aren't they talking about the Auditor General's report? Boy are they easily manipulated.</I><BR/><BR/>It's a question that I ask myself every day. I do wish people like you were still there. You were our asset and I'm sure you left for your own reasons. <BR/><BR/>My question for those who are in the industry is, when did your reason decide to quit?<BR/><BR/>Jay...LOL. I hadn't a clue, but good one. Circulate that trivia around con circles and we'll see it disappear soon enough.Karenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04291881352139075405noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30594727.post-7430102685700677632007-10-31T17:47:00.000-04:002007-10-31T17:47:00.000-04:00KNB:This is another example of where Harper and hi...KNB:<BR/><BR/>This is another example of where Harper and his fellows are taking from the GOP lock stock and barrel their ideas and beliefs assuming that since it worked so well for the GOP in America with Americans that it should work the same here, after all according to Harper et al there is no real difference between the two cultures. Which of course as you know I have strongly disagreed with all along. This is one of those examples where Harper's blindness to the differences between American culture/society and Canadian culture/society may well come back to bite him in the ass almost as badly as claiming that Martin supported child pornography did in the 2004 election.<BR/><BR/>Canada is a nation where there is not a majority belief in the public in the rightness/correctness of the free market before all other things, a nation where government programs are not automatically seen as a waste of taxpayer dollars, a nation where government is seen to have a role in aiding the least well off/fortunate in our society instead of simply rewarding those who succeed and the devil take the rest mentality that the GOP have represented for decades now in America. Indeed, real Canadian Conservativism is rooted in part in the belief that the free market unchecked is not a good thing, that there needs to be government involvement so as to mellow out the extremes of the free market while using it as a distribution method overall. That there needs to be government involvement to protect the economic sovereignty of the Canadian economy from being completely outside the control of Canadian citizens. That the government has a role in the safeguarding of Canadian jobs and economic infrastructure and that those that cannot compete in the unchecked market are not left behind, that this is a culture which believes that the essential worth of human dignity matters more than simply being rich/wealthy in money alone does as the primary goal of our society/governance.<BR/><BR/>This is a classic example of what I mean when I say that Harper et al do not understand Canada, Canadians, and Canadian society. That they are clearly far more impressed and enamoured with the American beliefs and society/culture than Canadian, indeed that they clearly think that Canadian culture is something to be feared/opposed going by all Harper said on the record about Canada and Canadians from the late 80s until 2005. That because of this ignorance to violent antipathy for Canadian culture and traditions/beliefs the Harper CPC represents a clear and present threat/danger to what it means to be Canadian, indeed to Canada as a nation itself.<BR/><BR/>Too often people think I am using overblown rhetoric when I say this when I truly mean it without inflation/exaggeration. What really amazes me are those that claim to be proud of being Canadian yet clearly want to emulate the American model lock stock and barrel despite Canada having deliberately and consistently choosing a different path since the founding of the nation in 1867. Harper's kind of Conservativism is a betrayal of those Canadian believes and worse, his operating style is clearly that of an authoritarian that beliefs the little people/citizens/voters do not need to know what he is doing in their name and inherently anti-democratic. Indeed, Harper's approach presents a real threat to the very concept of representational democracy, and his actions clearly show his contempt for it, but then that is hardly unusual for someone steeped in Straussian beliefs as Harper is. Otherwise things like the noble lie and that only the elites are qualified to govern or even have a say/opinion regarding how we are governed would have offended him and turned him away from Straussian thinking instead of being Canada's flag bearer for it throughout most of his adult life (late 80s to 2005 again) in this country. He only stopped being open about it when he finally got it through his head that there is nowhere near enough support for those beliefs within this country to even form a minority government let alone a majority one even given the advantages first past the post gives to political views that are not shared by a majority of voters.<BR/><BR/>Great post KNB, right on the money IMHO.Scotianhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06284856315992405261noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30594727.post-64464946541042097232007-10-31T12:00:00.000-04:002007-10-31T12:00:00.000-04:00I wonder if the Harpies know that North Star is a ...I wonder if the Harpies know that North Star is a gay comic book superhero from Marvel comics. <BR/><BR/>So-cons must love that.Jayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17404234601709022496noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30594727.post-42968377577132206062007-10-31T08:44:00.000-04:002007-10-31T08:44:00.000-04:00In the words of Paul Wells"Look over therePaul Wel...In the words of Paul Wells"<BR/><BR/>Look over there<BR/>Paul Wells | October 30, 2007 | 12:50:09 | Permalink<BR/>paul.wells@macleans.rogers.com<BR/><BR/>Back in the mid-'00s, we used to enjoy a chuckle whenever the Paul Martin crew would come up with some extraordinarily contrived sideshow in an attempt to bury an embarrassing headline. But even that PMO would never have thought it could get away with announcing tax cuts on 24 hours' notice, simply to bury an auditor general's report.<BR/><BR/>I used to work at a newspaper that, if it spotted such a transparent dodge -- at least from a Liberal government -- would have buried the tax cut on Page 4 and monstered the AG report. But there is no newspaper left in Canada with that kind of self-confidence, is there?<BR/><BR/>Is there?<BR/><BR/>...so why aren't our dumb MSM not realizing their being had and why aren't they talking about the Auditor General's report? Boy are they easily manipulated.RuralSandihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09552973218865121867noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30594727.post-38447770405993884212007-10-31T04:44:00.000-04:002007-10-31T04:44:00.000-04:00Good post, KNb. Harper is throwing all he's got at...Good post, KNb. Harper is throwing all he's got at this tax cut; while it looks good and few if any will reject it, there are always strings attached and most Canadians know it. The tax rate, for one, is returning to post-CON levels; the economy down south is seriously wobbly and sending similar quakes this way. Canadians are interested in more money in their pockets, but they are also wanting answers on various other files, especially files that CONs are apathetic about, like environment, universal health care, social services.<BR/>I wrote that besides not being able to take these blue-suited charlatans for their word, that this is their last ditch attempt at building a bigger bounce for a forced election in the coming months.<BR/><BR/>Timing is now the best tool we've got. These CON clowns apparently believe everyone has the same price tag.rockfishhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02835472375196889875noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30594727.post-89908127001117528652007-10-31T00:15:00.000-04:002007-10-31T00:15:00.000-04:00''nothing for environment, nothing for Child Care ...''nothing for environment, nothing for Child Care and Early Development, nothing that comes close to Kelowna, indeed nothing. They are raiding the coffers and leaving little if anything for social spending''<BR/><BR/>It's the Conservative way, KNB, instead of throwing money at a problem, the fix can usually be found in policy.<BR/><BR/>Martin gave the provinces a huge boost in healthcare bucks. <BR/>Wait times have increased. <BR/>The problem is the policy/system, not lack of financing. <BR/><BR/>Cons actually budgeted in more for First Nations than the Kelowna accord 'promised', plus a number of historic land deals/policies.<BR/><BR/>Cons introduced the first ever mandatory compliance regulations on the environment file, more to come. Provinces received big enviro bucks. Lakes being cleaned up, new clean water policy, national enviro reserves...<BR/><BR/>Social spending went up since PMSH was elected. Funds were also redirected from admin costs to the actual programs. So improved services do not have to come from increased spending.<BR/><BR/>Targeting one select group of children to receive funding (as in 9-5 public daycare) is way outside Conservative thinking. All children of preschool age get something , rather than all funds going to 14% of the under 6 population.<BR/><BR/>Keeping the economy strong and the unemployment rate low, is what ensures strong social spending.<BR/>Take care of the economy and jobs, the coffers will be full for Canadians social needs.wilsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03589410224972050999noreply@blogger.com