Just one of those screenshots that needs to be preserved
Nice to see them running scared.
posted by Diana at 1:11 PM
Sunday, April 24, 2005
"Look into the face of Canada, and you'll see our collagen implants are way too puffy." ... Mark Steyn
posted by Diana at 1:11 PM
7 Comments:
Looks like a kid who really really really wants teacher to let him go to the bathroom.
I was really hoping that he'd dropped off his resignation and was trying to flag down the next plane to Brazil.
If you have time to respond to a really dumb question, the phrase "minority government" confuses me.
Is Canadian government comprised of many political identities none of which represent more than 50% of the voting public.
Therefore, a minority government can rule because it is the strongest faction of the warring political bodies even though it represents less than 50% of the public?
Is that what "minority government" means? I am having trouble understanding how one can be in the minority and at the same time be in power.
Sure thing! You're pretty much right on.
The Government of Canada has essentially three bodies. The Governor General (Queen's representative), the Senate and the House of Commons. The courts are a bit of a different story (which I can deal with in an aside).
In June, 2004, we had a national election. The House of Commons has 308 seats to fill. Unfortunately, we only had a 60.9% turnout of registered voters. The Liberals took 135 seats, the Conservatives 99, the Bloc Quebecois 54, the NDP (far left) 19 and 1 independent. Coalitions sometimes must be formed. ie.
Liberals 43.8%
Conservatives 32.1%
Bloc 17.5%
NDP 6.2%
Independent .3%
If you look at those percentages of "all registered voters" (give or take a few errors!)
Liberals 22.2%
Conservatives 17.9%
NDP 9.5%
Bloc 7.5%
APATHY REIGNS!
As far as our Senate goes - the Senators are "appointed" for life by the reigning Prime Minister. There are +/-105 seats, depending on who's still alive, or at the whim of the current Prime Minister. They're really hard to get rid of ante mortem. see
http://www.mapleleafweb.com/features/parliament/senate/lacking-legitimacy.html
Thank you for your detailed reply.
I've often wondered if America needs a viable 3'rd party. At the same time I've worried about the scenario you just laid out: no one has a majority. If you are distrustful of government in general perhaps this is a good thing. Government can't screw with our basic liberties when it is in a state of gridlock.
Perhaps the real problem is morons like me that just aren't informed enough on current events and the issues to vote intelligently.
We get the government we deserve.
Hey, you're welcome. BTW, to support the lunacy here, taxes to all the levels of government (municipal, provincial and federal) ... we work to mid September each year ... then pay ourselves.
I hear you. My brother lives in Lethbridge, Alberta. It is a conservative farming community that feels totally out of sync w/ the urban liberals.
It is so frustrating to seldom have our elected officials speak to us in plain language that gets right to the core issues.
Feelings/perceptions trump substance/reality, and the public rarely if ever comprehends the true cost of government.
blog on
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