I have exceptionally pasted and posted this piece which apeared in the "Cornwall Free News ( Feb. 13th/2010)"...
It says it all and expresses my sentiments and perhaps yours as well ... By the way, I have to get back to watching the games and then send my Valentine's day card to our great leader.
Editorial: The Stephen Harper Government Burning the Edges of Democracy – Flirting with Facism in 2010
FACISM
a governmental system led by a dictator having complete power, forcibly suppressing opposition and criticism, regimenting all industry, commerce, etc., and emphasizing an aggressive nationalism and often racism.
Dictator ? √ He’s been studying many of Mr. Putin’s game plan books. Have you ever heard any original thought or dissent from a Harper Cab min?
Forcibly Suppressing opposition & criticism? √ Prorogation anyone? Ed Clark? Richard Colvin? Our own Journalism Intern being told by our MP, head of Caucus for the Harper Government, Guy Lauzon, that he refused to speak to him because he works for this paper?
Here’s a story in the Toronto Star.
“He doesn’t listen, but you get to chat with him,” the TD Bank chief executive remarked. The comments did not go unnoticed in Harper’s office.
A day later, an email labelling Clark a rich supporter of Liberal leader Michael Ignatieff went out from the PMO to senior Conservatives.”
Another story had this to say:
“The pattern is set: someone says something critical about the policies of Prime Minister Stephen Harper and his government and the Conservative mud-slinging machine goes into attack mode. On the receiving end have been Liberal Leader Michael Ignatieff (“unCanadian”), NDP Leader Jack Layton (“Taliban Jack”), Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty (“the small man of Confederation”), whistle-blowing diplomat Richard Colvin (“hearsay”), and any critics of Israeli policies (“anti-Semites”).”
Regimenting all industry, commerce? If he could he probably would. As it is he just gave the US access to Canadian projects paid for with Canadian stimulus dollars. That’s just wrong; especially if we don’t get equal access to US gigs.
Aggressive Nationalism? √ Well I won’t pick on him too much for this one as I personally think we Canadians could take a lesson or two from the US, and be more actively proud and supportive of our country and flag.
Racism? At first my thoughts were no, but then you have the Seaway International Bridge crisis or Mr. Harper’s attempt to get tough on Natives to spur on voting by those that may in fact be less tolerant of others.
Semantics, fine lines, spirit of the law, blurring of the lines. Democracy always needs to be protected. Even a minority government has the power to inflict the full weight of Canada. We live in dangerous times. The US opened Pandora’s box in the Bush years. Remember the Dixie Chicks? Say something the President or his party doesn’t like and have your career wrecked.
History should never repeat the witch hunts of the 50’s. Without true freedom of the press, and true freedom of speech unspeakable horrors can be brought down on society.
We need to really look at issues like this. It’s not about partisan politics because frankly there have been moments in Liberal Governments that are in the same family of some of these behaviors, but never in Canadian history have such a total combination of Undemocratic energies been focused.
We need whistle blowers to be able to speak out without having their reputations and lives attacked in the manor that Mr. Colvin’s was. We need to have voices be able to speak out if for no other reason than to have awareness and for people to be able to consider the options when they decide how to use their votes and implement their wishes in society.
There are countries in the world where I in fact could lose my life for posting items like this. I truly don’t want Canada to ever become like those places.
The site for the Vancouver local of The Media Co-op has been archived and will no longer be updated. Please visit the main Media Co-op website to learn more about the organization.