The Bis-nass
Shit just got real in the Canadian federal parliament.
Me? I love it, I think coalition governments are great, but people in The West are screaming mad, saying this is anti-democratic, treasonous, etc.
Leaving aside the facts of the matter, that this is how a Westminster-derived parliamentary democracy works, that the parties are totally allowed to do this, and that this means that more Canadian voters will have their choice of MP in the ruling coalition, leaving that aside, I've been trying to figure out if I like this just because it gives parties I like more power, or if it's actually ok.
So I got to thinking, how would I feel if the Conservatives formed some kind of alliance with a loony right wing party just to hold a tenuous grasp on power? Then I realized that that's what we've had since 'aught-three.
So eff-you with a bear you shouty hypocrites singing the national anthem in question period like you own it, like patriotism is your cross and holy water against the vampire socialists. You won the slimmest of minority governments in an election with one of the lowest voter turnouts ever, you over-reached and you screwed up. Take it like a grown up.
3 comments:
Well to be fair, they won more than the slimmest of minorities - in fact they're 20-something seats stronger than their last minority, and nearly double the seats of the Liberals, the next largest block. In fact they're only 12 seats from a majority (155).
Regardless, minority governments are always a balancing act - that is most definitely part of the design of the Westminster system. In some ways, its almost better to always have a minority government - because it forces cooperation and negotiation. Since we don't have as clear a separation of executive & legislative as the US system, for example, we have to live with the threat of winner-take-all majority governments which basically reduce all other parties to noise-makers. On the other hand, we have the instability of minority govts. as we see here.
To be honest its a bit unfair to threaten a new election so close after one which was itself too soon. I'm not trying to defend the conservatives (I voted Green), but its a burden on the country to get bogged down in this kind of political gaming so soon after an election. Even if the coalition is given the go-ahead to form a govt. by the governor general, I'm skeptical that the coalition will hold together for long. What kind of policies can a Liberal-Bloc-NDP coalition agree on?
All in all - this whole situation screams the need for a proportional Parliament and a reformed Senate.
Yes, for me, the order of preference, from least to most is: majority government, minority government, coalition government, reformed parliament and election system.
The coalition is made up of the Liberals and the NDP, the Bloc is in on it, in as much as they have agreed to not topple the government for 18 months, but they're not in the ruling coalition, they'd still be in the opposition.
*Takes a deep breath*
PROPORTIONAL REPRESENTATION NOW PLEASE!!!!!!
I totally agree with you Rich. I can't believe so many people are making so much bad noise, when they really don't know what they are talking about. One thing you could say about this current situation (erm, crisis?) is that it's forcing (some) people to educate them selves about our electoral system and the house of Parliament.
If all the people who are currently blogging, writing letters, calling in to talk shows, orating at their local pub, etc, had actually voted in this last election maybe we would have a clear majority...........
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