Canadian Conservatives: Kings of Contradiction
Under the «issues» heading «Accountability», the Conservative Party of Canada seems to have forgotten on what side of the issues they actually stand. They claim to have strengthened democracy in Canada by:They seem to forget that they are wasting millions on the undemocratic House of Lords, and are the most fervent supporters of it's continued existence. But that isn't the worst of it, they seem to have forgotten that they called a «snap» election not one month ago, and yet, tout their accomplishments as having:
- Introducing legislation to facilitate the election of Senators
- Introducing legislation to end the lifetime appointment of Senators by limiting Senate terms to eight years
Someone should really update that site...
- Instituted fixed election dates
par Borges à 12:39
For Election '08 Canada, the NDP may be the way forward
The Liberal political sphere in Canada has a rich political history and an admirable record in government for working for the people of Canada, to advance their interests, and build a better Canada. However, these days, Federal Liberals shy away from affiliation with the working class, and make no secret of their pro-business agenda. As a Marxist, one is constantly conflicted between the attraction one feels towards the Liberal Party of Québec, and the growing antipathy one feels towards the Liberal Party of Canada, which although presents a good-hearted and compassionate face, really seems to lack the ability to truly represent the working class of Canada.The Federal Liberal Party no longer seems to represent the interests ordinary Canadians during this election campaign. They do have an impressive scheme, called 30-50, 30 percent reduction in the number of people in poverty, 50 percent reduction in child poverty. However their plan to implement is ridiculous, a few thousand dollars in tax credits is hardly the way to tackle poverty, which is simply an expression of the class antagonisms that are intrinsic in the capitalist system.
The New Democratic Party of Canada is far from advocating the democratic and socialist transformation of society for the betterment of all Canadians, however they do understand that the current system is not working, and have committed themselves in the past, and in the future towards reducing the gap between rich and poor, fighting poverty and inequality. The party is the only one that seems to genuinely care about the needs of the working class during this election campaign. That is why, for this election, one must support the NDP, while remaining and identifying as a Liberal.
Libellés : Pauvreté et développement, Politique, ROC, Socialisme
par Borges à 11:09
U.S. House votes NO to bailout
The collective American taxpayer can breath a deep sigh of relief as their tax bill is sparred a 2200$ increase by the United States House of Representatives votes no to the proposed bailout package agreed upon by party leaders earlier in the day. This was an example of the worst kind of capitalism, a rampant, blatant attack on the working class in an attempt to salvage a system so fundamentally flawed that it is now collapsing in upon itself, as it is destined to do. Boom and bust will never end as long as profit rules the economic agenda...In a crisis the capitalists are compelled to resort to extraordinary measures to corner a share of a decreased market. They resort to discount selling, dumping and other methods to undercut their competitors. By so doing, they aggravate the crisis by fomenting a deflationary downward spiral. People delay their purchases in the expectation of lower prices, and thus push prices lower still. We see this phenomenon most clearly in the housing market.
The contagion spreads like an uncontrollable epidemic from one country to another. It will become evident that every country has over-exported (that is, over-produced) and also over-imported (over-traded). (See Capital, Volume 3, p. 481) It will be evident that every one of them had stretched credit too far and stoked the fires of inflation and speculation, which now must be extinguished, no matter what the pain. That is to say, it is not a question of this country or that, of this bank or this individual speculator or that, but of the system itself. It is true that no downturn lasts forever. In the long run a new equilibrium is reached, prices stabilize, profitability is restored and a new cycle commences. But this is nowhere in sight as yet. The downturn has not ended. It has barely begun. Nobody knows how long it will last. And anyway, as Keynes once put it: "In the long run we are all dead."[IDOM, 29.9.08]
Libellés : Politique, États-Unis
par Borges à 14:41
Just how progressive are Liberals?
The New Democratic Party is leading the progressive agenda this election campaign, it would seem, in light of recent announcements from both the NDP and the Liberal Party of Canada. While the Green Shift would bring billions into the Canadian coffers for the express purpose of cleaning up domestic and commercial methods of consumption, the New Democratic Party has announced that it will raise the corporation tax back to a reasonable level and then effectively redistribute some of the massive profits being made by Canadian industries and commercial enterprises (even traditional industries are reporting staggering profits, while complaining about government neglect). Regarding this proposal, M. Stéphane Dion has claimed:“Mr. Layton has an old-fashioned socialist mentality that will not work in this century,” he said. [Globe and Mail, 28.9.08]Bold words, Monsieur...bold words from a man who is claiming to be an alternative to Stephen Harper and his Conservative disregard for people on modest-to-lower incomes. Mr. Layton is not who one supports in this election, however there are a considerable number of honest, well-thought-out and effective policies being proposed by the New Democratic Party. In the next parliamentary session, whether the Conservatives receive a minority mandate, a majority, or lose their role as party of government, the Liberal Party of Canada should take notice and work closely...
Libellés : Libéraux, Pauvreté et développement, Politique, ROC
par Borges à 12:05
Dion speaks: I am a Québécois nationalist!
Bold words from Stéphane Dion about the place of Québec in the Canadian federation, in which he expresses a genuine love for Québec and a belief in the asset to Canada that the Québécois are:I am a Québécois nationalist, I love the people and the land of Québec... I love the winter. The truth is that I believe that us, we Québécois, have the possibility to invest in a country as big as a continent that we have built with the other Canadians, a country that is the envy of the world because the Québécois are there. So, our nationalism isn't expressed only in our own institutions, but can also express themselves in our common institutions with other Canadians and the role that one can play there. [Cyberpresse, 22.9.08]Stéphane Dion seems to finally be getting real, and it works! If he can continue in this manner and manage to act in such a convincing manner consistently, it seems that there may be a stop to the blue (of whatever shade) tide that has so far swept Québec in the run-up to eletion day.
Libellés : Libéraux, Politique, Québec, ROC
par Borges à 12:07
Vote Obama... or else you're racist?
Many tout the historic nature of M. Barack Obama's presidential bid. One has long argued that although his campaign tries to emphasise race as little as possible, a good part of M. Obama's attractiveness is down simply to the fact that he is Black (bi-racial, in fact), and that many White «Liberals» (in the United States sense of the word) supported him out of a sense of duty (to right the wrongs of the past), a need to repent for the sins and absolve the guilt of White America against people of colour, whether it be the slave trade, Jim Crow, or the continued economic deprivation that many Black Americans face.In an editorial on the BBC News website, Professor David Reynolds of Cambridge reflects on what a win for M. Obama would mean for America:
The historical significance of Mr Obama's campaign is therefore immense.A victory for him on 4 November would help expunge the original sin of slavery from Jefferson's empire of liberty. [15.9.08, BBC News]I told you, I'm not making this stuff up...
Libellés : Politique, États-Unis
par Borges à 12:43
Conservative brilliance in strategy
Two examples of the Conservatives seemingly superior politicking during this election campaign:- PM Stephen Harper has publicly come out as stating that Canada is a more «conservative» country than it was two decades ago, while stipulating that the party still has to moderate itself in order to be appealing to the majority of Canadians. This is a really shrewd move, to try to simultaneously convince citizens that they are «in touch» with Canada's current mindset, while also declaring that they are quite ready to yield to the public's general political taste.
- The Conservative Party of Canada has amassed a huge database of voter demographics, preferences and tendencies, and is using it to make targeted efforts at various ethnicities and socio-economic groupings. With this information they are prepared to take on any group succeptable to their politics
par Borges à 13:43
Liberal Party of Canada bad for Canadian unity?
As many will already know, the Action Démocratique du Québec and the Liberal Party of Québec will be throwing their support behind the Conservative Party of Canada during this autumn's election campaign. It's not hard to see why the ADQ and Mario Dumont support the federal Conservatives, but it is a bit more mysterious to consider how on Earth the Liberal Party of Québec could act in such a reactionary manner as to support Harper! Their reasoning:Tant Jean Charest que Mario Dumont n'ont rien à gagner d'une bonne performance des libéraux fédéraux. Chaque fois que le PLC s'approche du pouvoir à Ottawa, la ferveur souverainiste semble en remontée [9.9.08, Cyberpresse]
(As much Jean Charest as Mario Dumont have nothing to gain from a good performance from the Federal Liberals. Each time that the LPC comes to power in Ottawa, souverainiste sentiment in Québec seems to wax again)
Is that the truth? I think not but
Libellés : Libéraux, Politique, Québec, ROC
par Borges à 14:30
And we're off!!!
Harper has finally called a general election, and things are not looking good for the Liberal Party of Canada...The Conservative Party of Canada is set to hold a majority in the House of Commons should an election be held any time soon, and M. Harper is seen by 1-in-2 Canadians as the most apt to lead the nation. In Québec, the situation is worse, where the Bloc and Conservatives are fighting a two-party battle in a province where only two weeks ago the national Liberal Party was ahead in the polls. What is to blame for the parties apparent lack of lustre and inability to capture public opinion? In a nation so forward-thinking, how could a Harper regime be so popular, it boggles the mind.
But one must consider above all else, the economy, which is doing fine despite the United States not-so-sudden decline and a global downturn. Though traditional industries and manufacturing are indeed feeling the pinch, and there is still evidence that Canadians are poorer now than 25 years ago, in general there is a feeling of satisfaction with the state of affairs at the current moment.
Fear not, fellow-Liberals, friendly progressives, our day will come, but when it does come we must be ready to lead the working class to victory, to be a true beacon of hope for Canada's destitute, and above all ready to break with Canadian politics as usual...
Libellés : Libéraux, Politique, ROC
par Borges à 09:11
Would prefer Musharraf anyday...
Leading embezzler and «my wife is dead...vote for me!» politician Asif Ali Zardari has officially been elected by the Parliament and four provinces* of Pakistan as President of the Islamic Republic. While some may hail this as a triumph of democracy, one can only call it what it truly is, the victory of demagoguery. Do not be fooled by his smile or Western credentials, he is a snake, who will take Pakistan for everything it is worth to enrich and empower himself.One can never expect much from the leaders of Pakistan, truly, it is a country where political cynicism would thrive were it not so bloody sad. The history of Western Pakistan and its successor the Islamic Republic is one of false hopes and mal-leadership. And while the military, the religious establishment, the courts, and the politicians battle amongst themselves for power, the people of that great nation continue to suffer in extreme poverty, with little if any chance of ever really improving their lives.
Expect little from Zardari and his «Pakistan People's Party», this is a monster in the making...
Libellés : Pakistan, Politique
par Borges à 10:21
