What's Your Hurry, Stephen?

My philosophy professor may have been right, according to Ben and Dean, among others. The Conservatives may bring down the government by using an amendment to the budget. He had mentioned it a couple of weeks ago, just when it was safe to believe that they were satisfied with the budget and would not try to force an election. While I do not object to bringing down the Liberals per se, the timing could not be worse.

Let's suppose an election is held a few months from now and the Conservatives win a majority, and they have confidence in their ability to run the country (justified or not) and can basically do whatever they want, because the masses just do not want another election for four years at least, and the Tories will believe, like the Liberals had for years, that no party can compete with them in the short or even long term; then we will have the same problem we have had for the last ten years: a ruling party that pretty much knows that they are "untouchable", and an electorate who feels that there are no real options, and this will most likely increase voter apathy.

What should the Tories do? First, they could at least wait until the Gomery inquiry wraps up, and if any serious revelations should come to light, the electorate would most likely to be ready and willing to throw the Liberals out anyway, and the Conservatives would probably win a majority. Even if no damning revelations come to light, the Grits currently have a minority government, and they will probably lose their support from the electorate if they are as corrupt and incompetent as most people think they are, the Tories would take office with a clear moral advantage, but would be more accountable to the electorate because there would be a stronger opposition (or just a better one, since the Libs will be where the Tories were in '93, and other parties could gain from it), and people would believe in the system better.

I guess this all sounds terribly naive, that the parties are not just in it to get elected ASAP and wield as much power as they possible can, and the people can be made to take an interest in what happens in Ottawa. Also, even though the Conservatives under Harper is the best option we have, it's all so depressing.

As loathe as I am of writing about Ann Coulter, much less providing a link to an article of hers, see believes, just as I do, that liberalism is dead. BUT, she actually misses them! So for that reason, I want to repeat what I said about burying the old Left (being in an advanced state of decomposition and stinking up political discouse), and giving birth to a new Left. It is my sincere hope that it comes to pass, and quickly, so Ms. Coulter can get her raison d'etre back. ;)

About the CPC
 
From what I gathered, Peter MacKay was all hot and bothered about Stephen Harper going back on his promise. Just out of curiosity, what the #&*% was Peter MacKay thinking? Having broken his promise to David Orchard, he is actually suprised that the Alliance broke theirs???

Any Economists Out Here?

I just finished reading that book by Paul Hellyer (see previous post). Has anyone heard of the Multilateral Agreement on Investment (MAI) or have any idea what it is? Mr. Hellyer seems to think that if it is implemented (if it hasn't been already), it's the end of national sovereignty, for Canada and everywhere else, and corporations, particularly banks, will rule the world. That is his basic theme. Is it just the kind of scare mongering we've heard countless times before, or is there really something to what he is saying? I'm willing to hear out any viewpoint from anyone who knows what it is, particularly because it seems to be a well kept secret that the MSM WILL NOT TOUCH!

I don't even know if it's been signed into law anywhere or not, or if not, is it still being negotiated. Does anyone reading this know? Still on trade...

Nor... uh ... what did you say your name was?

A comment on the killing of the Mounties in Alberta, I left a comment (link provided to a previous post) on Sinister Thoughts' blog. The policies which I was alluding to from that book were about running police forces, both federal and municipal, like businesses. In other words, police for profit like a private business would. Does anyone see what is wrong with the whole idea of this? Anyone familiar with "Community-Based policing"? or "Police-Challenge 2000"

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Lately, I have been reading a book by Paul Hellyer called The Evil Empire about the new wave of monetarism. He takes aim at Milton Friedman for what he believes to be an old-fashioned, purely laissez-faire approach to economics. Considering it was printed in 1998, much of what it says seems to ring true, and explains much of what neo-conservatives believe before the term became common. Does anyone know who or what I'm talking about? Feel free to answer, particularly if you are conservative, because I think that I've only been listening too much to the Left, and I crave balance.

Reaching the summit ... or not?

First, a piece that you wouldn't expect from a conservative writer from down South. Fascinating.

Back here in the somewhat frozen North, Jim Elve's latest post reflects much of what I've been saying all along about partisan and party politics. On a deadly serious note though...

Check out this thread by Don from TalkCanada (no link) also on BlogsCanada.ca. IMHO, it does sound like things are building up to a frenzied climax, and that the current Liberal government is trying to please all Canadians at the moment with his 5-year plan, probably because the federal government sees the inevitability of their mandate come crashing down once the hard facts of what the Chretien administration really did (which Martin would have been in the thick of as much as anyone) come out. This would appear to be a likely explanation for their last budget and their decision on BMD, because they don't have much of a future but want their last days to be remembered fondly.

On the positive side, maybe Canadians all over the country will get more involved, and 86 the dead wood from Ottawa. On the negative side, one huge stumbling block is the size of the nation with a proportionally small population, and the sheer distance in space between people as well as the differences between regions. We would probably have to rebuild from the ground up, which could take forever. Still, if the situation in Ottawa is as rotten as many fear, it needs to be exposed, and all the crimes punished. Assuming of course, the Gomery Commission does its job and any attempt at a cover-up is foiled.