Harper's Math don't add up to Democracy

I just saw a headline that was worth at least a minor blog. Jack Layton is entertaining the possibility of a coalition with the Liberals, should Canadian voters deliver another minority mandate. Stephen Harper is saying that this idea is 'undemocratic.'

Huh? If this is an example of Steve's math, anyone considering giving him the keys to the Canadian economy for another 3 or 4 years might want to reconsider. 37 percent is a minority Steve. When you run a minority government like a majority, that is undemocratic. When you use a 37 percent mandate to steer us closer to the nightmare that is our southern neighbour's economy, you are undemocratic. When you reduce Cultural funding without any notice and when you impose censorship on culture, that is undemocratic. When you reduce or eliminate funding of challenges to the Charter of Rights and Freedoms, that is undemocratic.

What is not undemocratic is the formation of a coalition government of parties that share a general political viewpoint that's left-of-centre/progressive. As usual, there are slim differences between the Liberals, the New Democrats and now the Green Party. I vote Liberal generally though I have voted NDP strategically in the past - sorry Tony but Olivia Chow is simply a better (harder-working, more transparent, accessible) politician. I imagine many fellow Canadians hold their nose and vote for the ABC candidate and will this election.

I kinda feel sorry for Steve and his poor conservatives. They've inherited a great economy that is currently suffering with the fate of the US economy and its credit crisis. The measures they have taken have done nothing of note - a 2 percent GST cut that did little to stimulate the economy and that most people don't really tend to notice. Most economists will tell you that Sales Tax cuts are also beneficially regressive and keep more money in the pockets of those who already have it. If anything, Sales Tax reductions increase personal savings. Meanwhile, they've run our government so close to balanced that there is little room to absorb any need for higher social supports that would be needed as a result of a significant economic downturn. Like the hordes at the gate, they've raided reserves and played fast and loose with Canada's fiscal health.

Canadians, hopefully, are smarter than that. We have not voted for fiscal conservatism in Canada in at least 3 elections. Now that we've seen the mean-spirited, anti-democratic, we're right, you're wrong and on your own style of Conservatism brought by Harper in action, I think voters will be turned off even more. You can put him in a turtleneck and sit him beside a fire to chat about crime and punishment and he becomes even creepier!

I also like that the New Democrats can have an impact on the Afghan mission while not having full control over it. In a Liberal/NDP coalition, presumably the Liberals responsible, global-partner approach to foreign relations would be balanced against the NDPs unrealistic, stay-at-home, peace-nik, can-we-hug-it-out, approach. While I don't agree with preemptive strikes, I do believe in striking the fuck out of people who help others hit you! In other words, if other words are necessary, the NDP has a very convenient way of advocating for women's rights in Canada, not so much in Afghanistan - apparently 97 Canadians killed is too high a price for the freedom of Afghan women. One might want to ask this of the local New Democratic candidate when they knock on your door: "If your daughter wasn't allowed to go to school....How many Canadian soldiers would you be willing to sacrifice to change that?" Sorry - I'm a Kissinger fan - Real Politik. We'd all love for everything to go peacefully and for everyone to get along but there are people in the world who will stick a knife in you even after you give them your wallet. Bin Laden is one of those.

You see. This is the problem with Steve. He doesn't get that while Canadians had concerns about corruption within the Liberal party, they generally agreed with the surplus-spending approach taken by Mr. Martin and Mr. Chretien. They like that Jean stood up to George and said, "You have no proof of Weapons of Mass Destruction in Iraq." Would Steve have had that courage? At the same time, Jack would quit NATO (or be a member like France, on his own convenient terms) and would sell our F-18s for Bicycles! Probably not, but you get my drift.

And this all brings me back to Democracy and Steve's concept. In a cynical attempt to win votes in an election, Harper has now flip-flopped on the Afghanistan mission and has foolishly threatened the welfare of our troops by setting a firm time-line for withdrawl. No word about how Canada will react if other NATO members do not step up. And let's be clear, here. Pakistan must be convinced of the necessity of allowing NATO troops to enter their sovereign country to hunt and kill or otherwise bring to justice, Osama Bin Laden. So, Harper has now betrayed his own convictions to appease voters. How undemocratic.

Let's have a centre-left coalition that recognizes global climate change issues and wants to introduce innovative cap-and-trade and carbon tax systems to better address our current crises in energy and environment, not one that speaks to a narrow base of Conservatives that are angry for some reason or feel they've paid more than their fare share. I guess if you only have a Grade 10 education though, you might be owed some money back since the rest of us used it to get a higher education! I think most Canadians had hoped this is what we voted for the last time.

A centre-left coalition would represent greater than 50 percent of Canadian voters and if strategic voting takes place, which is highly likely, that number could be as high as 60 percent. That's a greater mandate than George W. Bush has ever enjoyed.

I can also accept that people don't necessarily want Stephane Dion to be Prime Minister. I think it's wise of the leader to surround himself with his teammates because in a democracy (hint, hint Steve) decisions are made by a multitude of people - not a kingly leader who silences his own cabinet and reverses any previous policy of open and non-confidence votes. So please Steve, don't insult our intelligence when your opponents shift to react to the winds of public demand for government that functions and meets the needs of Canadians. Not one that plays political games to try and take advantage of polls and economic cycles. Not one that promises fixed elections, then runs to the Governor General as soon as government breaks down. No Steve. You, sir, are undemocratic.