tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31415271.post8875063731292483936..comments2023-09-22T06:22:50.820-06:00Comments on Ken Chapman: Honesty in Politics: Oxymoron or Obligation?kenchapmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11384045981190810115noreply@blogger.comBlogger9125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31415271.post-69167128334731498722011-02-27T06:06:53.430-07:002011-02-27T06:06:53.430-07:00Well I guess the Anonymous decided to say somethin...Well I guess the Anonymous decided to say something after all. I agree with what you say and I believe most Canadians do but I just have some bad news for you - The apathetic true murderers of our society and democracy, the ones that sit at the back and allow this to happen are all of us. We chose to let them run the show and the results are obvious. By the way the Klein years were as bad or worse except that he was showered with money and played the Santa Klaus card. It is easy to pretend to govern when the cheque book is fat.Carlos Becanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31415271.post-50754581047102728352011-02-25T14:14:38.742-07:002011-02-25T14:14:38.742-07:00Ken, we have gotten fat and complacent and learned...Ken, we have gotten fat and complacent and learned since the Klein years to accept the lowered bar of mediocrity from our leaders. We have become conditioned to believe that if we seek transparency, truth and justice, that we are socialists or LW nuts. We have gotten used to not questioning, we have gotten used to not having open discussions and attrition of intelligence and solution finding. Stelmach's crew is a prime example of non-transparency, dishonesty, inaccountability and plain old ineptness.<br /><br />Politics is all about money. There are little if any that actually run to make a true differnce for the betterment of mankind and society, those ones usually get punted or tossed and blackballed, because it is not normal here to be honest and have a sincere desire to table real solutions to our problems.<br /><br />99% of politicians are political deadwood, opportunists, users, liars, puffballers and just want to be around long enough to get that coveted pension on the backs of Joe Taxpayer.<br /><br />The real opportunistic politicians are the quiet ones, the ones in the back that never speak out for society, because they are always willing to go along to keep their salary and potential of promotions. These apathetic ones are the true murderers of our society and democracy.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31415271.post-71073386017895895492011-02-25T09:23:22.516-07:002011-02-25T09:23:22.516-07:00These Anonymous cowards cannot even have a respect...These Anonymous cowards cannot even have a respectful discussion with us naive progressives. You are the one who has to grow up you idiot.Carlos Becanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31415271.post-49238883409142295962011-02-24T21:50:56.527-07:002011-02-24T21:50:56.527-07:00LoL. You naive progressives actually believe in po...LoL. You naive progressives actually believe in politicians?<br /><br />Geez, grow up and get a life!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31415271.post-24605584820827339172011-02-24T20:19:48.957-07:002011-02-24T20:19:48.957-07:00Amazing that we define ourselves a democracy since...Amazing that we define ourselves a democracy since 1867 and in 2011 we are still debating honesty in politics! Not difficult to realize what kind of democracy we have. The question of honesty should be a matter of fact and if our politicians do not understand it, they should be fired and in some cases put in prison just like the rest of us. Debating this is a just a sign of how much we are willing to accept dishonesty in our lives. This also tells a lot about us. Of course we do not walk on the streets for this amazing abuse of power politicians display daily but that is only because we really convinced ourselves that we are a great democracy. It is easy to accept mediocrity when we ourselves have lower standards of honesty and democracy. Due to our economic system we are willing to accept lower political standards to accommodate what the system needs to thrive.Carlos Becanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31415271.post-2615017457678608232011-02-24T05:49:05.803-07:002011-02-24T05:49:05.803-07:00"information that belongs to us is being held..."information that belongs to us is being held captive, and too many people are siding with the captors."<br /><br />Wow. I like that!<br /><br />Be forewarned... I'm gonna use it!<br /><br />ThanksBerry Farmerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03447299342398591508noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31415271.post-56932532544393773822011-02-23T19:13:52.508-07:002011-02-23T19:13:52.508-07:00Ken, you're bang on...now in addition to hones...Ken, you're bang on...now in addition to honesty, accountability and integrity, governments must also realize that the electorate is not a bunch of mindless sheep. Transparency is critical in order to understand what the government is doing and more importantly, why. The recent controversy over the government's refusal to release an expert report on whether woodland cariboo should be designated as endangered is a prime example. Yes, the ultimate decision to not to designate the species as endangered rests with the goverment, but no, this doesn't mean that they can refuse to release the report or be accountable for their decision. That's called transparency. Without transparency there is no trust.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31415271.post-26473191083579439882011-02-23T15:47:40.723-07:002011-02-23T15:47:40.723-07:00All of your comments, I would say, are applicable ...All of your comments, I would say, are applicable to most provinces and certainly to all federal parties. I sometimes think that the reason we are so complacent, unlike the brave citizens in the Middle East who are risking their lives for a principle they think sacred, democracy, is that we have enough 'baubles' to keep us distracted and indifferent to the issues that really should matter, such as integrity of public office holders.<br /><br />That being said, we also know that most people don't want to be confronted with the fact that Canadian programs and values cannot be protected without a personal cost, i.e., taxes. They seem to prefer to listen to the mindless rhetoric of the right-wing, be it Rob Ford in Toronto or Tim Hudak in Ontario who like to talk about 'stopping the gravy train' and finding 'new efficiencies, tired and empty phrases left over from the Mike Harris era here,Lornehttp://politicsanditsdiscontents.blogspot.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31415271.post-31966249688946100042011-02-23T10:16:14.510-07:002011-02-23T10:16:14.510-07:00The problem is that Canadians are suffering from a...The problem is that Canadians are suffering from a <a href="http://wp.me/pDJ8-uc" rel="nofollow">form of Stockholm Syndrome</a>. Information that belongs to us is being held captive, and too many people are siding with the captors. There is thus no threat of punishment for liars and corrupt governments, they simply grow more powerful as more people sympathize with the liars and hiders.Saskboyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13258259356749068135noreply@blogger.com