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Canadians are in an abusive relationship...
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| ShadoWolf |
http://www.canoe.ca/NewsStand/Colum.../27/944222.html
We've become a nation of enablers
By Lorrie Goldstein
The longer the federal Liberals stay in power, the more they resemble an abusive husband and father lording it over his family. With the family being the rest of us.
Consider the similarities, regardless of whether Jean Chretien, or now, Paul Martin, happens to be in charge:
# The first thing an abuser typically does in order to gain control of his wife and children is to take over the finances of the family and cut them off from any outside influences.
Think of the usurious taxation levels the Liberals have imposed on us, which discourage entrepreneurship, independence and private initiative.
# In order to reinforce his dominance over his family, the abuser will take away the money his wife or kids have earned and refuse to tell them what he plans to do with it.
Think of all those Liberal "foundations" which contain billions of our tax dollars, while we have no way of knowing how the money is being spent, or even if it's being spent.
# Abusers are arbitrary and heartless toward family members and will, to display their power, deny them even the most basic needs, such as money for the week's groceries.
Think about how our health care system is falling apart, with Canadians unable to obtain timely medical tests or surgeries, while the Liberals boast about achieving record surpluses with OUR money.
# An abuser, simply to lord it over his family and prove that he can do it, will steal cash from family members and if caught, refuse to admit it or even make jokes about it.
Think of AdScam.
# In order to secure his grip on power over his family, an abuser will often divide family members against one another by arbitrarily favouring one member over another.
Think of asymmetrical federalism. Think of special deals for some provinces and not for others -- such as Ontario -- to help pay for the costs of immigration. Think of arbitrarily changing the rules governing equalization payments without even consulting the provinces that will have to pay for it.
# As part of his strategy to dominate his family, an abuser will often charge other family members with incompetence, without ever admitting to any incompetence of his own.
Think of the federal gun registry.
# An abuser tolerates no questioning of his decisions from the rest of the family and will humiliate, insult and intimidate them if they dare to disagree with his iron-fisted rule.
Think of how the Liberals have portrayed Canadians who oppose same-sex marriage -- who make up anywhere from one-half to two-thirds of the population, depending on which poll you believe -- as bigots, simply for supporting a position that most of them supported just a few years ago.
Gratuitous insults
# In order to cover up his own blatant insecurities, an abuser will often gratuitously insult and put down others.
Think of the Liberals' attitude toward the United States.
Clearly, then, Canadian taxpayers are in an abusive relationship with the federal Liberals.
But if that says something about them, what does it say about us?
Typically, in abused families, those being abused eventually become so beaten down that they come to believe there is no alternative to their predicament. They often develop what is known as Stockholm syndrome, in which they come to identify with their abuser.
All of which helps to explain present national voting patterns in Canada which keep returning the Liberals to power, particularly among Ontario voters, who overwhelmingly vote Liberal no matter how much the Liberals abuse and ignore them once they are safely back in office.
All of which leads to the inevitable conclusion that if the Liberals are the abusers, then Canadian voters -- particularly those of us in Ontario -- are their enablers.
Clearly, we need help. |
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| Shamen DJ's |
| I live in the U.S. now, and I still pay high taxes ( the Federal government passes many expenses to the state level, and many states are now in debt, California especially ). At least in Canada, much of your taxes go to health care, because in the U.S. many families lose their homes and life savings due to someone getting sick. Also in Maryland, the cost of health insurance coverage is going up at rates exceeding 10% yearly, even though payouts have not increased; while there is a crises of doctors leaving the state because of exhorbident Mal Practice Insurance ( Rates increasing even though payouts are not ). The reasons for this is that Insurance Companies contributed most to the election of our Republican Governor who will almost surely not get re elected. Also our family values governor wants to bring casino gambling to the state to solve the states financial crisis, and it is the democrats blocking his effort. Also Bush has run up the largest debt in U.S. history with his Iraq war, and may ruin the future of our military ( Marines and army no longer meet recruit goals and restarting the draft would be political suicide ). Also our debt may trigger financial panic and depression ( 1930s ) when other countries stop propping up our currency. Sooner or layer it will be time to pay, and unfortunately Bushes financial incompetance will affect Canada. Before you preach the virtues of conservatism you should realize that the only true values they heed is corporate greed, and wedge politics, and remember what a great leader ( and taxer ) Brian Mulrooney was. |
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| Jayx1 |
i completely agree with the article except one thing. The gratuitous use of "he" and "his" which assumes that the abuser in a relationship is always male. I know for a fact that this is not true. There are many abusive women out there as well.
Sadly my cousin was stuck in a relationship with an abusive woman and instead of sympathy from people he usually got made fun of. |
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| Mike_B |
that's kind of a stupid comparison.
plus i may not like the liberal gov, but their really isn't a better party to vote for
NDP sure, but they will never win, plus they will cost our country a fortune
the conservitive. well if she's complaining about the liberals i really don't think she wants them in power.
anyhow that article could apply to any goverment currently in power, its always the same. and right now with a minority liberal gov. alot of the crap she says, like speaking of the "foundation money" im guessing she means sposoship scandal, doesn't apply since the liberal are put under such a big microscope by all other parties.
probably would of applied more before the elections |
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| Jayx1 |
i dont think the conservatives would waste our money like the liberals have.
Its time to change the regime. This Liberal govt is stale and corrupt. |
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| Mike_B |
# As part of his strategy to dominate his family, an abuser will often charge other family members with incompetence, without ever admitting to any incompetence of his own.
Think of the federal gun registry.
this happens to any non-proffit organization, like a democratic goverment
give any project to a private company, and you'll find thing don't quite cost as much. ppl get fired easy and others get cut. and numbers get checked. and project that cost money, don't get started at all.
Regardless this clearly wasent done properly. But i have a really hard time beleiving that any other goverment we put in place would have done any better |
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| Jem_hadar |
| quote: | Originally posted by Jayx1
i completely agree with the article except one thing. The gratuitous use of "he" and "his" which assumes that the abuser in a relationship is always male. I know for a fact that this is not true. There are many abusive women out there as well.
Sadly my cousin was stuck in a relationship with an abusive woman and instead of sympathy from people he usually got made fun of. |
Exactly. This is something I feel strongly about too. About how *often* its always viewed as a "male" thing only... and IF they tables are turned, then for some reason it is never taken seriously, which is bull.
This double standard is extraordinarily offensive IMO |
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| amb_ |
We need democratic reform. Our system of government has not changed in almost 200 years, whereas the system it was loosely based upon (British constitutional monarchy/parliamentary democracy) has evolved in this time.
We need further checks and balances as far as accountability goes (à la British "permanent secretaries" - more power/independence for the civil service), more relevant (proportional - more MPs) representation in parliament, etc. etc.
The choices as they stand are not the issue, it's how they are being applied that is the crux of the issue. |
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| ShadoWolf |
| quote: | Originally posted by amb_
We need democratic reform. Our system of government has not changed in almost 200 years, whereas the system it was loosely based upon (British constitutional monarchy/parliamentary democracy) has evolved in this time.
We need further checks and balances as far as accountability goes (à la British "permanent secretaries" - more power/independence for the civil service), more relevant (proportional - more MPs) representation in parliament, etc. etc.
The choices as they stand are not the issue, it's how they are being applied that is the crux of the issue. |
The Lieberals would never agree to democratic reform, because it would reduce their stranglehold on the country.
Jean Chretien often mused that Canada's political system was far superior to the American system. The reason: "I can get more things done." Well yes, in a dictatorship, the dictator can get more things done.
Even in the UK which has no written constitution, they speak of "separation of powers."
We need a new government, a new constitution, or both. |
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| Jayx1 |
Lets start with dumping the Liberals, then maybe we can worry about real reform.
The Liberals will never change anything as long as they are in power because it works well for them.
Instead they will worry about non-issues like gay marriage and gun registries while real issues like health care and debt retirement and lowering the tax burden on us citizens is laregly ignored.
And yes i said gay marriage is a non-issue. Especially when patients are waiting for days in hallways to get treatment in our nation's hospitals. |
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| drgoodvibe |
| on a completely different note, did you guys watch the editorial on Sunday on CBC called "Minority report" it's all about how the media was manipulated during the election and such. Check it out it's pretty good, and fairly neutral in bias. |
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| Jayx1 |
| the best part was how the media whined when Harper pretty much ignored them. They were trying to say that if you dont kiss the media's ass they will make you look bad. This is exactly why i dont let the media decide my politics for me. |
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