Long Live the Canadian Wheat Board!
Congratulations to those farmer directors who were elected on a “single-trading desk” platform!
What? Has Paul lost it?
No. (Though, many would argue, “a long time ago.” But that’s a discussion for another day.)
I think it’s time to turn the “single desk” argument on its head. Here we have a substantial number of independent directors elected by farmers in an effort to keep the single desk. What does that tell us about these farmers?
Well, it tells us that many, many farmers really like the CWB!
That bodes well for the future of the CWB after farmers rights to sell their own products are restored. It means that these committed farmers will continue to sell their wheat through the CWB (because they like it so much).
The major argument, therefore, that it would be the end of the CWB if the single desk is dumped seems to be disproven by the farmers themselves in this latest election.
So, thank you single-desk candidates. Through your success, you have nullified the best argument against deregulating your industry.
Goebbels Comments vs. Liberal Anti-Semites
Slowly and quietly, the Liberal Party of Canada has become the party of choice for anti-semites. Given the history of the Liberal Party, this is a truly unfortunate turn of events for Canadian Democracy.
We don’t hear very many Conservatives calling the Liberal Party Fascist, Nazi, anti-semitic, racist, bigotted, nor even “sympathisizers” of any of the above.
There is a reason for this: we know that the current situation within the Liberal Party is “atypical”, and have been quietly expecting something to be done about it.
But instead of strong action, what is being done?
Well, the former leader, Bill Graham, decided it would be appropriate to compare two Tory ministers to evil Nazi propagandist Joseph Goebbels.
Am I the only one who thinks that comparing an evil, murderous regime to one that dare raise the question of whether same sex marriage should be legal (to keep a campaign promise, no less) just a tad ludicrous?
First, this reckless hurling of baseless labels in our direction is very childish. The ‘elder statesmen’ really need to grow up!
Second, it only serves to highlight the problems in their own backyard.
If there’s one place where ‘purges’ would be appropriate at the moment, it is in Liberal Party memberships.
I had hoped the Liberals would have dealt with their problem by now, privately (so as not to give the anti-semites a stage). But they have failed, and don’t seem to take the problem seriously. So, if they can’t deal with it in private, the integrity of Canadian democracy requires that it be dealt with loudly, and in public.
I would now argue that we have been too polite in holding back our critcism of the growing problem of anti-semitism in Liberal Party ranks.
Is Dion up to this challenge?
Our Extreme Agenda
I love the wild accusations posted on public forums like the Globe and Mail’s.
Here’s a few of my favourites:
Save our Planet from Toronto, Canada writes: What a relief! Harpers warmongering is destroying the country! Harper sent our sons and daughters to their death in Afghanistan, Dion will bring them home.
Dude, uh, Dion sent them.
The Centrist from Canada writes: Watch the neocons whine about this poll now. Harper is losing support because he raised taxes on the poor, cut funding to womens programs, and ditched Kyoto and all funding to the reduction of greenhouse gases. Now we are having ANOTHER vote on same sex marriage, because Harper wants to please his secret supporters who he sneaks in back doors-the evangelical right. Then Harper tries to STIFLE the Canadian Wheat Board. Anyone who disagrees with Harper is muzzled like a dog. Too bad McKay wasn’t muzzled before he allegedly made his ‘dog’ comment.
This one is tough. Let me modify it so it reads more accurately:
Paul from Canada writes: Harper’s support has held because he has cut taxes, increased and prioritized funding to womens programs to bypass unnecessary bureaucracy, and developed an environmental plan that might actually work (unlike Kyoto). Now we are having ANOTHER vote on same sex marriage, because Harper dares to keep his promise to do so! Then Harper has the nerve to try to allow farmers to sell their own products! Anyone who disagrees with Harper has an amazing opportunity to blog about it on the Internet. Too bad McKay wasn’t muzzled before he allegedly made his ‘dog’ comment.
OK, yes, I didn’t change the last sentence. See my previous post for how great I thought that was. I love you Peter!
So, all of this comes as a result of a poll that put the Liberals 4 points ahead of the Conservatives, the Greens at 10 and the NDP at 12.
Nobody seemed to have the sense to see that the poll was conducted during 3 of the 4 days when the Liberal leadership race was ON. EVERYBODY THOUGHT RAE WAS GOING TO WIN. Obviously the NDP numbers dipped to 12, and the Liberals got a boost from that. If the NDP was at 20, that should put the natural order of things back to a 4 point lead for the Conservatives on the next poll.
All this, of course, depending on what sort of assanine things Dion does in the meantime, like not revoking his French Citizenship and what not.
Yawn.
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