tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31415271.post1175885572927421251..comments2023-09-22T06:22:50.820-06:00Comments on Ken Chapman: Harper Gets a Reprieve. Now What?kenchapmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11384045981190810115noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31415271.post-76664528264676214912008-12-10T16:08:00.000-07:002008-12-10T16:08:00.000-07:00Albert S: First, let me say I love your opening li...Albert S: First, let me say I love your opening line. Touché!<BR/><BR/>I'm not going to play a numbers game with you, using conventional math or otherwise, nor will I try to match wits with you, as I believe the facts speak for themselves. <BR/><BR/>Harper is a Laize-faire politician at a time when the country needs massive intervention in our economy. Which as you know, goes against Harper and the conservatives philosophical Laize-faire mindset? End of story! <BR/><BR/>He and the conservatives got to go, because they are incapable of dealing with today's realities of getting your hands dirty and getting down and fixing things, and in some cases reinventing the wheel, as Obama and others are doing around the world, as we speak. We are talking here of intervention and we know Harper is a non-interventionalist with respect to the marketplace. He can't do the job, nor should he be allowed to based on all his fumbling to date. We can't take a chance on a guy in a job who doesn't believe in what he is doing. <BR/><BR/>btw - the conservatives being in power for such a short time cannot claim credit for policies and a banking system that were in place before their arrival. However, they can take credit for going through our surpluses and quite likely, more than likely, leaving us with a massive deficit for this year, and as a result, less prepared financially as a country to deal with the coming storm. <BR/><BR/>The bottom line is they would not be good managers, during these trying times ahead of us, based on their dismal performance to date, and their obvious limitations and handicaps in the area of having the fundamental tools needed to get the job done.<BR/><BR/><BR/>FYI - Your FYI remark on not being a conservative nor a Nazi is duly noted. My apologies. But I do stand by the intent of my remarks, which was that people need to be careful of blindly buying into ideological mindsets. As is what happened in Germany with Hitler.John Princehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05745039414992084651noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31415271.post-25457538825155280832008-12-09T08:48:00.000-07:002008-12-09T08:48:00.000-07:00Thank you Albert and John for your participation a...Thank you Albert and John for your participation and helping people read and appreciate a serious conversation about the future of the country and our democracy.kenchapmanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11384045981190810115noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31415271.post-42330261413162172282008-12-08T17:58:00.000-07:002008-12-08T17:58:00.000-07:00John; what appears to be backwards may depend grea...John; what appears to be backwards may depend greatly on the direction in which you are looking. I prefer to use conventional math which says that more people supported the Conservative party policies in the last election than any other. 38% Conservative, 26% Liberal, 18% NDP and so on. Using the coalitions math one would have to accept that 62% voted against the Conservative platform, 74% against the Liberal platform, 82% against the NDP and so on. You would also have to accept that since Jack Layton received only 47% of the votes in his riding then 53% of his constituents don't support him. Ujjal Dosanjh received only 38.5% of the ballots cast. How can he argue that he speaks on behalf of all of his constituents.<BR/>As for the economy, we are all aware that there is a global slowdown happening and that it will have some negative effects on our economy. Our leading economists and banking sectors all seem to agree that we will not be hit nearly as hard as our neighbours to the south will be. Our economy thankfully is structured much differently than theirs. Our government has made provisions that are already providing a cushion for us. <BR/>The way I see it the responsibility of the government is to govern in a responsible manner so as not to unbalance the economy by over stimulating one sector while hoping to cool another. Keep in mind for every action there is an equal and opposite reaction. That holds true when dealing with the economy.<BR/>Another responsibility of the government is to provide a stable saftey net for those who will unfortunately lose their jobs in the upcoming months. That saftey net is in place now although perhaps some adjustments could be made. Then if there is opportunity to provide responsible economic stimulus to return these people to work it should be done. But to provide unconditional corporate welfare to achieve that goal is irresponsible and in the long run would have a greater negative effect on our economy than letting nature run it's course.<BR/>The coalition didn't have any detailed plans laid out for the economy that I could see. In fact I believe that the economy was used as a smokescreen in order to confuse and disorient Canadians. <BR/>Afterall is is possible to manufacture the impression of a crisis in order to create a panic among people. Human nature dictates that when you are in a panic you will search for a way out and follow any lineup that appears to be moving. Even if the lineup is moving in the wrong direction.<BR/>There are some very crafty and even devious people in all the parties and some will go to great lengths to manufacture a crisis to get attention and ultimately power. In this case the coalition badly miscalculated or followed some very poor advice. <BR/>When the smoke clears don't be afraid to look up and see which direction you are going, maybe, just maybe it's not me that has it backwards. <BR/>Also, FYI, I am not a Conservative party member nor am I a closet Nazi. I consider that statement either desperate or immature.<BR/>Thanks for listening to me.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31415271.post-74421183711097975082008-12-07T11:41:00.000-07:002008-12-07T11:41:00.000-07:00I couldn't disagree with Albert S more. I think he...I couldn't disagree with Albert S more. I think he has it all backwards. This issue is not about Dion and the coalition , it is about how Harper is mismanging the economy with his Laize-faire attitude towards working families who are 'suffering' as we speak, while going full steam ahead and damn the torpedoes with respect to his ideological ambitions. It is about a party with 38% of popular support trying to circumvent the will of the majority (62%). It's about Harper's egomania and hunger for power at any cost... even sacrificing the unity of Canada, while in the midst of an economic crisis. Now that is some kind of leadership, only a closet Nazi could love.John Princehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05745039414992084651noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31415271.post-53668295216651713642008-12-05T13:31:00.000-07:002008-12-05T13:31:00.000-07:00Ken; I see you as being both right and wrong in yo...Ken; I see you as being both right and wrong in your editorial comments. You are correct in saying that Dion has to go and soon. The Liberal party cannot enter another election with him as leader.<BR/>The coalition is likely and should be done. I quite frankly believe that they embarassed themselves far more than they embarassed Mr Harper. Canadians seem to agree also as the polls this morning have the Conservatives with a huge lead in popular support over anyone else.<BR/>I view the coalition leaders in many of the same ways you describe Stephen Harper, cold calculating, deceptive individuals. This coalition was never about good governance or Canadian values, it 's sole purpose was to remove Stephen Harper from office buy any means possible. They fully understand that they could not afford or hope to win via another election.<BR/>I believe it is up to the other parties to work with the Conservatives more than the other way around. It is to be expected that the policies put forth will be mostly of Conservative flavour. And so it should be, that is after all what Canadians voted for.<BR/>If the other parties continue to try and drive the agenda we will have another election very soon.<BR/>You may describe PM Harper in any way that you choose but your words often diminish the credibility in your argument. It makes you appear to be already on the level that you are trying to drag your adversary down to. I've worked with you in the past Ken and I know that you are better than that.<BR/>The Liberal party needs to get it's act together and soon or people like Jack Layton will continue to manipulate and maneuver them.<BR/>Perhaps they need to sit as opposition members a little while longer to learn how to govern effectively again. <BR/>After all a person can be a good leader, only after he has first learned how to be a good server.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com