Today's subject: Demise of the Liberal Party of Canada10/26/2011

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It has been a month since my last blog post. The reason is that I am trying to build a website to replace a proudly displayed http://www.robertgordon.ca page created by Oakes/Ripley of Vancouver. But alas all good things must end and Brian Ripley informed me his company was abandoning  web management and suggested I try to build my own site. A month later with a great deal of help, guidance and advice from Brian I should have a less professional version of my site on line within the next hours or days depending on whether or not I can finally master domain management. Now on to today's political subject.

I was a Liberal party supporter since the 1950's when a friend got me involved in the election campaign of Sudbury's sitting member of parliament pharmacist Roger Mitchell. I don't remember Mitchell doing anything mind bending that would be remembered by voters. Since memory fails I don't believe Mitchell was a stalwart of Liberalism in the city. He probably served in the St. Laurent and maybe even the Pearson government. Mitchell's tenure was unlike a successor past Sudbury mayor Leo Landreville.The former mayor made such a splash in federal politics the Liberals appointed the longtime politician and judge to Canada's senate. But that is another story since the illustrious mayor, judge and political juggernaut was involved in controversy similar in some respects to the Adscam controversy that in effect seriously wounded the party driving it onto life support.

I am now one of the millions of Canadians looking for a political home for my center of right vote. According to long time Liberals still trying to resurrect the old Chretien, Turner, Martin part of the past the infighting is still raging in the hallowed halls of yesteryear where many of the former stalwarts lead by has been former NDP Ontario premier Bob Rae. To most Canadians reviving Liberal fortunes is probably akin to purchasing a winning lottery ticket. Fortune could shine on the party again but the chances are astronomically small.

So where does that leave the voters that are more than reluctant to endorse the ever more right leaning Harper Reform/Conservatives? It is doubtful  those voters will consider the wildly optimistic NDP with their newly acquired Quebec power base. That would be like voting to establish a town site on an iceberg floating past Newfoundland towards the warm waters of the mid Atlantic ocean. It cannot survive. Maybe the solution will come from something like Alberta's Wildrose Party. A group of voters wanting change, (take note of the worldwide protests even in the US) will start a center party challenging the majority Conservative government that appears to have cracks emerging between its hard right and progressive wings. It is conceivable that such a movement would appeal to disenchanted slightly right of center Liberals and some of the more neutral left of center NDP electorate. My be it could be named the Rosy Trillium Party of Canadian Prairies. Maybe the RTCP party. Do you want to donate a buck? 

Publications ~ Robert J. Gordon Author ~ Novelist Columnist Outdoorsman Espanola Ontario

Publications ~ Robert J. Gordon Author ~ Novelist Columnist Outdoorsman Espanola Ontario:

'via Blog this'

Bin Laden planned decline of the American dream is working?

After a two month hiatus it is time to express opinions again for those that followed my blogs over the years. Developing a program for publishing and marketing my novels as affordable indie ebooks over the past few weeks was a herculean chore. Anyone interested in purchasing a well written exciting adventure novel by a Canadian published author will soon be able to access all six of my novels on Amazon.ca by accessing author Robert J. Gordon. A description of the novels can be seen on www.robertgordon.ca

I have been watching the plight of the USA battling recessionary forces and financial terrorism while dealing primarily with the threat from physical terrorism. I was always been tuned in to the North American political scene as a newswspaper owner/publisher, and a myriad of other careers in the private and public sector,  including 14 years as an alien property owner in Florida. I have never witnessed turmoil resulting from such a wide split in American national solidarity. From a distance at least it appears that both sides are inflexible closing the door on compromise. It seems the byword for both political parties, if the media can be believed, is do it our way or suffer the consequences regardless of the eventual outcome. We even have a report in the media in this neighboring nation stating the American religious right recently announced that the storms, earthquakes and other natural disasters plaguing America is a warning from God that the Democrats must be purged from the White House. If I remember Sunday School lessons God if there is such an entity is the savior of all the people regardless of religious affiliation. I don't remember during any in-depth  study of the bible that God supported any political agenda. But the bible is a large complicated record of the peoples of the world and maybe we missed the passage.

With Russia still in mark-time mode, Europe on the verge of political collapse similar to the conditions that spawned the Hitler Nazi movement, China and India expanding population base to such and extent the numbers will be unsustainable, America and its dysfunctional UN allies are about the only hope for G40 nation sustainably. 

Watching the rise of South American nations mostly at the expense of the free world's need for a soaring bottom line at any expense is troubling. Some of us  in Canada watch as the right flexes its recently won majority spinning off our national mining, forestry, and energy sectors formerly co-owned and operated by Canadian/American investors into the hands of foreign ownership in South America and Asia. The side effect of the acquisitions  usually means shipping many management and administrative jobs to other countries while posing control over the way our resources are managed.

With  America in decline as leaders of free enterprise and democracy, is the end of the society built for our children in jeopardy? Did the Bin Laden orchestrated 9-11 attack cripple the American juggernaut as planned? Will Americans consolidate their differences and once more set the example for strength and leadership or will the forces of change and even evil in the minds of some create the circumstances to end the great post World War II industrial experience led by the United States?  If history is any indication all dynasties whether for good or evil eventually fade into oblivion. Is America at the crossroads and will their political differences tearing at  the country's very foundation  succeed in creating the divisions that the terrorists envisioned by attacking the financial stability of the strongest  nation in the world? Are there positive answers to these questions while America divides along political lines? 

A FORMULA FOR LPC SURVIVAL

Good luck Bob Rae on revamping the LPC in the form that drew in Canadian voters and money donations over the years. My personal affiliation with the party began in the late 1950's living in Sudbury Ontario as a young Liberal under the sponsorship of youth leader Bob Marcotte. Our goal and activity was supporting elected candidate and pharmacist Roger Mitchell.

Those were heady days when Liberalism was synonymous with winning elections across the county. I watched with concern over the years as the LPC crumbled and shrank into an eastern Canada powerhouse and then an Ontario/Quebec party with relatively strong support from the maritime provinces, and a little from the far north and British Columbia. The party finally and most recently crumbled under the weight of old time politics, internal infighting, antiquated internal structure, and a feeling Liberals were a privileged people striving to become more affluent.

Most readers will probably decide from the history of my personal Liberalism that the words are a reflection of a former party member dissatisfied with change. That is in effect farthest from the truth. I, like many of former Liberal supporters, feel the time for change is here, while retaining most of the old party workings is a thing of the past. Liberalism is undoubtedly on the precipice of major change or conversely total collapse.

Former supporters, some that stopped donating to the Liberal party years ago, are mostly confused about where to cast a vote or donate to a party. Many moved begrudgingly to the right supporting the only other traditional alternative. Those former supporters changed allegiance with a great deal of hesitation because the new Conservative coalition does not reflect a traditional agenda and the LPC no longer represents the ideals the party faithful believe should be presented to parliament on behalf of voters. Polls would probably reflect that most people over 55, or at least over 65 years of age, would not stop voting simply because a party supported for years is no longer a viable choice.

Enough about criticizing the party when there are possible solutions that should have been instituted years ago. In the cities the way to promote party unity and recover support is simple. Make contact with people. Spread the word that party officials are always available to talk with, and to, the electorate. Begin with a series of low cost ads, flyers, or even social network sites with messages asking for input. Using volunteers to man telephone lines is a good idea during election campaigns and a great way to get in touch with former present and potential party supporters. That doesn’t mean launching a campaign to collect donations although that aspect will follow. The idea is to contact people asking for input on needs to rejuvenate the party. People usually become supporters when asked for input. It is most often automatic as a supporter to become members and donate.

The suggested method for soliciting city members would probably not work in the vast rural and less populated ridings. Candidates and the riding executive must contact voters in the myriad of small cities, towns, villages and even settlements that usually lead to the balance of power. Volunteers in those regions should launch telephone campaigns to promote finding persons interested in supporting a new LCP that is different than either the Reform Conservatives coalition or the surging New Democrats. Fund raising must come later.

Believing the NDP surge is a temporary phenomenon might be an error. It might be surprising to learn that people are not waiting for old style Liberalism to return. Many are temporarily parked with the Harper Conservatives with others in the NDP camp awaiting the emergence of a party more in the idealistic political center.

The key to organizing regions outside the major cities is recruiting new people. One person or preferably a small group in every town, village or settlement is a must. The people solicited as volunteers must be willing to devote time to receiving and distributing regular riding newsletters outlining party decisions and strongly soliciting input on the items under discussion as well as those that local people are discussing.

Continuing riding control and attempting to make past methods work without major changes in communication strategies will not succeed in most ridings. The need for change in supporter ranks will undoubtedly create problems. However if a system is broken the only way to fix it is to install new parts.

Original supporters willing to accept a new direction without imposing riding seniority are a valued asset. The old riding system and most of the party mechanism failed on May 2, 2011 and must be rebuilt from the bottom up. The new party loyalist must monitor the mood for local and federal needs and opinions people want promoted. That can be accomplished through attending local Tim Horton coffee clubs, senior and youth organization meetings together with local volunteer or service organizations and listen to concerns rather than spouting the party line.

Reorganization and rededication is the LPC’s only salvation for a 2015 return to respectability for voter concerns and needs.

A comment on Sudbury Cardiologist Dr. Ron Baigrie's Newspaper column

Dr. Ron Baigrie recently wrote a column in the Sudbury Star titled "Health care needs more scrutiny". The doctor makes some points that should be read by every past present and future patient in every Ontario hospital. Everyone will  eventually  need the  medical services and here are some of the issues the doctor points out in his article.

 No matter what new disaster occurs in our health-care system, people quietly accept it and move on. Every year, 180,000 Canadians suffer an adverse event while in hospital. From 10,000 to 20,000 people die as a result of these errors. People wait months or a year or more for an operation. Hospital emergency departments are bursting with patients waiting hours for care; some of these ERs temporarily close for lack of staff or too many patients. He asks why Canadians are not rioting in the streets over the situation that Cardiologist Ron Baigrie states are facts of life in a recent Sudbury Star newspaper column.

Dr. Baigrie points out that many patients complain to other doctors about treatment received at the hands of health practitioners. He says the reason these people will not complain to the people involved or a higher authority is fear of reprisal. He says that is a situation needing change and points out several instances where those that did speak out were chastised in one way or another. He strongly suggests that people should speak out and even take action to make certain the ‘chill effect” as it is called when people in power threaten or cajole to control a situation.

The health care system to most people on the outside appears far beyond salvation. That is especially true when it comes to capping expenses and ending empire building. The good doctor mentions that the system is a business making it another source of income for corporate and socialistic professionals.

Take into consideration the health care support services organized over recent years to treat people with a variety of health problems. Almost every malady that affects people has a special interest group manned by certified practitioners or social service advocates surrounded by a bureaucracy of highly paid administrative managers and staff. These workers are often hired at above average wages to make certain the people affected receive the proper care while assuring employees feel employment secure. The offered service is usually a need funded by health care dollars that might otherwise be available for keeping people experiencing adverse care healthier or even alive.

Each system whether the Regional Hospital facility, mental health system, long-term care operations or any other health care facility with multi-faceted care systems operate similar to profit making business. However, each service is dependent on government funding (taxpayer money) or donations from highly organized funding organizations often with the same bureaucratic administration structure. Media reports indicate nearly every organization spends lavishly petitioning for more funding annually to meet increase costs to serve patients.

Maybe consideration to sections that are not part of the health care system such as operating the regional hospital parking lots as one example among many should be private sector contracts. The benefit would be relieving the cost of operating parking facilities from affecting healthcare funding. If parking costs rise initially there is always public and commercial transportation if staff, patients and family coming to the hospital find parking too expensive. The current situation would change and probably solve itself if parking lot income declines. Private sector entrepreneurs lower prices to maintain profit levels while institution run facilities simply apply for more funding to offset increased maintenance cost. A parking facility contractor would probably even consider building a multi level facility to increase parking spaces.

Is this speaking out against a system that is functioning primarily to serve the people hired to serve these worthwhile endeavours? Is it a legitimate complaint or simply more rhetoric? Could the system solve the dilemma by hiring a consulting firm to study the issue at the expense of health care dollars encouraging the wheel of perpetual motion to keep grinding out the same results?

The doctor’s “chill effect” will prevail until the system collapses from within since each change or new direction always attracts media attention. Trying to suppress the media is thankfully never successful and the perpetrators of spending without full accountability cannot win the battle. Change will come as noted with the City of Sudbury’s recent $10 million surplus announcement after a declaration that savings could not be found.

  

The plight of the undecided Canadian voter

Many Canadians including this blog writer are still undecided voters. Many of us can’t decide whether to join the NDP surge, toss a lifeline to the drowning  former Liberal juggernaut or simply throw a ballot at the Greens to make certain of registering a vote.

Taken one at a time the Harper Conservative party is probably a Danny Williams famous ABC choice for at least 60 to 65 percent of voters. The Teflon man might have overstepped the cool calculating persona of an acceptable bully. Maybe voters aren’t enthralled with the idea of our political leaders and parties bashing the ideas, suggestions, and family background of opposition politicians. It has always been a strange scenario when discussed by people attending Tim Horton morning coffee sessions.

The polls collapsed once Michael Ignatieff’s team took a page from Stephen Harper’s meanness book lashing out at the opposition and initiating change in Liberal election tradition. Most Canadians must be having a difficult time considering a return to Liberal support after deserting voting in general while at the same time turning away from the party in 2008. The new Liberal strategy of trashing the opposition’s character is uncharacteristic. Attacking a policy or even a program suggestion is legitimate but whoever dreamed up the Ignatieff campaign strategy seemed to forget Canadians are polite to a fault around the world and even more so at home. How can the electorate vote for a party that decides to dispense with ingrained traditional values?

The New Democratic Party is riding a wave of unadulterated optimism. Leader Jack Layton’s dreams, or maybe prayers, are on the verge of becoming reality if the current polls rolling out virtually every day are in the least accurate. Maybe this is the time the polls purportedly accurate 19 times out of 20 are that one time inaccurate. If the polls are correct voters might be about to dictate change and Canada will head in a new direction.

Let’s review voter options. Vote for the Conservatives and get dictatorial reform and a brand new Canada aligned ever closer to the American Republican party ideology. The stock market and corporate profits will probably soar for a time but  likely crash in the near future due to global uncertainty. 

Cast a ballot for the Liberals and get more of the same old, same old, centuries old politics that most municipal and several provincial voters changed in the most recent elections. 

Voting for the NDP will definitely bring about change. It might be disorganized change that will not last more than a year or two. It will undoubtedly cause turmoil leading to change in all political parties from top to bottom including some of the current leaders and fellow candidates.

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Maybe it is time to ignore all the rhetoric and look closely at the local candidates. They are after all the people that will represent us before election #44 raises its ugly head.  Each successful candidate will follow party dictates. The voter’s decision is to determine which one will serve your riding best individually and as a representative of his or her party. It might be worthwhile to try determining if the reason for running is personal or principled.

   

The majority of Canadians  after all that reasoning are likely still undecided  and probably will be until standing in the voting booth with pencil in hand.

    

Election 2011 means birth of the New Democrat Liberal Party

Some things are becoming clear with a week to go until the May 2, 2011 vote. The most glaring is the mired in the past traditional media analysis predicting the outcome. Like the politicians trying to grab one of those faucets (to be polite) that will lead to a comfortable living and retirement after surviving for six years as an elected party faithful, the media is predicting like it is late 20^th or early 21^st century. There seems little doubt that change is the byword for this Canadian federal election.

Ontario municipal voters reflected desire and in many cases instituted change. Provincial elections over the past couple of years found past administrations depending on traditional party politics rejected by voters. That trend should be a sign the voters want something other than the same old, same old federal politics.

Stephen Harper must have known traditional campaigning was on dangerous ground by using fear tactics to discourage voters from considering a merger or coalition of opposition parties in an effort to claim a majority government.  

Michael Ignatieff for all his scholarly intelligence did not realize the old Liberal party is outdated and issued a red book while offering a red door as opposed to a blue door for voters to consider. Unable and unwilling to promote top to bottom change in the way the Liberal party was considering the future will probably lead to the demise of both Ignatieff and the staid old Liberal party.  

Jack Layton appears to have struck a chord with the electorate as NDP numbers soar ahead in pre-election polls. The surge in social votes confused scribes and analysts trying to predict the vote outcome. Layton’s NDP are likely temporarily benefiting from voter disgust with attack ads, elementary school style bullying tactics and attempts to manipulate voters by other parties. Voters by telling pollsters votes are changing seem likely sending a message for change.

The most likely outcome will be a series of changes. The media will undoubtedly decided  the army of bureau chiefs, senior reporters, pollsters and analysts on payroll can be replaced when election results are far different than the steam of election information offered the viewing public.

Another change will undoubtedly be the several decades old, and in some cases century old,      party system. Whether the Harper Conservatives win a majority or minority of votes change is coming to opposition parties. Canadians will probably witness the merging of a New Liberal Democrat party from the ashes, with the Bloc Quebecois dying a slow political death. The Conservatives must either become a part of the new structure or disappear as changes take hold.

Why would Canada be immune while the entire world is witnessing unexpected and unheralded change? China, India and the developing world are driving change as industrial nation try to diversify and remain affluence in the face of the revolution. Canadian voters recognize the need for planning, research and development while politicians seem to be trying to keep the status quo while holding back that needed change.

It is like reading a good novel that doesn’t divulge the ending until the last chapter is over. That final chapter will be the May 2, 2011 election results.