[Innes]

Stephen Harper is an authoritarian. Way back when he was running for the leadership of the Canadian Alliance he made it clear in an interview with the Alberta Report that: "If I get a mandate, I'll use the full authority of the ofice to ensure things go the way I intend them to go."<br /> <br /> Granted, in the Shapiro case he went beyond the authority of the Prime Minister in approaching Broadbent to replace Shapiro because he cannot replace Shapiro who is an officer of Parliament. While he may have complained about the power of the PMO when Chretien was in charge he also told reporters: "My concern is not limiting the power of the prime minister."<br /> <br /> It seemed always seemed evident to me that he would act as a dictator once he achieved the power he craved and that is why I found him "scary."

[Perturbed]

[QUOTE BY= badsector] The little clown who was elected on the promise of government "integrity" and got a rather weak minority mandate says, the laws of this country don't apply to him:<br /> <br /> "Prime Minister Stephen Harper says he won't co-operate with Shapiro's investigation, which he sees as an unwarranted intrusion into a prime minister's unfettered right to choose his own ministers."<br /> <br /> He says he is above everyone and everything and does whatever he pleases. If someone dares to question his dubious dealings, he just fires the guy or simply ignores him. Ladies and gentlemen, this is Stephen Harper, champion of government accountability. Take a good look at him (if you want to remember his arrogant smile), cause he won't be around very long. Chances are, his short tenure will go down in history as this country's biggest mistake for a leader. Tory minded Canadians, celebrate now while you can, cause your next chance might be in another 12 (or 24) years.<br /> <br /> What a fricking joke....[/QUOTE]<br /> <br /> <br /> I agree Badsector that Harper is a hypocrit, BUT, technically the PM is above the law in that the Prime Minister has the ability to command more power than an unelected judge....there is nothign inherently wrong with this.<br /> <br /> ALSO, he is not Tory and has stated his dislike for this "statist" term on many occasions. After Liberal leadership or lack thereof for so many years, give it some time.

[Perturbed]

[QUOTE BY= Innes] Stephen Harper is an authoritarian. Way back when he was running for the leadership of the Canadian Alliance he made it clear in an interview with the Alberta Report that: "If I get a mandate, I'll use the full authority of the ofice to ensure things go the way I intend them to go."<br /> <br /> Granted, in the Shapiro case he went beyond the authority of the Prime Minister in approaching Broadbent to replace Shapiro because he cannot replace Shapiro who is an officer of Parliament. While he may have complained about the power of the PMO when Chretien was in charge he also told reporters: "My concern is not limiting the power of the prime minister."<br /> <br /> It seemed always seemed evident to me that he would act as a dictator once he achieved the power he craved and that is why I found him "scary." [/QUOTE]<br /> <br /> <br /> This is simply fear-mongering...strong leaders can be good or bad--at least he is reasserting the right of our government to use it sauthority--better than being run simply by corporations.<br /> <br /> He is not that scary with a minority and his tactics of "open federalism" towards the provinces actually WEAKENS the PMOs office, it does not strngthen it.

[badsector]

Harper already forgot his campaign for more accountability. He failed. He is abusing power. He must go.

[Innes]

"better than being run simply by corporations."<br /> <br /> Haven't you ever listened or read Harper's articles and speeches? He has been one of the "priests" of corporate fundamentalism as head of the NCC. Why do you think he was willing to thumb his nose at democracy by referring to voter outrage as "superficial"? Why do you think he selected David Emerson and Michael Fortier for his cabinet through the back door? Who do you really think they represent?<br /> <br /> He has no intention of strengthening provincial governments or of giving up any power except what he transfers to the private sector. He has already said: "My concern is not limiting the power of the prime minister." His plan is to download responsibility for funding social programs to provinces. His decrease of the GST can be interpreted as a transfer of tax room to do that.<br /> <br /> He can do a great deal without Parliament. His government is already talking about pulling out of the Atlantic Accord and tampering with equalization. Harper claimed he was pulling out of the child care deal with the provinces because, he said, he does not trust provincial politicians.<br /> <br /> His real objective is less power for all government and more power for corporations. He will use all the powers of the PMO to try to achieve that. <br /> <br /> <br />

[Perturbed]

[QUOTE BY= badsector] Harper already forgot his campaign for more accountability. He failed. He is abusing power. He must go.[/QUOTE]<br /> <br /> <br /> I didn't vote for him. <img align=absmiddle src='images/smilies/mrgreen.gif' alt='Mr. Green'>

[Perturbed]

[QUOTE BY= Innes] "better than being run simply by corporations."<br /> <br /> Haven't you ever listened or read Harper's articles and speeches? He has been one of the "priests" of corporate fundamentalism as head of the NCC. Why do you think he was willing to thumb his nose at democracy by referring to voter outrage as "superficial"? Why do you think he selected David Emerson and Michael Fortier for his cabinet through the back door? Who do you really think they represent?<br /> <br /> He has no intention of strengthening provincial governments or of giving up any power except what he transfers to the private sector. He has already said: "My concern is not limiting the power of the prime minister." His plan is to download responsibility for funding social programs to provinces. His decrease of the GST can be interpreted as a transfer of tax room to do that.<br /> <br /> He can do a great deal without Parliament. His government is already talking about pulling out of the Atlantic Accord and tampering with equalization. Harper claimed he was pulling out of the child care deal with the provinces because, he said, he does not trust provincial politicians.<br /> <br /> His real objective is less power for all government and more power for corporations. He will use all the powers of the PMO to try to achieve that. <br /> <br /> <br /> [/QUOTE]<br /> <br /> <br /> Yeah I know but we still can't predict what will happen. He may favour less government, but at this time Canada is such a mess that calculated government intervention will become necesssary.....Harper will be forced to act in some scenario that can't be predicted......he can't do THAT much right now so relax...at least he might rebuild the military which is key to the sovereign Canada we want as long as it is under Canadian command.

[Innes]

[QUOTE]he might rebuild the military which is key to the sovereign Canada we want as long as it is under Canadian command.[/QUOTE] <br /> <br /> I hope you are right but how much can we rebuild the military while we are so over-extended as far as the military goes? Do you see thousands of Canadians joining up in the current climate? With the Liberals admitting they put troops in Afghanistan simply to show support for the Americans after 9/11 we still don't really know why our troops are there now.<br /> <br /> We have been told they are there in an active combat role, that we are at war with certain factions (the Taliban, etc.), we are told we are there to help the Afghan people, to provide "stability" for something, to rebuild the country.... How much responsibility has the government given a couple of thousand troops? <br /> <br /> Harper has tremendous power when it comes to the military and he does not want Parliament involved even to the extend of debating our involvement in Afghanistan. Why? He says it might damage morale or give support to the Taliban. I am sure the Taliban is just waiting to tune in to CPAC! We want a debate because we care about our troops.

[badsector]

After 911 helping poor ol' victimized USA seemed like the right thing to do, so we sent our troops to Afghanistan. Not that the US ever appreciated us for it... Since then it became evident that the US used 911 to build pretext for wars they wanted. They are corporate wars, fought for oil and power. Why are we there again? We don't need to go to war for oil, we have our own. Even if we didn't, it would be against core Canadian values to invade a country for its natural resources. Harper is a trigger happy lunatic, much like his buddy George. The difference it that George is at the end of his bloody reign and will probably finish his term rather shamefully, while Harper was just elected.