tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23253782.post9045619318000464148..comments2024-03-03T17:01:57.876-05:00Comments on Montreal Simon: The Liberals, the NDP, and the Con ApocalypseSimonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15309809679331128837noreply@blogger.comBlogger24125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23253782.post-43509601689868675342016-06-04T16:21:31.922-04:002016-06-04T16:21:31.922-04:00http://www.pressprogress.ca/conservatives_ran_out_...http://www.pressprogress.ca/conservatives_ran_out_of_ideas_in_2010_says_stephen_harper_ex_chief_of_staffDavidhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09630890163958807048noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23253782.post-67353025047737728452016-06-04T09:10:51.114-04:002016-06-04T09:10:51.114-04:00Hi Simon I am not all that well informed on the in...Hi Simon I am not all that well informed on the intricacies of proportional representation but do realize that some politicians run on very personal objectives once elected and could cause significant mischief with a proportional system.A brief literature search of the Italian proportional system indicates that in order to get back to a majority system of government they proposed giving the party with the largest percentage of the popular vote an extra 50 seats.Of course this proposal went nowhere because the did not have a majority to push it through the legislature.Imagine how utterly dysfunctional the current government would be if the Liberals held only 40% of the seats.Its a bit of a stretch to believe that angry Tom and Pinocchio Rona and their minions would suddenly behave in a much more responsible manner.Perhaps there are safeguards that can be put in place to prevent this type of behavior that I am not aware of.<br />RTAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23253782.post-87841479218925844272016-06-04T08:34:57.315-04:002016-06-04T08:34:57.315-04:00hi Kirby...yes all that you say is true. But I not...hi Kirby...yes all that you say is true. But I note that the Con media is not only pushing for a referendum, they clearly are also pushing for the FPTP system to be on the ballot. And keep arguing like Rempelstiltskin that the Liberals have not made the case for getting rid of the FPTP system...Simonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15309809679331128837noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23253782.post-74191710970314298122016-06-04T08:31:46.716-04:002016-06-04T08:31:46.716-04:00hi Pamela...yes I too thought that Justin's mu...hi Pamela...yes I too thought that Justin's musings about not repeating the mistakes of the Cons was extremely generous and noble. I mean can you imagine Stephen Harper giving an inch on a matter like that one? Or surrendering his majority on any committee? I can't. As for Rawna I'm glad you like that creation. As I told Omar, I was in a bit of a hurry and was having some computer problems (thank you Windows 10) so I used a cheap little app on my cellphone, and I must say I was pleased with the result. So I must do that more often... ;)Simonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15309809679331128837noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23253782.post-84761843344487236882016-06-04T08:26:09.861-04:002016-06-04T08:26:09.861-04:00hi RT...yes, it does seem to tilt the balance in f...hi RT...yes, it does seem to tilt the balance in favour of proportional representation. As I've told you before it's the option I presently favour because I would enjoy the sight of progressive politicians exercising our genius for compromise. However, your comments have made me realize that I need to educate myself more thoroughly, and decide whether that would be the best system for a country like Canada. And thanks to you I will take a closer look at the ranked ballot system. And when I do I will also bear in mind that the simpler the new system the better, because if it is too complicated we'll never be able to explain it to many Canadians in time to get a new system up and going...Simonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15309809679331128837noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23253782.post-83508117964197696042016-06-04T08:20:32.886-04:002016-06-04T08:20:32.886-04:00hi Omar...that one is just for you, courtesy of a ...hi Omar...that one is just for you, courtesy of a $2 app on my cellphone which I use to take pictures of my friends and show them how they really look... ;)Simonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15309809679331128837noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23253782.post-44584544683891406732016-06-04T08:19:00.159-04:002016-06-04T08:19:00.159-04:00hi anon...I agree, those referendum questions I co...hi anon...I agree, those referendum questions I could go for. We did have an election. We did not have a referendum to give women the vote which was a big deal, and of course the Cons did not bother to consult us when they brought in the Unfair Elections Act in an attempt to suppress the vote. Simonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15309809679331128837noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23253782.post-13890560485947682352016-06-03T23:52:45.741-04:002016-06-03T23:52:45.741-04:00Justin continues to amaze me, even after R.E.B'...Justin continues to amaze me, even after R.E.B's outright lie against him he still wants to work with them. He's a better person than me. I won't forgive or forget that nasty little game she played with his reputation as she let him be smeared around the world while still clinging to the lie. Let's hope she learned about a thing called "personal space" and staying out of it. <br />Great pic of Rawna, I think you've really captured her essence. That could be your Cover for the book, but somehow I think Harper should have that honor. Sunny Ways ! Pamela. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23253782.post-85512923134978614652016-06-03T22:58:33.264-04:002016-06-03T22:58:33.264-04:00Not surprised the NDP are favoring proportional re...Not surprised the NDP are favoring proportional representation.Unless there are some strong protections put in place the natural outcome of proportional voting systems are minority governments which then empowers coalition governments.Elbowgate revealed the silly games the NDP were playing with a majority government imagine what would happen if they had a string of minority governments to play with.In an ideal world where politicians of all stripes work together for the common good proportional representation would be a very effective form of government but given the number of clowns that Canadians seem to elect it would be a total disaster. An ineffectual Italian or Greek style of government with a strategy of kicking the can down the road forever.At least a simple ranked ballot would settle things at the ballot box and not in back rooms ....<br />RTAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23253782.post-46615297276191965582016-06-03T21:55:46.907-04:002016-06-03T21:55:46.907-04:00That is one creepy fucking picture of Rona you hav...That is one creepy fucking picture of Rona you have happening up there, Simon. Well done!Omarhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12058734544373976550noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23253782.post-3517225470701312582016-06-03T10:10:19.265-04:002016-06-03T10:10:19.265-04:00I guess having a limited referendum is enough demo...I guess having a limited referendum is enough democracy to swallow in one bite. I guess winning a referendum, like winning an election, requires too much education of the stupid unwashed. Oh well, if we can have a modified Prop Rep, we can have a limited referendum.<br /><br />I wonder how it would be perceived if a province (no particular one) were to have a referendum asking if you agree to separation using your own passports or separation still using the Canadian one. That is separation one way or another but no choice of the status quo because the unwashed don't like change.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23253782.post-21241410672558507242016-06-03T09:54:20.512-04:002016-06-03T09:54:20.512-04:00Now Simon, that is real fame. Congradulations.Now Simon, that is real fame. Congradulations.jrkrideauhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04869979887929067657noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23253782.post-32383256539885918172016-06-03T09:40:58.560-04:002016-06-03T09:40:58.560-04:00Yes, no doubt there are problems with a referendum...Yes, no doubt there are problems with a referendum. But the trade off might be worth it if we take FPTP off the table. It would certainly knee-cap the Cons. The fact is that people overwhelmingly vote for the status quo in referenda and making the status quo not an option would be very unusual for a referendum so it is difficult to say how people would react. Either way, I agree that the Con's claim that we somehow "need" a referendum is utter nonsense. The Con's attempt at making changes to the electoral system were far more sinister and potentially far reaching than anything that is now being suggested and they didn't even want to talk about their changes, let alone bring them up in a referendum. Kirbycairohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17528654183160305877noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23253782.post-8709423123472748842016-06-03T09:29:19.398-04:002016-06-03T09:29:19.398-04:00Um, we just had a referendum. It's called an ...Um, we just had a referendum. It's called an election, and Canadians made clear they were disgusted with the harpercons and tossed them on the garbage pile of history.<br />Instead, I propose we have a referendum on whether harper should face criminal investigation for tax fraud. It's claimed his personal wealth has ballooned to $5-$6 million. Considering the amount we paid him, the math doesn't add up. Then, we need another referendum to decide if Canadians would be in favour of charging all his ministers for sedition/treason. Isn't it the conservatives who sent millions of our tax dollars to the Republican party? <br />Oh, yes let's have many referendums, but let's have them for the right reasons. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23253782.post-26586155406624390442016-06-03T08:31:27.823-04:002016-06-03T08:31:27.823-04:00hi Kirby...yes as I just told Gyor my objections t...hi Kirby...yes as I just told Gyor my objections to a referendum would be greatly reduced if the FPTP system is not on the ballot. But as you can see the Cons who claimed they weren't against the idea of electoral reform are now starting to wail and ask what was wrong with the old system? And some in the Con media are also echoing that question. And of course should it end up on the ballot then our chances of blowing the whole exercise would rise exponentially. For first of all, by the time we decide whether to hold a referendum there would be very little time to organize one, and there could be all kinds of problems which could lead to people challenging the result. And secondly, trying to explain the intricacies of the new systems to those who are too indifferent or too ignorant to follow these matters, would also suffer from a lack of time. <br />So again that would tend to favour the status quo. But at least now that the progressive parties have agreed to work together, we can argue that it has broad support and that we don't need a referendum. Finally, having lived through a couple in Quebec, and one in Scotland, I know that they are incredibly divisive, and this country has enough fault lines, so I really don't think it's a useful exercise...Simonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15309809679331128837noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23253782.post-8185695629308714532016-06-03T08:20:21.860-04:002016-06-03T08:20:21.860-04:00hi Steve...I'm afraid that would get you quick...hi Steve...I'm afraid that would get you quickly blocked, for I am blocked from her site even though I never sent her a single tweet. As I am from Jason Kenney's Twitter site even though I never sent him a message either.... Simonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15309809679331128837noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23253782.post-37231870790233516252016-06-03T08:18:27.290-04:002016-06-03T08:18:27.290-04:00hi Gyor...If the FPTP system was left off the ball...hi Gyor...If the FPTP system was left off the ballot my objections to a referendum would be greatly diminished. For as I'm sure you know when dealing with a choice between the familiar and something new, the status quo tends to prevail. This is the best chance we'll have to convince people that the FPTP system was responsible for the reign of Stephen Harper, while that nightmare is still fresh in people's minds. So we should go for it with all the strength we can muster....Simonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15309809679331128837noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23253782.post-26209623665530742282016-06-03T08:14:19.064-04:002016-06-03T08:14:19.064-04:00hi anon...Bernie is campaigning for the big Califo...hi anon...Bernie is campaigning for the big California primary, where according to the latest poll he is in a virtual tie with Hillary Clinton. If he wins that state Hillary might still be ahead, but the super delegates might have to consider their support for her, so who knows what might happen...Simonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15309809679331128837noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23253782.post-41801741063412482322016-06-03T08:11:16.984-04:002016-06-03T08:11:16.984-04:00hi anon...yes set the oven at 350 degrees, butter ...hi anon...yes set the oven at 350 degrees, butter up the Cons, pop them in the oven, and cook for at least 50 years... ;)Simonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15309809679331128837noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23253782.post-67639778486956014262016-06-03T07:18:55.175-04:002016-06-03T07:18:55.175-04:00I have no problem with a referendum, as long as th...I have no problem with a referendum, as long as the status quo isn't one of the choices. If fact, if the government does have a referendum in which people can choose between two good reform options, that will render the Cons point moot and shut them down. Kirbycairohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17528654183160305877noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23253782.post-76368045447462676762016-06-03T07:13:09.999-04:002016-06-03T07:13:09.999-04:00Wish I was on twitter so I could introduce Rempel ...Wish I was on twitter so I could introduce Rempel to the concept of math,Stevehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14162783936999869984noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23253782.post-6250815856200786172016-06-03T06:49:20.477-04:002016-06-03T06:49:20.477-04:00 A possible compromise between the NDP/Green posit... A possible compromise between the NDP/Green position MMPR, Liberal position of Ranked Ballots, and the Tories belief that it should be decided by referundum could be have a referubdum where FPTP is left OFF the ballot, making the choice between Ranked Ballot and Mixed Member Portonional Representation.Gyorhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06773307017058386989noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23253782.post-79343226541354785702016-06-02T22:36:50.462-04:002016-06-02T22:36:50.462-04:00Where's Bernie these days?Where's Bernie these days?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23253782.post-71902333945154604152016-06-02T22:31:10.016-04:002016-06-02T22:31:10.016-04:00Well well well looks the chicken has come home to ...Well well well looks the chicken has come home to roast.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com