Category Archives: democracy and good government

Peter MacKay Thinks You’re Un-Canadian

conservative party, democracy and good government, foreign affairs,

That is, if you oppose even the current nature of our military involvement in Afghanistan. Further, in MacKay’s twisted logic if you think that Canadian troops should be protected from implication in war crimes, then you’re somehow not “supporting the troops.”

“What is immensely clear is that the bombast and the blast coming from the member for Bourassa does nothing to demonstrate that his party or that member support the troops.

These scurrilous allegations that somehow Canadian soldiers are complicit in war crimes is beyond contempt. It is reprehensible. It is un-Canadian for that member to make those kind of allegations in this place.” – Peter MacKay

I wonder what you have to do to be declared doubleplusuncanadian. These comments from a minister of the government are shameful and disgraceful, and show a disrespect for our soldiers, Parliament, democracy, you, and me. They would be beyond belief if Stephen Harper hadn’t already set the tone. And don’t even get me started on this nonsense from John Baird.

Oh, and by the way, “scurrilous” is defined as “abusive: expressing offensive reproach.” Uh-huh.

(h/t Sean In Saskatchewan)

I Bet You Think This Post Is About You

democracy and good government, , ,

Saw No Country For Old Men last night. Two quotes stick out.

The first is the sheriff’s (played by Tommy Lee Jones) response to his deputy’s inquiry, “It’s a mess, ain’t it sheriff?”

“If it ain’t,” the sheriff replies, “it’ll do ’til the mess gets here.”

The second is near the end of the film after the mess arrives, and comes in the form of advice given to the sheriff from an old man. “Can’t stop what’s coming. It ain’t waitin’ on you. That’s vanity.”

The World Must Change

climate crisis, democracy and good government, ,

Crossposted from Torontoist.

We love the television advertising campaigns the WWF comes up with, and their latest is no exception.

The ad does provoke some important questions, however, about the ability (or lack thereof) of individual action to create adequate change without government intervention. The first panel at yesterday’s GreenTOpia launch dealt with this extensively. Keith Stewart (coincidentally, a campaigner with WWF) explained that even though he’s taken extensive personal action (he has solar panels on his house, doesn’t own a car, eats local food) if everyone lived like he does we’d only be halfway towards where we need to be to avert climate catastrophe.

Watching the above video, it’s interesting to note that a good chunk of the societal changes they point to—not smoking in public places, wearing seatbelts, etc—came about due to government intervention.

How then, the question was asked over and over again yesterday by an engaged audience desperate for answers, do we get our political leaders to do what’s necessary? The panel’s response: it’s not rocket science. If a politician says or does something you don’t approve of, let them know and don’t vote for them. Conversely (and even more importantly), if a politician says or does something you support, make sure you’re there to defend and support them.

Engagement with democracy is a responsibility of living in one. When we’re informed and involved, we get the government we need. When we become distracted by political games or we cynically disengage from the political process altogether, we get the government we deserve.