Reality Check

So has the Bloc changed tactics and said they would participate in a coalition like that? Last I'd heard Duceppe said he wouldn't participate in that sort of minority government situation.

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Now call it extreme if you like, but I propose we hit it hard, and we hit it fast, with a major, and I mean major, leaflet campaign.--Rimmer, Red Dwarf

Yeah, but these guys will do anything to get their hands on power.

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Dave Ruston

Switzerland comparison is interesting - it's a very democratic country and they live pretty well too. The Bloc's position has always been that they will not form a coalition with federalists but will vote with them on a case by case basis - I think it would be much bigger news if that's changed. And I agree with the header where it states 'a Conservative majority is desireable'.

OP here. No, you're right, the bloc would never 'officially' support the Cons. But support on an ad hoc basis is almost certain. On questions of federalism, you can't tell the two parties apart. The Bloc is so gitty about this prospect that they will surely go along on votes of confidence if they can extract what they want from the Cons on issues of federalism. On questions of social policy, of course, there will be no cooperation. But the former cooperation will be far more damaging to Canada. Harper and all future PMs will become what Trudeau entitled 'head waiter to the provinces' in full sense of the phrase. Wow, this is depressing.

Switzerland is also a very small country, population wise and geographically. The effect of a highly decentralised federal state on the overal cohesion of the country's constituent parts, like Switzerland, is thus much less serious than what a highly decentralised federal system would be in a country the geographic size of Canada. If the provinces are able to attain near sovereign state status, without a clear, authoritative, centralising force to bind all the parts together, provinces like BC and NS, for instance, which are separated by great distances will have little need or common desire to remain associated. Harper's little federalism experiment will mark the beginnig of the end of Canada. We shouldn't be worrying about NAFTA anymore.

And anon, you completely took my 'desireability' quote out of context. Not surprising, though, the right isn't big on truth.

Well I am still not buying into the rhetoric, I can't believe that the people of Canada will support Harper, I understand not supporting Martin, as he doesn't even pay taxes CSL to Canada himself, so how can he talk about what is good for Canada, but Harper...would not only have us in wars, he'll dismantle the social network so fast we'll all be spinning, if he is successful Alberta will be the first province headed south with Governor Klein's help...but what Quebec doesn't get is that if Harper wins, bilingualism will also be gone, and the American's are not going to support a two language colony.

No I'm not getting this, the NDP has to get the message out, but I think that Martin and Harper will kill each other in this campaign and then the people will start seriously looking at the NDP...hopefully before they vote.

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If I stand for my country today...will my country be here to stand for me tomorrow?

The leader debates are going to be critical.

BTW, the conservatives are a virual non-player in quebec. It's a horse race between the grits and separtists.

I agree Whelan Costan, about the Harper Martin massacre. Whenever I watch CBC's "Politics" lateley the Conservative Pundit is seated next to the NDPer, then the Liberal Pundit. They go at each other across the NDPer and they look unbalanced and irrational and the NDPer is silently waiting their turn looking like the only sane person in the room. If anyone is watching this you'd just say "I'll vote for the sane party please".

You know this reminds me of something I was thinking of
today. I was thinking of how Canada's voter turn out has
decreased.

It seems that a low voter turn out help's the right wing
parties. Why is that? Could left leaning parties have
more of a chance with the voter turn out high? I think so.

Kevin



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"Love actually, is all around us" --From the movie Love Actually.

<blockquote>Maybe a Conservative majority is desireable. Let them do their thing for 4-5 years, Canadians will see what they are really about, they will be disgusted and appalled and will vote them out of existence in the next federal election and we'll be done with them once and for all. </blockquote> <p>I totally agree. However the damage will be made (remember Mulroney) and there will be almost no turning back. If Harper gets in for one term Canada is doomed. I believe Mulroney was ready to loose the second time around. And I believe Harper is ready to loose a second time around. Their gonna come do what they were hired to do (CorporateInterest) and then their gone. <p>Kevin<p>---<br>"Love actually, is all around us" --From the movie Love Actually.

If Mulrooney being a pallbearer for Reagan isn't enough to show people where Conservative alliances lie, I don't know what else can be done (except point out that he got cushy American jobs once he was done with Canada)... and if the Cons do get in, can we really deal with 4-5 years of being under threat of "terrorist" bombings? I wonder what colours Canada will use for it's warning system... definately none that are in a rainbow - it would be too gay for them.

In summary, if the Cons do get in, may God have mercy on our souls.

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I try to take one day at a time, but sometimes several days attack me at once.

Amelia from Edmonton

"I try to take one day at a time, but sometimes several days attack me at once."

Sounds like my life.




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"Arrogance in Politics is unacceptable"
Jim Callaghan
Minden, Ontario
705-286-1860
www.misterc.ca

People shoudn't worry too much about the Conservatives. They're not going to win any seats in Quebec which means they pretty much have no chance of forming a majority. A Conservative minority would not last overly long. The Liberals would probably support the Cons moreso than the Bloc(a left-wing party) at least until the Libs pick a new leader. As well, any really socially regressive legislation will be blocked by the liberal-dominated Senate.