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.  

  

Vote for whom in the Canadian election?

All the independent uncommitted voters attending a candidates meeting last night in our riding discovered every candidate regardless of party affiliation would follow the party line. All the hopefuls boasted that if elected, or in the case of the NDP reelected, the party line and party decisions will be influenced by the federal party  policies. Every candidate answered the question of whether the constituent wishes or party direction would take precedents when voting on issues affecting local concerns. Each claimed indignantly that the wishes of constituents would come first with reservations. It was at least a mass admission that party politics has and always will trump local concerns.

Now with less than three weeks to Election Day pundits and analysts wonder why voter turnout is so low in Canada. The reason is obvious. Elections, particularly the 2011 campaign, is that after spending another $300 million, or probably more, politicians can fight a campaign meant only for politicians. The inconvenience of having to cater to voters does stand in the way to a small degree. For the most part, though, dedicated party supporters together with a few angry activists are the only people attending and listening to the rhetoric at these so-called public meetings.

It is difficult to understand how a man like Jack Layton after leading the NDP for almost a decade as the third party opposition leader can claim to be expecting to become Prime Minister. The conversation must be different behind closed doors of the party war room. Party politics is so secretive the NDP could be working to close in on the Liberal seat numbers, and then propose a merger where NDP members hold some cabinet posts. That is one scenario if the two parties are part of another Conservative minority government. It would be a simple matter early in the new session to upset a CPC minority and ask the Governor General to give the NDP/Liberal merger an opportunity to govern. Maybe that is the reason Stephen Harper seems so terrified of a coalition upsetting his bid to remain Prime Minister. The Bloq Quebecois or BQ might not become a factor thereby ruling out the coalition factor.

The Liberals seem to be flailing around in political confusion. The years in power, charges and disclosures of frauds and political favoritism for friends, seems to have annihilated the party as a serious contender to return as the ruling party. Michael Ignatieff seems like an intelligent, likable, educator but shy on the ability, as today’s political leaders must, to insult, degrade and accuse opponents of wrongdoing. Ignatieff would probably have been better as a Governor General than the leader of a major opposition party in serious decline.

The Canadian Conservative Party led by Stephen Harper is everything Canadians traditionally abhor. Accused and often proven an untruthful government with the tenancy to superimpose ideas on the opposition, public service and the public, the Harperites appear as a frightening new identity on the political scene that most Canadians fear. The Conservatives can so far win a large enough portion of the votes to win minority government status. They bully, threaten, employ secretive tactics, manipulate parliament, destroy the careers of civil servants opposing their direction, and keep losing the respect Canada forged on the world stage. For the 60% TO 65% of Canadians that either do not vote or support other parties, the Harper Conservatives are a frightening new dimension in Canadian politics. Many and probably a majority of voters will likely shy away from giving Stephen Harper the coveted majority needed to implement monumental irreversible change.

So as voters where do we caste that all-important vote? Not one eligible voter should refuse to take the time to vote as television screens fill with people rioting, protesting and dying for just an opportunity for a free vote. On May 3, 2011 will Canada have more of the same bickering and political name-calling, a majority Conservative government or a merger of the left leaning Liberal/NDP candidates governing for the four or five years? The choice is up to you the voter.

The lethargy of the 2011 Canadian election.

I seldom write ‘My Canada’ on Bob’s Blog as a first person essay. Most articles are hopefully balanced issues with the content well researched. That is not to say each essay will be to the liking of every reader. I am at different times accused of being anti-Conservative, anti-Liberal, anti NDP, ignoring the Bloq or Greens and even anti-God I suppose if the reader’s God happens to be a political leader or supporter of the military.

I don’t believe in irrational political support or war. I do support defending my home, family and way of life from attack even it means supporting police or military action after all negotiating for a solution is exhausted. I do not believe in preemptive military strikes such as the US invasion of Iraq, continuing conflicts in Afghanistan and Libya. I believe there are better solutions to both than creating a living hell for the people affected using bombings, missile strikes and clandestine military action by both sides.

It is easy for North Americans to feel sympathy in the short term for the millions affected before turning off the realization that many are dying needlessly while letting others take care of the problem.  Most important, those surviving these ‘wars’ are learning to hate and will turn that hatred against the ‘enemy’ regardless of which side appears to have won the conflict  after some sort of solution is finally reached.

That brings us to a loving and forgiving God. Really?

The theme of this essay is not to preach the benefits of military actions that are undeclared war. It is to discuss the current political turmoil generated by some politicians trying to retain or gain the power to rule Canada on behalf of a political party. Like 85% of Canadians (according to one statistic I read) the current election is a waste of $300 million not about to make much of a difference regardless of the outcome. The cost is only one-third that of the country’s recent G-8/G30 chaos creating the arrest and imprisonment of innocent bystanders simply for viewing the proceedings.

The two main parties are unprepared to discuss issues, change, or plans for the future aside from the same old recycled promises. Is it any wonder half the eligible voters don’t turn out to vote when the minority government is defeated after the majority toppled the ruling party with contempt of parliament charges that didn't become a major election issue.

Why would voters be interested in rewarding any politician with something as cherished as our vote to support a political party using the national police force to keep young people with opposing political views from attending a party rally? That all-important vote should not support any party allowing a white supremacist or a person stating publicly sexual abuse is not serious under some circumstances.

For Canada’s political system to survive major change must happen. Worldwide television viewers are beginning to see change happening in provincial, municipal and international jurisdictions. The Provincial Wildrose party surfaced recently In Conservative Alberta. The traditional Liberal/Conservative political slugfest for the small majority of voters coming out to the polls In Ontario will probably encounter problems and maybe even challenges during the upcoming October election. Quebec politics are undergoing the biggest change since the 1995 referendum. Recent municipal elections in Ontario began giving an entire new slate of candidates a mandate to reverse the hallmark old-man style politics of previously elected councils.
  

All over the world from Great Britain, to Russia, China, Africa, and the Mid East to mention only a few places where people are massing and in some cases sacrificing lives to protest traditional governing. Can Canada be far from seeing the same major upheaval heralding change of its outdated political system where the rich want to hold on positions of often-unearned property and prestige?  

Canada's Election 2011 and a coalition government

The 41st election is underway in Canada. Canadians average an election approximately every two years in the decades beginning in 2000 opposed to the four year terms offered a majority government by law. That brings up the politician’s hated deadlock called minority government.

The political parties might hate minority government,  but it seems an acceptable state for governing according to voters. Without any of Canada’s three main political parties able to garner enough votes to form a majority government, a coalition of parties might be the answer.

Stephen Harper and the new Conservative Government  in fact is a coalition. The current party results from a coalition of the former Progressive Conservative Party of Canada with the Reform Party led by Stephen Harper. The Coalition formed after an agreement between Harper and PC leader Peter McKay whereby some PC members of the coalition became Harper government cabinet ministers. Political coalitions are a fact in Canada since even the Progressive Conservative Party was a coalition of the Progressive and Conservative parties. 

A coalition of the Liberal Party of Canada and the New Democratic Party might be a disappointment to diehard party supporters. Canadian voters on the other hand might want to consider such a change if the current election ends in another minority government stalemate. The country appears weary of the partisan political wrangling between parties keeping the country from looking forward rather than marking time in past traditions awaiting the next collapse of government.

The Bloc of course is always a factor in Canadian elections and tends to create the perfect atmosphere for continued minority governments. If another minority election results in the Harper dreaded coalition of the Liberals and NDP the merger would change the face of Canadian politics  forever bringing about  a new Canadian political party. A taste for new parties is the scenario most frightening to the all old established Canadian political parties since it is already a reality  with the birth of the Alberta Wildrose Party. 

The new party would undoubtedly force the Bloc to change tactics after probably losing leader Gilles Duceppe to the provincial political scene. The more or less conservative leaning Bloc could lose some support in Quebec if the coalition creates a new left of center party with a dedicated voter base.

Regardless of the outcome of Canada’s current election the country will either become more politically conservative or move farther to the center-left with a coalition of the two current left leaning parties.

As the world turns...the Young and Restless...send opponents to General Hospital

The above title is not exactly a political addict attention catcher, but it might attract the attention of soap opera followers that need to become aware of the changing world. The current deposing of some of the world’s longest reining dictator-despots is history making. It isn’t that the world might change, it will change and the lifestyle North Americans and for that matter most people in the western hemisphere enjoys is about to become unrecognizable. Predicted food shortages unaffordable gasoline for our vehicles and escalating costs in every sector of the economy tell an untold story.

Solar flare happening as we continue our daily existence might not have much impact. That is for science to determine. The, uprisings, wars and instability in the Mid-East will have an impact and political leaders already know the expected outcome. In other words, how can people massing in the streets throwing rocks and carrying wooden clubs suddenly have rifles over their collective shoulders and challenge heavily armed soldiers loyal to the regimes without outside help? Will the insurrection topple only the handful of dictatorships with some of the Arabian oil supplies the entire world depends upon or will it eventually encompass Saudi Arabia and that nation’s strategic oil resources. Much is probably going on behind the scenes that the public watching the new multi-faceted media is not aware is happening. Maybe Mother Nature and angry pulsing sun flares will change the direction of history differently than humankind imposing inhumanities upon less powerful citizens of the planet. If religious doctrines are correct, God will put an end to man’s pursuit of the good things in life for the elite with divine intervention. What would be a better way for a supreme power to create a display of anger than to using the power of the sun? Maybe people should remember what the bible says about what happened in Sodom and Gomorrah.

Getting back to reality, what about the need for every level of government to control spending and reduce deficits. One method raising its ugly head is an all-out attack on unionized workers and accumulated benefits from health care to retirement pensions of all unionized workers. Many American states are already battling unionized employees from police officers to firefighters and teachers by reducing employment figures with massive layoffs. The need for reduced spending according to news reports is affecting the average person’s security let alone the future of their children with class sizes doubling and in some cases tripling.

We don’t have to go as far as the United States to find similarities happening or about to happen in Canada. The City of Toronto wants to declare transit workers an essential service. Legal action would then bring bus, streetcar and subway workers under control in the event of a strike. It is difficult to believe that unions would agree to contract concessions without a major fight breaking out between the union and politicians.

The control of transit workers is only the thin edge of the issue. Macleans magazine recently announced the Ontario Government is considering reducing the province’s civil service by 1000 jobs. The magazine article states the number is one-eighteenth of the 180,000 civil servants hired since the Liberals came to power in the province. Where will the money come from to pay the wages and lucrative benefits to the other 179,000 newly hired employees while full-filling election promises bound to come once the October 2012 election nears?

The issues mentioned are only the tip of the iceberg floating in the seas of debt the entire world faces if news reports are true.

Canada stands still while the world changes

The world is changing and Canada is standing still watching history evolve. The reason is without a doubt that the government wants to cater to major corporations after getting away with losing of billions of shareholder dollars during the 2006 recession. Wanting to support the corporate greed is not all bad according to the free world’s influential media since only when the stock markets soar do jobs multiply. The scenario is undoubtedly the vicious circle that it appears to be.

The corporate sector wants to Globalize. Globalization is attractive to both have-not and developing nations because it allows access to the resources and services of developed nations like Canada. Globalization also allows unprecedented profit for investing in the resource, manufacturing and technology sectors of a developed economy.

Greed is the undisputed motivation for globalization that will lead to more unrest as reported at the cost of many lives in the Arab world. In the Middle East and Northern Africa nations enduring years of dictatorship face rebellion. It can only end with a significant loss of life and unexpected, even unheralded change. Can we do anything more than watch, wonder and maybe worry as that part of the world changes so dramatically?

The Canadian media appears mired in indecision as to its role in the modern world. As major newspapers die a slow death many respected journalists seem to be allowing payoffs such as pensions, appointments, and fringe benefits for following the party line supplant opposition to injustice. An example is the February 28th 2011 issue of Canada’s Macleans news magazine. The lead unaccredited editorial disputes the reasoning of hundreds of thousands of Canadians petitioning the elected minority government to reverse the decision of the Canadian Radio Television Commission (a government supported regulatory body) allowing major corporations to increase the cost of internet usage to the average user. The editorial argues it is unfair that internet use will not allow price increases making certain investors realize the highest possible returns. The former Ontario Hydro is a good example of runaway pricing leading to high costs. The Ontario government added the unpaid cost of past indebtedness to current invoicing after spending user money without regard to consequences. The consumer does not have a choice since the utility can practice the pay up or do without philosophy..

Maclean’s national editor followed the internet user column with another article titled “Why Canada has nothing to fear but itself” espousing support for Canadian resource and services takeover in the name of globalization. The writer criticizes government for not allowing the potash industry to fall into foreign ownership after Canadians and the Saskatchewan government reacted to the takeover attempt. The editor then gives full support to the merger of Canada’s premier stock market with the London Stock market  justifying the merger by stating smaller provincial stock markets would still be around. Common sense dictates that the lesser markets would become less attractive to investors once the country’s major market and its investors are  conducting the nation’s financial business offshore.

There is little doubt Rogers Media and its publishing subsidiary influences the neutrality of its major editorialists. It is difficult to argue that large salaries and skyrocketing investment income doesn’t offset personal belief that might need stating. The people of Canada have lost a great deal of say in governing the country now that the ruling party’s deep money pockets are used to determine the next form of government ruling the country by insighting hatred of an opposition leader. Can the Mid East scenario be far from happening in Canada?

Meaning of a Canadian Conservative election victory

Harper’s Conservative minority government wants to destroy opposition party funding while imposing rising gas and food prices by stimulating the dollar and selling off natural resources. They are committing to buy unaffordable fighter jets without competitive bids to appease America’s need for more firepower. Add right wing ideology disgruntling 65% of voting Canadians by decreasing corporate tax levels and continuing to fight a losing war in Afghanistan. With France, Ireland, Tunisia, Morocco and Egypt citizenry openly defying the police and army guns Canadians could face the same scenario to depose dictatorial edicts including possibly the right to object through media coverage and editorial commentary. The Supreme Court already influenced by partisan Conservative appointments recently struck down to some degree the right of the media to protect sources.

Clearly libelous attack ads against the integrity of the main opposition leader, supposedly only taking erroneous quotes out of context, are another worrisome happening changing protection of the masses from overt government power. Hopefully and upcoming Federal election will keep the Conservatives from assuming power and turning democratic Canada into a third world type dictatorship. It would even be an improvement if Harper fails to win his majority and the opposition parties formed the dreaded left coalition. Change is happening everywhere and change will come to Canada’s Federal political scene.

Canada is experiencing the same right wing ideology that Ontario experienced and suffered from after Mike Harris and the Conservatives decimated the province using many of the same ideological theories with the same destructive political gang led by Flaherty, Baird and others in the Harper cabinet control . The power of the vote unless compromised by the people seeking fully unopposed power can stop the onslaught and keep Canada from becoming the next nation with international media tracking crowds on the street opposing police and the military. If Canadians think the same scenario cannot happen here just recall the G20 fiasco last summer when Harper’s party implemented the jailing of 1000 citizens without cause (or charges) for demonstrating? Harper and his government proved beyond any doubt that ordering the police and military to control Canadians opposed to the party’s rule and right wing philosophy would happen.

When parliament opens on Monday January 24th the stage will be set. The Conservatives will again attempt to take power. Watch closely as the majority Conservatives try gain a majority. It could be the last election for a long time in Canada. Remember Harper used prorogation to retain power. He will do even more if given the opportunity to change Canada while exploiting our strengths as a nation.

Conservative or left coalition Canada?

I usually blog on my site at least every month with comments that I hope people read. I find the blog a great forum for getting my opinions read even if my readership is an unknown quantity. Writing community newspaper editorials and other opinion pieces for more than 20 years, having this forum is both healthy and satisfying. That said let’s make some pointed comments with respect to the political scene internationally, south of the border and here at home.

It seems most Canadians and Americans want to change the politics that gave both nations a standard of living surpassing all but the richest people in other nations. The discontent is not surprising when the fact that those making the laws and taxing the masses are more intent on retaining power and their own above normal financial positions rather than trying to improve society. Once exploiting of those in other nations begins, it does not take long for the people wanting more riches to begin exploiting their own people. North American leaders seem to be following a recipe for disaster making the rich richer at the expense of the middle class. Most have forgotten that you must give to take or those not getting a fair share will begin to look for a better government.

News reports following the unrest bubbling up all over the globe is worrying. Upheaval in Egypt, the Ivory Coast, Tunisia, Sudan, Morocco with bombings in Iraq, Iran, Pakistan, Afghanistan to mention just a few of the world’s trouble spots makes the Apocalypse 2012 seem more possible. How many times even in the lifetime of people reading this blog has there been a prediction that the world is ending. Will humankind realize the end is here when and if it finally comes? Is the current rash of wars, terrorism and brutality of man for the sake of money or religion new? Alternatively, is the perchance for modern instant communication making it sound like the world is more violent than during other times of war and terrorism?

The world does seem to be in the throes of change with riots, suppression, poverty and lawlessness prevalent in many formerly stable countries. People basking in the luxury of affluence are ready to suppress the less fortunate in the same manner that happened throughout history. There will be more bloodshed and maybe even change in the way most people survive as the unrest heightens. That result is an ongoing fact of living on the planet. Man does not learn from experience. We increase our knowledge and struggle to overpower those living in squalor rather than working to learn how to share the new inventions and life experiences with the less fortunate. That sounds like a preacher or religious fantastic but today many learned people don’t even believe in religion. God possibly, but not religion after studying the way religion exploits the poor and often helpless for the benefit of those seeking riches. Those in power throughout history often t enforce an alien way of life of those not really wanting change.

Enough philosophy since only future history will reveal if humankind can change the way the world lives with nation pitted against nation hoping the future will unfold as it always has in the past.

In Canada, will Stephen Harper and the Canadian Conservative alliance finally gain control of one of the world’s most resource rich nations? Alternatively, will the coalition of left leaning parties unite under a single banner to chase the Harperites back into opposition? The answers will likely surface within the next few months as Canada goes to the polls again to elect another government for the third time in five years. Polls indicate another minority government might happen creating a coalition of parties to govern similar to what is happening almost elsewhere in the democratic world. Stay tuned to hear the political screaming that is simply a voice of the political animals wanting to remain or gain power. Harper can’t seem to win a majority, the antique Liberal party is in shambles and the NDP hasn’t a chance of governing. Isn’t that the recipe needed for a drastic change in Canadian politics?