Jim Flaherty joins Stephen Harper at the top of the Lying Elite (Power and Politics)

I just finished watching Canada's Finance Minister Jim Flaherty on Power and Politics.

I am absolutely relieved to know that our Jim will be a one term wonder and that he will destroy any confidence Canadians who voted for him and his party had.

Our Princeton schooled elite lawyer is now all about the second coming of the "Common Sense Revolution" - you know the economic religion of Mike Harris promoted by then Minister of Finance of Ontario, the one and only (thankfully) Mr. Flaherty.

Ultra fiscal Conservative and disciple Flaherty and ultra social Conservative  Reform disciple Stephen Harper. It will be a rough 4 years but then I believe it will end.

Flaherty is not a financial guru - he used the systems left by former Finance Ministers - and those who operated distinctly different in ideology than him. He inherited banking policy, EI funds, balanced books, and a system which was fundamentally different than the USA (crippled by its own fraudulent, corrupt, and unregulated system). Flaherty as was his boss Mike Harris - is a Reaganomics lovers.

Flaherty and his PC's in Ontario were replaced after people became sick of waiting for the rebirth of finance and he (Flaherty) successfully accomplished nothing memorable during his tenure - other than hardship for anyone other than financially wealthy families. Then Flaherty ran - unsuccessfully twice - for the leadership of the Ontario Progressive Conservatives. Why did Tories not elect this "genius" to be their leader? He was too conservative. He is absolutely at home with his new ultra-right-wing reform party.

Now as is typical of right wing conservative fanatics - Flaherty is hypocritical - and will do what is necessary in the moment. In a minority Harper government - he spent like a drunken labour socialist on steroids - with the exception of who actually benefited. Make no mistake social - human welfare will be replaced by corporate welfare. He will keep taxing ordinary Canadians to reduce taxes for the largest of the corporate world.

Today - on Power and Politics - with Evan Solomon - Flaherty tried to defend the elimination of election financing. As with other ultra-right-wing liars - the Minister kept looking toward the floor and not the camera (presumably to keep a straight face) as he tried to justify the elimination of fairness and equity in democracy.

Flaherty tried to explain to Solomon that the $2 dollar per vote system meant that somehow my money would not be going to a party I support. Hang on now Minister it is based on actual votes. It is a fair system that places us closer to a representative system rather than the "first past the post" system we suffer under.

Now Mr. Flaherty hear this from this taxpayer and voter - you have not removed the system of tax credits for political contributions wherein I know my money is going to support parties and candidates I do not support.

Mr. Flaherty talked about "passing the hat" and getting a contribution - he added write a cheque. Ditto Mr. Flaherty - when people give a political contribution - they will continue to get a tax credit. How about if you write a cheque for a political party - don't hold your hand out waiting for me to give you a partial refund of your contribution.

The Finance Minister was also very elitist when he suggested the writing of cheques - what of Canadians - the families he goes on and on about who pay tax - and at the end of the day do not have enough to put away for a pension? Flaherty is talking about more affluent Canadians who have funds to spare after the basic needs, tax, pension contributions, and financial contribution for their children's' education. These affluent Canadians will write the cheque because Mr. Flaherty will make sure the companies they head or run will get tax breaks - and they are likely to get the opportunity to pick up public assets at a cheap privatization price.

Flaherty is going to hack the public service and he will hack programs that are important to people in most need. Flaherty will continue the practice of Corporate welfare and you and I will pay for it.

Flaherty had no problem bailing out the auto giants - and will claim he did so to save a job. Jobs would have rebounded as new corporate entities filled the void of bankrupt companies who "did not live within their means".

Ontario put him in - and Ontario should have known better. But as is usually the case in this failed federation - the big decide and the smaller pay and suffer.

Flaherty will justify the G8 G20 fiasco about to be revealed - including a fake lake - however clean water and food for children - that will have to wait. That's just "common sense", as Mr. Flaherty sees it.

I wonder how easy it would be to get a face to face with the Minister if you are the CEO of Scotia Bank? Do you think you can get the same meeting to address your needs?

Mr. Flaherty you and your party have sucked off the public teat to the tune of tens of millions of dollars. You and your party have benefited more from our election financing than any other - and still the Conservatives wanted to break the rules/law when it suited the political needs.

Flaherty like Harper is a political fraud and a hypocrite.

Thank you Evan Solomon for a decent interview that was very revealing. The only question you missed was - when are they cutting all funds for the CBC?

What a Tragic Day for Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada, and Democracy

Where do I start?

There is no doubt that Stephen Harper is a liar. There is also no doubt that he is a right wing fundamentalist. He also heads up a party that ignores election laws and rewards people who lie - with a Cabinet post.

The real problem and concern is that he is also very shrewd - he will use his intelligence not for the common good but for his own advancement and that of his secret corporate buddies.

Today as Newfoundland and Labrador witnesses the appointment of Peter Penashue to Cabinet - we should be celebrating this historic move - instead we have to ponder how cynical this actually is.

Without questioning at all the sincerity of Mr. Penashue - I absolutely am sickened by what this means for our future. I am able to hypothesize why Harper has made the move - but I am yet unable to determine if Penashue will fall for it.

Peter Penashue is now the Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs - and as such may be the individual that delivers the loan guarantee for the Lower Churchill development to the province. As an Innu leader - Harper can claim that he not only gave our government what it wanted but it was done through an aboriginal person. This development - possibly the largest giveaway in our history - should be stopped not financed. Harper for his part will use Penashue to deliver cheap - green - reliable power to other provinces of importance to him. This is great news for Nova Scotia, Ontario, and perhaps other Maritime provinces or New England States - but it is devastating to us. What a clever lad our Prime Minister is - how deceptive, vindictive, and sarcastic he is.

Meanwhile back at the ranch - that Stephen Harper's surreptitious mind lives on - he has once again appointed Fabian Manning to the Senate joined by other failed Conservative candidates. Another absolute slap in the face to the people of our province who chose again NOT to elect him. Remember Harper - promising to deliver an elected Senate? Not only has he continued to renege on this - he appoints people the people have said no to.

Then the kicker - Harper finished his News Conference on the Cabinet appointments - then passes on the information on the Senate appointments and does not stick around to answer questions about it. John Baird the newly minted Minister of Foreign Affairs - also refused questions on this absolute contempt of the Canadian people.
 
For political desert - if your stomach is not already upset - Bev Oda returns to Cabinet!

For the 22% of the voting public that elected this mess - well done. For the over 70% who did not - shame on those who did not vote and the remainder of us should simply work very hard to make sure the next four years does not destroy our country and ensure this type of administration is never elected again.

Cheers to Peter MacKay - your sly and manipulative manner has surely paid off.

Renouvellement de la Politique Québécoise (this takes guts and makes sense)

I am sure most of Canada looked at Quebec after the federal election and scratched their heads. What was all that about? They threw out most of the Bloc, continued to punish the Liberals, and yes continued to find Harper too un-Canadian. They elected a group of youngsters, university and college kids under the NDP banner. They left some incumbents standing to make sure Quebec's interests were covered by most parties.

Canada and its media looked on and tried to figure out - how did that happen? Was it Jack Layton? Well - yes it was - in some part - as Jack is a native son and is progressive regarding social policy. Jack is also now the leader of the official opposition.

So Quebec now dominates the caucus of the official opposition which in some part counters the ownership of Government by Ontario. Quebec has sent a message to all politicians in that province - do not get too comfortable - you are replaceable. Quebec has looked to the future and said - let's bring in the rookies - the youth; let's take advantage of the vote mob and bring fresh new ideas to the table.

Let's engage the future generations of Quebec and involve them in the protection and service to Quebec - change that is required to move ahead and not stagnate.

The pundits - the critics were out in full force - essentially making fun of absentee candidates and those who were not bilingual, too young, not established, and most importantly not yet owned. That's exactly the point - Quebec rejected the establishment, the worn, the politically corrupt, and traditional voting patterns.

I look at the House of Assembly in Newfoundland and Labrador - my home province - and am jealous of the Quebec political renewal. I look at the bourgeois population of the peoples House and am tired and bored. I know the new kids on the bloc representing Quebec in Ottawa - despite being rank amateurs in the politics of politics - are far more inspiring than the entitled MHA's we are subjects of.

Look at the nodding heads sitting behind Ms. Dunderdale or other Cabinet Ministers; do they inspire you? Do you get a sense of independent thought from any of them? Do you experience chills as they stand up and make predictable Members Statements? Their hands are "rubbed raw" from clinging to Danny's shredding coattails. They speak on important matters such as the Lower Churchill with passion only seen in the dead eyes of a drowned cod.

Quebec said no to; Crosbie begets Crosbie - Ottenheimer begets Ottenheimer - PC begets Kevin O'Brien - High School Principal begets yet another nodding head - all waiting to jump to their feet and cheer if the Premier says something - anything sounding similar to an insult to Jones or Michael.

Quebec demonstrated one very important philosophy - Democracy.

This is not about getting rid of the sovereignty debate - that is still alive and very healthy at the provincial level. It is about renewal. It is about Quebec. It is about a lively and unpredictable voting population that will keep politicians under their employ; as long as they say.

I would be willing to throw the whole works out for a bunch of new people - un"established" in the partisan sense of the word. I would love to see all MHA's replaced with students, fishers, miners, small business owners, and single parents - diverse and new. People who are truly representative of people and have the ability to have thoughts and ideas unencumbered by intrusive life-long senior bureaucrats still pushing failed and unwelcome policies.

In Quebec - this summer will be about the culture, the language, the pride, and the aspirations of a country - their own. In Newfoundland and Labrador we can look forward to unseasonably tanned politicians dragging themselves from funeral to BBQ without missing a beat and expect the people they come close to standing beside rush to get the camera to capture the moment they came close to shaking the hand of our legislative elite.

You feel comfortable with the Lower Churchill development? Why? I know Stephen Harper will be delighted to take away that cheap, renewable, reliable power and watch as Newfoundland and Labrador pays an enormous price - both short and long-term. I know Stephen and Peter will be happy to deliver to Nova Scotia and perhaps even Ontario. Stephen Harper enjoyed making a promise he will actually keep to our people - as it will represent something that diminishes our future.

You think it's time for a renewal in Newfoundland and Labrador?