Friday, March 19, 2010
Stephen Harper and the Hard Right
For years I have warned about the Theocon Conspiracy, and how Stephen Harper was planning to change Canada beyond recognition.
But almost nobody I know believed me. Simon this is Canada eh? Not Amerika or Iran.
For years I hoped people wouldn't focus on individual acts of terror, like the destruction of Rights and Democracy, and Jason Kenney's decision to endanger gay lives. But would try to connect the dots.
Now Paul Wells has done a pretty good job of doing just that, and it's not a pretty picture.
Conservatives who vote on faith, family and criminal justice felt so left out by Brian Mulroney’s governments that millions of them fled to Reform and smaller groups like the Christian Heritage party. Now they are back, rubbing elbows with power, not always running the show but never ignored. They have not had so much good news from Ottawa in half a century.
Especially this part...
Because it is incremental, Harper’s social project is not close to being done. For next steps, many conservatives are turning to Fearful Symmetry: The Fall and Rise of Canada’s Founding Values, a new book by Brian Lee Crowley, an economist and founder of the new Macdonald-Laurier Institute.
To caricature a complex argument, Crowley says the modern welfare state has overextended itself, is unsustainable, and causes more harm than good to institutions like the family. These trends will only get worse when an aging population sharply increases the cost of delivering most social programs. One size can no longer fit all. Social services will have to be narrowly aimed at those who need them most, and delivered only as long as recipients are willing to improve their behaviour by attending to their family, keeping or seeking a job, and so on. Government is no good at any of that and, in the opinion of most, shouldn’t try
Crowley’s book was published last autumn. It seems to have been barely one step ahead of the news. This month’s Throne Speech contained a single line saying the government “will look to innovative charities and forward-thinking private-sector companies to partner on new approaches to many social challenges
Meanwhile, the federal Liberals are still defending policies from five years ago, policies Harper has taken pains to ensure future federal governments won’t be able to afford, with his GST cuts and his massive cash transfers to the provinces. If the Liberals cannot begin to make a case for a return to larger, more activist—and more expensive—state-run social welfare, then Stephen Harper’s social conservative revolution will only accelerate.
So many Canadians were so blind they didn't understand why Harper is so cheerful about our ballooning deficits, when he used to foam at the mouth at the very idea.
Until he realized he could use a huge deficit to do what he always wanted to do; cut government to the bleeding bone. And force us into the clutches of his cruel religious fanatics.
Hey little poor person if you are hungry you will SING for your supper. Hey little girl if your uncle made you pregnant, you WILL bear his child. Or burn in hell.
Hey little gay boy if you want some shelter, you must let us cut the devil out of you ,and smear blood all over your face.
"If a man lies with a male as he lies with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination. They shall surely be put to death. Their blood shall be upon them."
Oh boy. So many Canadians said it couldn't happen here. Because this is Canada eh? Not Amerika. Now it's almost too late.
From the Book of Antonia.
From the Book of Simon and the sacred scrolls of the Monkey God.
"If you are going to defeat your enemies, first you must KNOW them."
Fight them, fight them, fight them.
Don't let them win...
No shock to me Simon, I've always believed you. This: “will look to innovative charities and forward-thinking private-sector companies to partner on new approaches to many social challenges"
ReplyDeleteThink about it, all those con womyns being deserted by Con men, all those womyns having 4 kids, all those womyns being single parents. Do u actually think they are going to look to innovative charities? Nope. In the end, women always need social programs, no matter what gov't is in. They will be the deciders in the end. As all women are, eventually.
When the con women are left behind with kids, they will change their minds. Unless of course they have a special slushfund to access. Not bloody likely. LOL!
Fortunately, I'm still young enough that I can just wait for Stephen Harper's generation to die off and then clean up whatever mess they leave behind.
ReplyDeleteSimon relax we can stll make a straight boy out of you. We will find you nice little lesbian girl and the two of you will get to like each other and eventually have sex with each other and both of you will have a chance to raise little gay boys and little lesbian girls and everything will be just fine.
ReplyDeleteSimon you just have to learn to trust us and you will be just fine, trust me.
hi Toe...I really shouldn't have suggested that I was the only one who was crying Con, but you know what I mean?
ReplyDeleteIt just frustrates me to see how long it has taken most Canadians to realize what dangerous theocon ideologues these Cons really are.
I should also point out that in his G20 plan Harper seems to be suggesting that the rich nations should bypass the U.N. and fund more private charities and faith based groups.
I'll be watching that one closely... ;)
hi anonymous... I used to feel that way and then I got a little older and I changed my mind. I can't wait fifty years and hope that things change. :)
ReplyDeleteSeriously though I'm sorry to say that even if you were born last week you will not be able to escape Stephen Harper's legacy. As I pointed out in my post Harper is cutting taxes and spending billions to ensure that even if his government is replaced in the next election, the government won't have the money to do anything. You can kiss goodbye to a good education system, medicare will be squeezed, and you will be forced to live in a much bleaker Canada.
The best thing we can do is mobilize more young people to get out and vote, because apart from the boomers dying in third-world hospitals, they are going to be hurt the MOST...
hi Anonymous Two...you know I'm flattered to have my very own troll, but do you ever read what you write before you send it?
ReplyDeleteI mean REALLY. I've made my position abundantly clear many times before. Because you're so loyal I am too. If you can't carry my baby I don't want one...