Let The Greens Debate

<blockquote> The difference is that this time the Green Party got enough votes to get taxpayers' money. </blockquote> <p>I voted Green last election, to help them get their 4% of popular vote to allow them access to federal funding. </p>In BC's recent municipal elections, Greens made unprecedented gains. <p>That makes them a legitimate party by any rational standard.</p> <b><u>Let them debate!</u></b><p>---<br>RickW

I'm voting for Layton's NDP, but I've been
supporting the Greens (verbally) as well.

Any party other than the monopolizing, scheming,
deceptive, manipulative 'omnipotent' dinosaurs (Libs & Cons).

It's time for a viable alternatives, and luckily
for Canadians, we actually HAVE them.

<blockquote> It's time for a viable alternatives, and luckily for Canadians, we actually HAVE them. </blockquote> But do we KNOW we have them......? <p>---<br>RickW

Well if it is true that Canada is a democratic society then the Green Party should be in the debate, but I know I am right and this is not a democratic society, then they will not be in any debate.

Canada is run by the few (oligarchs) and they are spread out in the three other parties... the NDP... Liberals... the Conservatives. The media should be pushing this issue but, they too are part of the problem aren't they.

Do not hold your breath waiting for things to change on their own , if you really want to fix it put up do not bother me signs , tell them to come back when they get ready to work on behalf of the taxpayers and not their parties...self serving interests

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Good government is not a party government

While I look forward to the day when the Green Party becomes a viable force in Canadian elections, I recognize that day is not yet. I really hope that this election will reverse things, but I just don't see it happening yet -- slowly but slowly, surely but surely! I have been a Green supporter for a long time now, but I accept the argument that the party should not be allowed into the debate until they have won a seat. It is a paradox, I know, but with the Grits, the Tories, the Dippers, and the Separaterrorists in there already, moral authority simply isn't enough.

I haven't been following too closely yet (been away) -- are there any ridings we have a chance to win?

G

It's funny that you should mention the media. The CBC is government run, so it would be no surprise if they backed the Liberals during the election. Although, I must say the CBC has been fair and balanced in their new coverage during the early days thus far.

CanWest is run by the Asper Family. We know who they back. Their coverage thus far has been somewhat mixed, at least in my eyes. CTV has been the worst thus far. They should just come out and say who they're backing. The Liberals, either directly or indirectly control the three biggest media chains in the country. And with the exception of the Post and the Sun, the major daily newspapers are Liberal too.

It's true that Canada is not a democratic society. This should be a two way race between the Conservatives and the NDP, with the Green Party finally making a break through. It's not going to happen though. Organised crime (ie. the Liberal Party) is committed to doing whatever it takes to win this election. Senate seat for Buzz Hargrove, using national unity to attract votes (even though they have done the most damage to national unity over the past few years), whatever it takes. Paul Martin is a political whore.

My question would be this, if we allow the Bloc to participate for the French debates, why not allow the Greens to participate in the English debate? I was living overseas during the last election, so I obviously did not see the debates, but it makes no sense for the Bloc to take part in the English debates. If we have four leaders for the French debate, why not four leaders for the English debate?

Even I as a Green candidate can see your point, but the Bloq was allowed into the debates when they were not even recognized as a party.

For me it is HOW the broadcast group makes the decision who can debate and who cannot. One of those deciding is himself a Conservative candidate. That smacks of insider BS if you ask me.

The Greens are right in that any party that meets Elections Canada 2% rule, should also be included in the debates. For why should Canadians outside of Quebec have to hear and see the Bloq leader - someone they cannot even vote for if they wanted to, but cannot hear the leaders of people they CAN vote for?

Almost 600000 Canadians said yes the Greens - and that matters.

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If there was ever a time for Canadians to become pushy - now is the time - for time is running out on this nation called Canada.

Well as I see it the Sun is courting former Liberal Sheila Copp's, and as fas as CBC goes, I question they way they play with the voters.

To be honset the media has gone from investigating and researching before the report... they more often than not "make up the news" .

This is why I search out the net, it gives me the opportunity to look into issues before I pass judgement. The CBC and the other medias seem to be married to these political parties.. if they are not writing the news to fit the party the support.. they are running a reporter as a Candidate. One could say they are showing their true colours!

What is democracy? What is the election campaign for?
I am writing a letter to the GG of Canada, in part this is what I am saying....

"The Canadian Broadcasting System is the people’s voice, publicly funded and supported by many Canadians, however they are not representing the democratic process in a fair unbiased manner.

When the Supreme Court of Canada ruled on the importance of the smaller political parties in the role of democracy, the people of Canada finally had a glimmer of hope that their voice would be heard. The current trend of not including the smaller parties in the Leadership debates and not exposing their party platforms on the CBC Canada Votes website, is denying the people the right to information. They are denying the people the right to informed voting selection. By default they are denying the democratic process.

The election was called, as you know on November 30, 2005 and it is now December 3, 2005, thus far the CBC has granted the four parties holding seats prior to the election being called, an unfair advantage. Once a campaign begins those seats no longer belong to the members. Those seats are in question. The government itself, is being debated and therefore to suggest that because they have seats in parliament they are granted privilege, is an unfair decision. At the time an election is called, there are no seats in government. Every member is a candidate if they chose to be. Every member is equal to every other candidate running and therefore, should be treated as a candidate and potential member.

The concept of democracy is a government formed by the people for the people. How can the people of Canada form the government from its members if those members are not provided the information to make such a decision. How can there be fair competition if some members are not allowed to enter the starting gate?"

It would seem strange that democracy allows a communist party to run candidates and maybe it wouldn't be appropriate to include someone who wants to get rid of democracy in the debate. After all it was democracy that was used to get Hitler into power, but having said that; the neither the Greens or the Canadian Action Party are standing against democracy, in fact CAP's main platform is to protect and defend it. I guess the big boys are afraid of a little fair competition?

When you see the four male figures who are dominating and controlling government all giving their points of view on CBC's Canada Votes, it does give you a strange sense of democracy, as some paternal force in Canada.

I also find it strange that so many of us supported CBC and CAP has had a platform to fully fund it as a national voice of the people since 1997. Of course we don't want it as the voice of government, which it apparently is now. Does make you wonder?



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

> Paul Martin is a political whore.


and Jack "Rent-me" Layton is not?

If Canadians would focus on voting *for* those whose ideas they support instead of *against* those whose ideas (or personalities) they hate/fear, then smaller parties will start making more of a showing. The media cliques are only part of the problem here.

Canada is, for all intents and purposes, a one-party state. The only variables in any of these elections is whether the one party will get a majority or minority government and which faction of the one party has the upper hand at any given moment. Thankfully, the better side of the one party is currently in control.

And our one-party system didn't start with the rise of Reform or the Bloc. Even when Tories would occasionally win an election, it was still a one party state, because only the personalities changed. Canadians (well, Southern Ontarians anyway) would only elect a non-Liberal party if it thought and behaved *exactly* like the Liberals. The one exception to that was Mulroney, who has been demonized ever since for daring to deviate from the "Liberal consensus".

We're a nation of hypocrites, who have allowed a single political party to define the boundaries and parameters of our national identity, while all the time slamming our neighbours about their institutionalized two-party system. This country really does get the government it deserves, particularly at the federal level.

This statement made by the avove poster is so true. You clearly are one of a few Canadians who can think outside the box.
GOOD STUFF !


" We're a nation of hypocrites, who have allowed a single political party to define the boundaries and parameters of our national identity, while all the time slamming our neighbours about their institutionalized two-party system. This country really does get the government it deserves, particularly at the federal level."



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Good government is not a party government

No he isn't. Jack recognizes that the NDP will not (in the foreseable future) form a federal government. The best hope for the NDP is to encourage a minority situation, in which it can influence and moderate the more radical tendencies of either the Cons or the Libs (which are becoming more attached at the hip in their practices, if not in their diatribe). For that, it needs 50-75 seats, not an unreasonable number, considering that most Canadians support NDP policies - policies I might add that the others hi-jack for political expediency, then discard.

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RickW

Of course the Greens should be allowed to debate their platform. That's what democracy is all about. Under the current system we hear only what the three "major" parties want us to hear. More and more of us are not finding what WE want for our country in either of those three "mainstream" platforms. We need to hear more different ideas being debated all the time. Our media fails us miserably in this regard. (It fails us a lot more than most of us realize)

The Greens have moved subtly to the right over the past few years, and I believe that reality is reflected in their access to increased funding. That in itself is unfortunate, but is certainly no reason to keep them out of the national debate or prevent them from being heard.
Absolutely they must be allowed to debate. Excluding them is absurd, and it is wrong.

I have said repeatedly that I support another small party, the Canadian Action Party, not as a partisan or as an ideologue, but simply because I am profoundly convinced that their ideas and policies would be the best for most Canadians. I still sincerely believe that. Why are not these excellent ideas being publically debated in this election? Why are not they also included in the debating process? They certainly should be. It's time they were.

Most importantly, why are they not screaming blue bloody murder about not being included? Granted, I am not glued to my television set 24 hours a day, but I do watch election coverage with great interest and I surf the web frequently. Beyond this web site, I don't think I have seen or heard the words CAP uttered even once since the election was called. If I missed the one exquisite moment, then I'm sorry. But I'm sure it wasn't very prominent or repeated very often. Theit voices should be heard right alongside the Greens, and with no less volume or determination.

Come on you guys! Let's go!