Why I like the Conservatives approach to Climate change

Climate change and air pollution are serious and difficult subjects. Non Conservative politicians in Canada would like you to react emotionally to the word "KYOTO". The idea is that you - without further thought or critical examination - start salivating at the mere mentioning of the word "KYOTO" and unconditionally accept that "KYOTO" is good. Sort of like Pavlov's dogs. Ring the bell - mention you support KYOTO - and everyone will think they have to vote for you!

I don't like being manipulated like that for purely political purposes.

The truth about Kyoto is quite far from what they would like you to believe.

There are some really realy big flaws in the way this treaty goes about things. The major flaw is that polluting countries, like Canada, can buy their way out trouble and into so called "compliance" by spending huge amounts of money to buy "credits" from underdeveloped, non-polluting, countries.
I think, and I am willing to bet that most people think so too, that any commitment that you can buy your way out of is not really a commitment at all. Our industries would still be sending harmfull gasses into the air and our tax dollars would disappear without making the atmosphere one little iota better!
My second biggest complaint about Kyoto is that the worlds biggest polluters Russia and India are not part of it.

But the real reason why I like the Conservative plan is that it addresses something that Kyoto - and those who kneel at the Kyoto altar - do not address at all is that the Conservative Plan actually does do something about the pollution that make the air in our big cities not fit to breath.

This pollution problem is much more immediate. The technologies that are required to make pollution less of a health threat are available and even strong and enforced regulations can have an immediate impact.

And as for the 2050 date that the Conservative Plan speaks of - and that is so heavily attacked - look in the plans of Stephane Dion. You will find that the same year, 2050, is mentioned for the actual accomplishment of their goals.

The next time you hear someone sing the praises of KYOTO think of what this actually does.
The Conservative Plan is a responsible and much more effective approach to a real problem.

Forget about dogs.....Look at the bigger picture!

Last night I was watching Mike Duffy Live - hope Mike returns soon! - and I was struck by the vicious attacks on Peter MacKay. Especially Scott Reid outdid himself.
And then I started asking myself why do they - The Liberals and the NDP - make such an issue of an exchange of words and gestures that in the context of Question Period can truly be called mild. At least mild by comparison of things that have been said by Liberals in the past. Starting all the way back with PET's fuddle duddle!
You can listen all you want but Peter Mackay did not utter the word "dog". That distinction goes to the Liberal McGuinty. The worst that MacKay can be accused of is falling in a trap.

But why do they create such a tempest in the MSM teacup? Do they believe that the Canadian electorate is so stupid that it influences them so see things that are not?

I truly believe that that is the case. Just another example of Liberal misdirection. As long as they doggedly attack MacKay the MSM will not be talking about Rae's insufferable glibness or Ignatieff's despicable politicking with the Israel issue.

In all of this they forget that Stronach's record on the feminism issue is not very convincing and Stronach is certainly not the postergirl for wholesome "Canadian Values". As Bev Oda retorted in QP there are no females on the Stronach board! Her support for the female Candidate in the leadership contest is appalling by its absence.

And how are these female Leadership Candidates doing in the liberal, supposedly supportive of female aspirations, Liberal Party? Two of them could not sustain their campaigns and dropped out. Martha Hall Findlay who by her actions before this Leadership quagmire started and certainly during this Leadership campaign has amply shown to deserve the respect of the Liberal Party - and the equally braying MSM - is lingering in an all but hopeless last place.

And what does the Liberal Party do? Put Stronach in a place of prominence and attempts to create a mountain from a molehill.

As long as Question Period remains the embarrasing joke that it is there are big dangers in pointing fingers. This may be hokey but three fingers point back at yourself.
But maybe it is time to carefully research how respective of women's aspirations the Liberal Party really is.
I am willing to bet that it is just more example of Liberal posturing and empty rethoric.

Voter Participation and the Main Stream Media

I have not posted for quite awhile. Could find no topic that really excited me enough to put my thinking and writing caps on. Today I was playing with the statistical results of the last election. Trying to do the analysis. In my case trying to determine what went wrong. The most disappointing number was the low voter turnout. Even though our riding - sorry Electoral District - had a better than average number.

And then a thought struck me.

Why couldn't the established parties - those that will be on the ballot - get together and run a joint campaign to get the voters to the polls. If there is one issue that all parties agree on it could well be the need to get the electorate more involved. Perhaps more understanding of what is at stake would be a first step.

The joint - all Party - campaign could be in the form of joint advertising. Or by adding a slogan to the campaign signs that will dot the landscape. Or in the form of jointly prepared and financed voter information booklets. Or in whatever form the participants can agree on.

I can hear all the naysayers already!

But what if a major national newspaper would put together some sort of reward for the Electoral District that best examplifies this spirit of cooperation and had the highest voter turnout in the next election?

This award does not have to be in monetary form. It could simply be a honourary reward with a nice name presented by the new Prime Minister - whoever he or she would be. The media outlet could put some focus on the winning riding. People would go to the polls for the glory of winning!

If we raise the voter turn out by 5 percent - not at all impossible - we would have improved our democracy. Because if we do not do it no one will.

I gladly contribute this idea to which ever newspaper wants to run with it. National Post are you listening?

The Conservative Party of Canada biggest enemy

could well be ..........................the Conservative Party of Canada!

Now why would a card carrying member of the party say this?

I will try to explain my views.

First let me say that I believe that elections are won - and lost - in the time between the announcement of the results of the last election and the dropping of the writ for the next election. Very few people would want to argue that sentiment. Everyone understands that the actions of the elected people between elections have a big influence on the results of the next election. And the Conservative Party seems to be doing doing just fine, thank you, in that department.

But now look at what is happening in the various ridings, or as the Constitution of the Conservative Party calls them, Electoral Districts. Sadly, the answer for very many of these districts the answer is "nothing". Or, to be a little more charitable, substantively nothing, or if you will, nothing substantive.

And therein hides the danger!

If you are a card carrying member of the Party when do you hear from the Party? The answer for far too many members is: Only when there is a "fundraiser" or when a nomination battle is in progress.

Now ask yourself: "When would I like to hear from the Party?" The answer for many people might be quite differen from the answer to the first question.

And the greater the gap between the answers to question 1 and the answers to question 2 the greater the danger to the Party.

The Conservative Party of Canada states in its Constitution at article 2.1.4. "The CPC will operate in a manner that is accountable and responsive to its members".

There are 308 Electoral District Associations in Canada. That means that there are probably great differences in the ways that contact is maintained with the membership. But allow me to end with this observation. The more attention is paid to the issue of ongoing membership contact the higher the probability of a successful upcoming election campaign.

This offends my sense of Justice!

The Canadian justice system arrested 17 people in Toronto and charged them with terrorism related offenses. Until proven guilty in a court of law these people are innocent but absorbing the coverage it was hard to escape the impression that de facto these people have been convicted by public opinion. The de jure resolution will have to wait.

We will learn from these events as a Nation. The community that is so closely tied in with these events will also learn.

And then there is Caledonia!

Masked thugs pulling people out of their cars. Camera equipment "confiscated" in full view of the OPP. Millions of dollars in direct and indirect damage. Thirteen police officers injured!

But the Premier of Ontario continues to shirk his clear responsibility to bring these culprits to justice. And the media is unusually reticent in providing reportage and opinion.

Perhaps we should find the courage to label the events in Caledonia for what it so clearly is: Terrorism.

And why we treat a group of young and misguided would-be terrorists in the way we did, and continue to do, while treating a group of proven thugs who terrorise a town with kid gloves is beyond my understanding.

I do know that it greatly offends my sense of justice. But what the heck do I know ......perhaps it just one of those elusive "Liberal Values" they keep talking about.

One or two big elephants in the room?

In a column the other day Christie Blatchford of the Globe identified the growing muslim community in Canada as "an elephant in the room". I thought this column was thought provoking and definitely not politically correct. The Globe and Mail followed up with some webpolls on the muslim question. The responses collected on these polls add food for thought to all of us but especially should give the muslim community cause to reflect. We definitely have an elephant in the room. And the longer we pussyfoot around the issue the bigger the elephant will become.

But if we call the (as of now still) relatively small muslim population "an elephant in the room" how should we refer to our relations with First Nations? How do we describe the events in Caledonia? When the Republic of South Africa created "homelands" for some of their "first nations" and gave these homelands near nation status there was frequent, loud and insistent condemnation of the practice. Can someone point out the differences between the South African practice and Canada's policies towards the perpetuation of First Nation Reserves? Just because a certain practice was enlightened in 1867 it does not follow that the same practice is still enlightened in 2006. I can see lots of chiefs benefitting from the continuation of this practice but my question is: "do the indians?" A substantial "Consultant business" has grown up around the First Nation world. Mostly white men who charge to tell First Nations how to be First Nations. And do not forget the large number of civil servants who make their living supporting First Nations. We truly have a "First Nations Industry" in Canada. And the really sad thing is that life for the average first nation person does not seem to improve one bit. And God knows it needs improving!

Could we call that Canada's second elephant in the room?

Do we need to rethink how we plan to spend the tons of money that go mostly towards maintaining the miserable status quo?

I think we need to liberate ourselves from the prevailing political correctnes straightjacket and start asking some hard questions and come up with some new answers to very old questions.

Canada's Constitution ....... A roadblock or a cornerstone?

Once more the topic of Senate reform gets stuck on the need to change the Canadian Constitution.

And whatever your beliefs on this matter are, very little, if anything, can be done without Constitutional reform.

We hear a lot about "equalization payments" and "fiscal balance". And exactly what percentage of Canadian voters do understand this issue?
Yet it appears as if some provincial Premiers are quite willing to use these issues to set up their provincial population against the concept of Canada as one nation.

We are a federation of provinces. Not one country!
Regardless of how much some of us wish that we were one country.
But if that ever were to happen we need to redefine the provinces and their powers. And that means Constitutional reform.

Bloggers are creating another dimension in education, information sharing and newsgathering. Do bloggers have enough knowledge and insights - or the willingness to get this - to start creating the new Canadian Constitution?

I truly do not know. But it seems as if some of us are trying. Maybe it is too important to leave to the politicians. Let's give it a try!