Bob Rae as Finance Minister?

[fellowtraveller]

Liberal minority or coalition with the NDP.......

I'm starting to wonder if he is what is what we deserve.

[Smallc]

I'm starting to wonder if he is what is what we deserve.

The West separating from Alberta, people wishing financial ruin on this country.....sheesh. Sometimes I get really disappointed in people as many don't realize how good they truly have it here.

[kengs333]

The West separating from Alberta, people wishing financial ruin on this country.....sheesh. Sometimes I get really disappointed in people as many don't realize how good they truly have it here.

My sentiments exactly.

We need an end to regional politics, and one way we can do it is with electoral reform. We need a PR system.

[Mr.Canada]

My sentiments exactly.

We need an end to regional politics, and one way we can do it is with electoral reform. We need a PR system.

Oh yeah that would be great for the lefties wouldn't it?

There is only one Conservative party in Canada. The three others are leftist.

All minority gov's all the time. Not only that but the Lefties would all work together so the CPC would never get a chance to do anything.

26 years in a row then 13 years in a row and the Liberals still want more power in this country...wow.

[eyeball]

Oh yeah that would be great for the lefties wouldn't it?

There is only one Conservative party in Canada. The three others are leftist.

All minority gov's all the time. Not only that but the Lefties would all work together so the CPC would never get a chance to do anything.

26 years in a row then 13 years in a row and the Liberals still want more power in this country...wow.

Why you guys just don't round up all the lefties and shoot them when you do get a chance to do something is a real mystery.

[Mr.Canada]

Why you guys just don't round up all the lefties and shoot them when you do get a chance to do something is a real mystery.

We need the lefties just like the lefties need us.

Who would we have to blame if not each other?

[eyeball]

We need the lefties just like the lefties need us.

Who would we have to blame if not each other?

You'd have only yourselves to blame.

I would like a system that allows us the opportunity to cherry pick the best ideas from all parties and combine them together into policies. PR plus some sort of direct democracy or referenda is long overdue. With the technology of the Internet and polling at our fingertips there is just no excuse for staying harnessed to the horse and buggy era political and legislative system we have.

There is little reason why voters themselves shouldn't be allowed to propose legislation if they have a good idea.

[independent]

You'd have only yourselves to blame.

I would like a system that allows us the opportunity to cherry pick the best ideas from all parties and combine them together into policies. PR plus some sort of direct democracy or referenda is long overdue. With the technology of the Internet and polling at our fingertips there is just no excuse for staying harnessed to the horse and buggy era political and legislative system we have.

There is little reason why voters themselves shouldn't be allowed to propose legislation if they have a good idea.

Proxy voting. If we do not like what our Representative is doing we just give our vote too someone else.

[White Doors]

My sentiments exactly.

We need an end to regional politics, and one way we can do it is with electoral reform. We need a PR system.

You are the one who has been negative about the maritimes, rural people and Albertans so you are not one to talk of 'regionalism'..

[M.Dancer]

I would like a system that allows us the opportunity to cherry pick the best ideas from all parties and combine them together into policies.

If you edit out "best" you are left with the Liberal Party

[Alta4ever]

My sentiments exactly.

We need an end to regional politics, and one way we can do it is with electoral reform. We need a PR system.

If you move to that then you also need a regionally proportional senate or other elected body. Otherwise then every government could be conceivablely formed from just one province.

Edited October 14, 2008 by Alta4ever

[Mr.Canada]

You'd have only yourselves to blame.

I would like a system that allows us the opportunity to cherry pick the best ideas from all parties and combine them together into policies. PR plus some sort of direct democracy or referenda is long overdue. With the technology of the Internet and polling at our fingertips there is just no excuse for staying harnessed to the horse and buggy era political and legislative system we have.

There is little reason why voters themselves shouldn't be allowed to propose legislation if they have a good idea.

I agree wholeheartedly. I think that the ideas and policy should come from smart people from any and all political stripes. The CPC or the LPC or the NDP do not have the monopoly on good ideas. Every party has good ideas. At the same time I don't want all the parties to be the same or else we will have Soviet style socialism. That I don't want.

[Alta4ever]

I agree wholeheartedly. I think that the ideas and policy should come from smart people from any and all political stripes. The CPC or the LPC or the NDP do not have the monopoly on good ideas. Every party has good ideas. At the same time I don't want all the parties to be the same or else we will have Soviet style socialism. That I don't want.

In a good democracy this already happens but you need the opposition to debate and hash out the plans as a check and balance.

[eyeball]

In a good democracy this already happens but you need the opposition to debate and hash out the plans as a check and balance.

I'd also use an engaged constituency to debate and hash out plans. A deliberately optimized democracy would use the technological advantage of the Internet to communicate with as broad a number of people as possible. Democracy should be interactive, voters should be able to log onto...Governet for lack of a better term, and follow the debate and provide input through their keyboard. Each representative could monitor a screen that provides a realtime sense of how people feel about the issues they're debating, and could sift through any ideas that voters submit through polls and other feedback. Representatives should be able to post questions to their constituents and get an answer almost immediately. The whole idea is to move the best ideas to the front of the line as fast as possible.

As for actually voting in referenda I'd designate a day or two per year as 'Voting day' where people vote on a range of issues and render binding and or non-binding decisions about them.

I can see the wisdom of having a brake on the pace of debate and decision making for some issues so we should probably retain the Senate to provide this type of check and balance. For those who are fearful of too much change the Senate would also provide the comforting feel of the horse and buggy democracy they can't seem to live without.

Edited October 14, 2008 by eyeball

[Alta4ever]

I'd also use an engaged constituency to debate and hash out plans. A deliberately optimized democracy would use the technological advantage of the Internet to communicate with as broad a number of people as possible. Democracy should be interactive, voters should be able to log onto...Governet for lack of a better term, and follow the debate and provide input through their keyboard. Each representative could monitor a screen that provides a realtime sense of how people feel about the issues they're debating, and could sift through any ideas that voters submit through polls and other feedback. Representatives should be able to post questions to their constituents and get an answer almost immediately. The whole idea is to move the best ideas to the front of the line as fast as possible.

As for actually voting in referenda I'd designate a day or two per year as 'Voting day' where people vote on a range of issues and render binding and or non-binding decisions about them.

I can see the wisdom of having a brake on the pace of debate and decision making for some issues so we should probably retain the Senate to provide this type of check and balance. For those who are fearful of too much change the Senate would also provide the comforting feel of the horse and buggy democracy they can't seem to live without.

You are also forgeting that they are being elected to lead as well and sometimes that means voting against the popular sentiment.

[Smallc]

You are also forgeting that they are being elected to lead as well and sometimes that means voting against the popular sentiment.

Exactly. So many people don't seem to understand that.

[OddSox]

I'd also use an engaged constituency to debate and hash out plans. A deliberately optimized democracy would use the technological advantage of the Internet to communicate with as broad a number of people as possible. Democracy should be interactive, voters should be able to log onto...Governet for lack of a better term, and follow the debate and provide input through their keyboard. Each representative could monitor a screen that provides a realtime sense of how people feel about the issues they're debating, and could sift through any ideas that voters submit through polls and other feedback. Representatives should be able to post questions to their constituents and get an answer almost immediately. The whole idea is to move the best ideas to the front of the line as fast as possible.

As for actually voting in referenda I'd designate a day or two per year as 'Voting day' where people vote on a range of issues and render binding and or non-binding decisions about them.

I can see the wisdom of having a brake on the pace of debate and decision making for some issues so we should probably retain the Senate to provide this type of check and balance. For those who are fearful of too much change the Senate would also provide the comforting feel of the horse and buggy democracy they can't seem to live without.

Don't overlook the fact that a large percentage of our population does not have internet access and/or does not have a computer - and many have no interest in obtaining either. And judging by many of the posts on this board alone, I have my doubts about an 'engaged constituency' doing anything useful at all...

[mikedavid00]

We need an end to regional politics, and one way we can do it is with electoral reform. We need a PR system.

Then welcome to the Islamic party of Canada taking 10% of the seats.

Then the Asian Alliance Party Of Canada taking %15 of the seats.

This is the reality of PR in Canada.

[mikedavid00]

Liberal minority or coalition with the NDP.......

I'm starting to wonder if he is what is what we deserve.

No I want Bob Rae as leader of CPC before he gets too old.

Bob Rae isn't a finance minister, he's a leader. I would consider him to be the most saavy active politician in Canada today.

[blueblood]

No I want Bob Rae as leader of CPC before he gets too old.

Bob Rae isn't a finance minister, he's a leader. I would consider him to be the most saavy active politician in Canada today.

Bob Rae will never ever be leader of the CPC, he has the financial accumen of a spoiled rich girl. He was booted out of office in Ontario and the NDP was decimated there. Why would the CPC bring in someone whose financial outlook is the exact opposite of their party principles?

Just because Rae is a potential xenophobe? Take a look at the CPC, they have lots of immigrants or sons/daughters of immigrants, hell I live in the redneckest riding of Canada and my CPC MP is an immigrant. Xenophobia does not fly in the CPC.

[nothinarian]

Bob Rae will never ever be leader of the CPC, he has the financial accumen of a spoiled rich girl. He was booted out of office in Ontario and the NDP was decimated there. Why would the CPC bring in someone whose financial outlook is the exact opposite of their party principles?

Just because Rae is a potential xenophobe? Take a look at the CPC, they have lots of immigrants or sons/daughters of immigrants, hell I live in the redneckest riding of Canada and my CPC MP is an immigrant. Xenophobia does not fly in the CPC.

This is absolutley hilarious

Folllow the bouncing xenoball

[fellowtraveller]

No I want Bob Rae as leader of CPC before he gets too old.

Bob Rae isn't a finance minister, he's a leader. I would consider him to be the most saavy active politician in Canada today.

No doubt Rae is the most savvy, and he could have beaten Harper in 2006.

But savvy does not mean he would be any good at all.

Do you want effective leadership now, or glib leadership?

Choose one.

I must say though that the CPC will be smiling if the Liberals field essentially the same leadership candidates as they did last time.

[William Ashley]

Then welcome to the Islamic party of Canada taking 10% of the seats.

Then the Asian Alliance Party Of Canada taking %15 of the seats.

This is the reality of PR in Canada.

I do feel we need to build the electoral system of Canada by introducing two new houses into parliament. A broad representation - democratic representation house which counts every persons vote counts based on how many votes they receive from their supporters, and a second which is an election of members of a Federal Representatives Council which sees people elected Federally instead of on a basis of a regional riding - once again their votes received count not just 1 vote per reperesntative but 1 vote per elector who entrusts it with their representative.

What is wrong with an Islamic Party of Canda or an Asian Alliance Party of Canada - is there a reason people shoulnd't have representation they beleive in and supports their values. parliament is utterly disfuctional in Canada due to poor representation and partisanship that fails to encompass the voting publics views or wishes.

[fellowtraveller]

Liberal minority or coalition with the NDP.......

Gee, I was just kidding............

[madmax]

Gee, I was just kidding............

ROTFLMAO

Holy shit..., I don't know whether you should get a pat on the back or a whipping. Oh yeah, you were kidding. I know the feeling.....

Great stuff, glad you remembered and dug it for us to see.