Dunderdale - Cochrane - Cashin - Bloggers "FEAR"

Democracy: new definition

A right of people to elect dictators.

The continual flow of apologists for government and media should bother us.

One blogger noted:

"For a guy who called the press conference pleading for openness and transparency, I find it peculiar for him to attack the medium through which such transparency could be taken advantage of by the public. As Paddy Daly noted, it was akin to biting the hand that feeds."

Here we go again speaking out must be highlighted by fear.

Biting the hand that feeds it?

What does this mean?

One cannot and must not criticise or question the media?

One cannot and must not criticise government?

Shut your mouth and you will be rewarded?

Shut your mouth or bad things will happen?

If one believes the media is being soft on the most significant resource deal of the century for our province - what should they do? If one believes that this is part of the reason the government is acting so arrogant while spending our money - what should they do?

The pedestals must fall - people - politicians and media alike must be placed with the people and for the people. This constant attack on citizens who buy papers, watch and listen to news and ultimately pay for things like the Emera deal must end.

Speaking freely and publicly should not achieve an outcome of punishment. What exactly are we living under?

Dunderdale and Harper are reason enough to question and criticise till one is exhausted - now we have the media suggesting they are above question.

Gate 1: return power to the people

Gate 2: chastise and punish all politicians who do not understand who they work for

Gate 3: start decrying the punishment mentality of both government and some media with respect to people expressing an opinion or belief.

Gate 4: understand that politicians and some media do an awful lot of power plays behind the scenes as they pass out their punishment.

Gate 5: stop all progress of the Emera deal until a referendum process is undertaken and complete.

If this is a democracy - the threats of retribution to citizens who speak out must stop.

Our history is filled with examples where neither elected representatives nor media have done due diligence and we have and continue to pay the price.

From the United Nations: Everyone has the right to take part in the government of his country, directly or through freely chosen representatives. 

When a citizen is discouraged from direct involvement through use of fear or intimidation - he/she does not live in a democracy. 

It was only a short while ago that Premier Dunderdale stated that Tom Osborne did not do enough to build a relationship with her. For this reason and not for reason of competence or ability he did not make Cabinet?

Prime Minister Harper is a liar - straight up - yet the media does not only avoid the factual situation but also accepts his direction with respect to when he will answer questions and who he will answer in the media.

The race to the bottom is heating up and whether it's Cashin, Osborne, or any other soul who dares question, critique or oppose government or media - they are under threat of some sort of reprisal?

The same blogger mentioned earlier said the following:

"So why did Cashin put forth such a ridiculous claim? Well, it’s simple really. Cochrane asked him a question that made Cashin uncomfortable.  In the press conference, Cochrane basically restated Premier Dunderdale’s position on not allowing expert witnesses in the House of Assembly for the special Muskrat Falls debate as they were going to follow the template set out in the Voisey’s Bay debate from years past. Cochrane probably knows full well all of the things that are wrong with Dunderdale’s assertion, but he clearly put it in front of Cashin for him to refute, if he could. THIS IS WHAT GOOD REPORTERS DO.

Cashin is right, comparing Voisey’s Bay to Muskrat Falls is like comparing apples and oranges. The fact that the premise for Cochrane’s question contained the assumption that it was okay to compare the two appeared to really piss him off. Cochrane premised a question with a notion that Cashin believes to be preposterous, as he appears to think it’s irresponsible to even suggest that Muskrat Falls is similar to Voisey’s Bay."

The question that comes to my mind is did David Cochrane question Dunderdale's premise in the same manner he asked Cashin to do?

Did he place before the Premier the facts of the Voisey's Bay debate and the factual differences between the two?

Did Cochrane drag out the factual assumptions of Newfoundland and Labrador Hydro over the past 25 years ans ask Martin or Dunderdale to explain the errors?

Did Cochrane chase Premier Williams around after his resignation to find out what's up?

Oh there are so many questions that could and should be asked by Cochrane and I assume that Cashin along with many others are exasperated by the soft approach on Dunderdale while leaving the tougher more aggressive questioning to citizens voicing their concerns.

Why will we pay Emera for any part of delivering domestic power?
Why will we pay Emera to maintain any part of our pole infrastructure?
What is Emera's record in Nova Scotia or the Grand Bahamas?
Does former Premier Williams have any investments that could benefit from this deal?
Why are the ratepayers/taxpayers paying for this mess?

Developing any part of the Lower Churchill should equal thousands of long-term jobs in Labrador and should be paying a significant dividend to the ratepayers in order to keep prices lower not higher.

How about Cochrane does a straight comparison between this proposed deal with Emera and the two last attempted deals by Tobin and Grimes. Let's see the information. Let us - the citizens make a call based on REAL information.

How about the Quebec card? How about we have some answers on that. How about we ask if Quebec companies will benefit greatly from this deal? How about we establish a fact that Quebec could buy into Emera?

This deal and all its dirt must be exposed and then stopped.

The only people who are really being chastized, marginalized, scrutinized and punished regarding the Emera deal are citizens who are not being paid to either govern or report.