CalgaryGrit: Everything You Always Wanted To Know About The Census (But Were Afraid To Ask)
Here is one of the most comprehensive and compelling blog post I have seen on the census fiasco. Well worth a read.
Showing posts with label Census. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Census. Show all posts
Saturday, July 24, 2010
Monday, July 19, 2010
Congratulations James Rajotte MP On Your Stand for the Long-form Census
Here is why I like James Rajotte and think he is one of the quality Conservative MPs we have, and for my money, the best Conservative MP in Alberta. He will pay a price for this breaking ranks from the Prime Minister's Office position on the long form census. But isn't that what representative democracy is supposed to be all about?
Isn't good public policy supposed to emerge from a robust and informed public discussion of the issues by Canadians? Are we not supposed to be able to assume we can then depend on a public policy decision to be taken that is based on evidence and the applied practical wisdom from those to whom we grant our consent to govern us. Anyone in Canada seen that happen much lately, especially since Harper has been in power?
The scary top down command and control unilateral politically motivated decision making by Prime Minister Harper is wrong, reckless and abusive - especially to his Cabinet and Caucus. It is no good governance and no way to run a country, especially one like Canada. There are stronger words that get used in private by many Canadians when reflecting on the political style of Mr. Harper, including fascist. I think that is a little strong but one starts to wonder the more we see how he actually operates and behaves with the levers of power.
Harper's position on the census means we institutionalize ignorance about much of what we need to know about who we are as a people in this country. Such institutionalized ignorance and refusal to allow Canadians to become informed leaves Harper the political room to ignore facts and impose even more of his own beliefs on the country. He could then be more reckless and abusive with his political power, and do so with even great impunity from his duty to serve the greater public interest instead of his own personal political aspirations.
We need an election in this country sooner than later. We need to make some real changes as citizens and voters in how we want our democracy to work in our interests and not just for the interests that serve the Prime Minister's agenda.
Isn't good public policy supposed to emerge from a robust and informed public discussion of the issues by Canadians? Are we not supposed to be able to assume we can then depend on a public policy decision to be taken that is based on evidence and the applied practical wisdom from those to whom we grant our consent to govern us. Anyone in Canada seen that happen much lately, especially since Harper has been in power?
The scary top down command and control unilateral politically motivated decision making by Prime Minister Harper is wrong, reckless and abusive - especially to his Cabinet and Caucus. It is no good governance and no way to run a country, especially one like Canada. There are stronger words that get used in private by many Canadians when reflecting on the political style of Mr. Harper, including fascist. I think that is a little strong but one starts to wonder the more we see how he actually operates and behaves with the levers of power.
Harper's position on the census means we institutionalize ignorance about much of what we need to know about who we are as a people in this country. Such institutionalized ignorance and refusal to allow Canadians to become informed leaves Harper the political room to ignore facts and impose even more of his own beliefs on the country. He could then be more reckless and abusive with his political power, and do so with even great impunity from his duty to serve the greater public interest instead of his own personal political aspirations.
We need an election in this country sooner than later. We need to make some real changes as citizens and voters in how we want our democracy to work in our interests and not just for the interests that serve the Prime Minister's agenda.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)