I’ve never been a big Jack Layton fan: I would never buy a used car from him … even if he gave me his word that it was owned by only by a preacher’s widow in Weyburn .. and it was.
He just doesn’t come across like an Ed Broadbent or Stephen Lewis.
And judging by election results, time after time, millions of other Canadians feel much the same way. After all, the party platform is progressive in many ways and sympathetic to working families, snmall business, seniors and the poor … but the NDP today federally gets almost nowhere in the polls.
But now Layton and the NDP have a chance to shine.
By preventing Liberal Leader Michael Ignatieff’s opportunistic attempt to send Canadians into a $300 million Fall election campaign!
Jack, Canadians do NOT want an election right now.
No matter that you have constantly chided and derided Ignatieff for propping up Stephen Harper and the Tories’ minority government in the past … and vowed the NDP would not do that. (We all know politicians don’t always stand by what they say).
Never mind that you have been too willing and almost enthusiastic about entering into a coalition with the Bloc Quebecois who really DO want to destroy Canada as we know it. (Politicians often do deals with the Devil, if it will enhance their own chance of gaining some power.)
Forget the fact that many Canadians see you much like Ignatieff … a political opportunist more than a statesman.
Jack, NOW you really do have a chance to REALLY SHINE.
Stop the Fall election folly! Stand up for calm; support domestic peace; and silence the election starting gun … at least until Spring.
Sure, squeeze some concessions from Harper … why not: that’s how minority governments work … and can do so quite effectively for quite some time on behalf of ordinary Canadians. (Sometimes even better than majority governments, which are basically dictatorships.)
But Canadians will appreciate the NDP saving us from that unwanted vote: and you, Jack, will almost look statesmanlike.
Maybe some will analyse the real reasons the NDP don’t want to go now …. the cost to the party for an election and the fear that a really upset electorate just could give Harper a majority, and where would you and your party end up then?
But don’t worry, Jack. Most Canadians will support your reasons (any excuse will do) to prop up Harper right now.
Let us get through Christmas, winter and then in the Spring, you can finally pull the plug (I’m sure you’ll be able to find lots of excuses for doing that), and send us off to vote …and maybe even get more voter support for sparing us the exercise now.
Harv Oberfeld
17 responses so far ↓
1 Gary L. // Sep 15, 2009 at 12:09 am
“But Canadians will appreciate the NDP saving us from that unwanted vote: and you, Jack, will almost look statesmanlike”.
Ha, ha, ha, Harv! Glad to see that you still have your sense of humour!
2 DMJ // Sep 15, 2009 at 1:29 am
Yes, Harvey Canadians don’t want a fall election. All the major political parties have failed to entice the Canadian voter and each party needs to do a major rethink.
Harper, Iggy, and Layton have vast egos and will not accept what the Canadian voter wants, a political leader that will work for them, not just the unions, corporate Canada or special interest groups.
Sadly there is absolutely no change in the wind.
3 wstander // Sep 15, 2009 at 2:10 am
I’m not so sure “we” are all opposed to another federal election, but I am damn sure lots of people would like to have a BC provincial election this year.
(Response: Some would like it next week. h.o.)
4 Dave W // Sep 15, 2009 at 2:28 am
Bring on the election Jack. The sooner the better
If five Roberto Luongo contracts (minus a couple of Sundin half-seasons) is too expensive for democracy–as imperfect as it is– in a country as wealthy as ours, then let’s just contract out the government out to Accenture.
Think of the savings!
5 Patrick Bell (Not the MLA) // Sep 15, 2009 at 2:29 am
Amen Harvey! Now lets hope Jack is well verse at using the internet to google his name under the blog tag to find this article
6 Norman Farrell // Sep 15, 2009 at 3:16 am
“He just doesn’t come across like an Ed Broadbent or Stephen Lewis.”
And, about those guys, people said, “Each was no Tommy Douglas!”
I’ll take a minority government anytime. We’d be much better off with one in Victoria. Premiers cannot act with dictatorial powers and must pay attention to consensus building.
(Response: Good point on Douglas. My how things have changed politically ..from Douglas and Pearson and yes, even Trudeau to what we are offered now. h.o.)
7 genuine // Sep 15, 2009 at 4:53 am
This is the way democracy is supposed to work or not , they just won’t accept what the people voted for a minority Govt. They’ll keep bringing it back until they get the result they want ,at three hundred million a show a show!Exactly what they say the new EI program is going to cost when the final cost of all these elections are final!
8 Powell river persuader // Sep 15, 2009 at 5:02 am
Bring on the election, it`s the best stimulus package out there,we will get promised the sun,the moon and a new ocean,all those things we will never see….
But,an election costs $300 million dollars, money spent on poll clerks, and other staff to run the election,what better way to give tens of thousands of people a pay cheque?
Besides that reason, I`m waiting for Lizzy May to move to Canada`s most northern riding after losing in Canada`s most western riding.
Cheers-Eyes Wide Open
9 Powell river persuader // Sep 15, 2009 at 5:11 am
Hey Harv, Can you picture Lizzy May chewing on whale blubber wearing a seal fur coat? I can….
Anything for a seat in Ottawa!
(Response: No … don’t think she would do that for a HofC seat. Senate? I’m not so sure.
h.o.
Cheers
10 Lynn // Sep 15, 2009 at 6:28 am
Hey!
I would rather have a provincial election.
By the way, all federal parties have acknowledged that an increase in taxes would be polictical suicide. Campbell, you listening, paying attention?
I agree, I’m not interested in a federal election. What is with these Liberals. Are they bloody deaf?
11 Crankypants // Sep 15, 2009 at 7:31 am
First of all, I wouldn’t buy a new car from any of the four leaders, five if you count Elizabeth May. They are all so disingenuous that to trust any of them would be a gigantic leap of faith.
I’ve come to the conclusion that the political party is the biggest detriment to democracy in Canada, BC and pretty much anywhere else. Unfortunately, I am also very much aware that this will not change anytime soon.
Maybe what we need as an incentive is entice our politicians to do what they were elected to do, which is give us good governance, or to exclude all sitting MPs from being eligible to run in the next election if they cannot find their way clear to finish the term they were elected for. I guarantee that the posturing would be curtailed and the incumbents would find a way to make things work.
Maybe we need a Canadian charter created by Canadian citizens rather than by politicians. We citizens have been relegated to the back of the bus for far too long. We are only important during an election then a hindrance until the next election. We are only a means to their end, which is not my definition of democracy.
12 Jean // Sep 15, 2009 at 9:08 am
Hi,
You say “…after all the (NDP) party platform is progressive in many ways and sympathetic to working families, small business, seniors and the poor…”. Sounds just like what this country needs, especially in B.C. after 8 years of B.C. Liberals’ neglect. No more corporate welfare, tax evasion and main stream media corruption. Enough is enough. You have helped me decide who I will be voting for next time, both provincially and federally. As for the remainder of your blog I think most people agree that all parties do the same. Campbell is a carbon copy of Harper.
(Response: Of course, the NDP is not perfect either … federally or provincially. I don’t like what I see as their “head in the sand” foreign affairs policies; their BC weaknesses in appealing to the vast majority of the middle class etc etc. Times are really tough for those in the center looking for a party in the center. h.o.)
13 A. G. Tsakumis // Sep 15, 2009 at 4:31 pm
Great post, Harv.
“Times are really tough for those in the center looking for a party in the center.”
Truer words were never spoken…
(Response: Thanks, Alex. I think the problem is funding: the huge corporate sector and the rich (and aspiring rich) funds the Libs, who cater to them, not the taxpayers; blue collar individuals and unions fund the NDP; what is needed is a much more active middle class and small business power lobby funding a middle of the road alternative. But that sector is traditionally HUGELY non-active .. and end up paying the price for that, regardless of which major party forms government. h.o.)
14 Dan R. // Sep 15, 2009 at 8:26 pm
I guess the BQ stole their thunder…The BQ will be supporting Harpers ways and means bill Friday.
So does that mean Harper is working with Separatists? lol
(Response: I love it! Wonder what gifts Quebec will get out this one!!! And how much the rest of us will pay for it? h.o.)
15 Henri Paul // Sep 15, 2009 at 10:09 pm
A. G. Tsakumis // Sep 15, 2009 at 4:31 pm,
“Times are really tough for those in the center looking for a party in the center.”
Alex, I think the Federal Conservatives are as close to center that one could reasonably expect to have.
16 wstander // Sep 15, 2009 at 11:09 pm
The leader of the Federal Conservatives is Stephen Harper.
Stephen Harper is a right wing ideologue whose political roots are the Reform Party and the Canadian Alliance. Before turning to partisan politics he was the head of the National Citizens Coalition.
If that represents as close to the centre as one could reasonably expect, I would be curious to know what would constitute right of centre in Canada.
(Response: That’s what concerns me. He has been fairly close to the center ..because there’s a minority government. With a majority… I believe policies much further to the right would emerge post-election. Sound familiar?
h.o.
17 Henri Paul // Sep 16, 2009 at 5:29 pm
REVISED
Henri Paul // Sep 15, 2009 at 10:09 pm
A. G. Tsakumis // Sep 15, 2009 at 4:31 pm,
“Times are really tough for those in the center looking for a party in the center.”
Alex, I think the Federal Conservatives are as close to center that one could reasonably expect to have,( at the present time.)
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