So here’s the Facebook‘ed cut’n'paste from the cut’n'thrust from the demo-discussion (name removed to protect the innocent). Some interesting ideas incubating this week, probably as a result of last week’s blowout. Thinking more about the public consultation process, using digital tools to drive grassroots participation, citizen engagement & how to build better public consultation forums. But I digress – this is pure politics below. Comments welcome
Subject: Twitter
Between You and JohnD’Oh
JohnD’Oh
December 5 at 5:31pm
I tried d replying on Twitter, but you’re not following me!
My $0.02:
- I disagree with the coalition. When I cast my ballot for the NDP, it was precisely because I didn’t want to vote for Stephan Dion. Their “62% majority” is counting me as though I support the coalition.
- I disagree with the GG’s decision to suspend parliament. Her role is to let parliament fight it out, and not interfere.
- I think it’s irresponsible and somewhat childish to be doing this at a time when we all need parliament to actually do some real work.
- I’m a little sick of the endless chatter on the news and radio. More talk isn’t going to get things moving
… and if an election were to be called right now, I’d switch from the NDP to the Conservatives.
So whats this event you’re organizing? Sounds interesting.
JohnD’Oh
—-
Meghan Warby
December 7 at 11:16am
Hey! I just clicked follow yesterday – sorry about that! Can I blog about this? May I use your email with or without attribution – it’s a great jumping off point….
I see your point of view on how the coalition was not an ideal governance path for many Canadians, however I respectfully point out that if you disagree with the GG choosing prorogation over a vote (‘fight it out’), which would inevitably lead to a coalition-led non confidence motion/dissolution, that you are now entering cake having & eating mode. We elected a parliament, not a president & that parliament, if left to ‘fight it out’ was prepared to execute a plan they negotiated among three parties to govern.
As for ‘childish’ actions – that’s an at-times-fair but trite & over-used accusation dismissing politicians’ motivations. It is childish (or naive) to believe that you can affect change aligning yourself with an organization anchored in a set of values, policies & actions – these politicos should be duke-ing it out mano-a-mano on Bay Street, right? Or putting aside their differences & working to solve a stalemate through a coalition, oh, wait, that’s what was proposed. I’ve never joined a political party, but I was a card-carrying member of innumerable crunchy-granola-eating-hackey-sack-playing organizations when I was a teenager – I mailed hundreds of dollars to NGOs in mini-increments to contribute to causes in which I believed, wrote letters, organized events – pretty childish to think that I could make a difference, huh?
However, I feel that childish is a fair description of two policy pronouncements – taunting political parties by threatening to remove public funding ($30M per year= a lot of rubber chicken) & an additional jab with a threat to remove the right to strike from public sector workers (why should someone’s employer determine their labour rights so long as they are not providing emergency services or other classifications that have already been laid out provincially?). Outside of the blissfully ignorant economic statement, with conveniently oblivious assertions that we will not run a deficit, these two policies were too much to stomach & assaulted the core beliefs of left-leaning parties, and also a natural (some say crass…) self-preservation instinct for the parties’ administration.
& THIS is what really, really bothers me about blase political critics – feigned exhaustion.
I’m NOT sick of the chatter because it serves to refresh, remind & re-educate Canadians of the machinery – the basics – of our political system. People toss off phrases like ‘plead the fifth’ mindlessly without knowing that in OUR COUNTRY this means that Parliament sets out the MPs’ powers & immunities & it in no way relates to keeping mum after an arrest! Rallies, web campaigns, blogs – this is not just ‘static’ – people have woken from a paralyzing coma that engulfed them during an (admittedly) tepid political campaign & (thanks to ‘chatter’) recognize the power of Parliament. This is empowering, should be encouraged & fuels more ‘chatter’ – it is incumbent upon citizen journalists & mass media outlets to air divergent opinions on the future of our government, because it directly impacts our quality of life & reputation abroad.
I will not even TOUCH the logic(?) behind your threat to ‘punish’ the NDP by voting Tory in the next election.
I will, however, buy you a beverage of your choice (maybe this deserves 2) at an upcoming event, since I’ve unloaded my nerdy enthusiasm for all things political on your unsuspecting inbox.
Your fan,
Meegs
