Stephen Harper and the problems of conservatism

[Progressive Tory]

...you forgot War on Poverty.

Did you mean that they went on the attack against poor people, hoping to finish them off. Can you say katrina? That may be the only war they're actually winning.

[Progressive Tory]

Religious fundamentalist Harper left his parent's mainstream church when he was born again and joined an Evangelical church which believes "that Christians who have been adulterous do not have a right to remarry ... and opposes stem-cell research, euthanasia, the use of marijuana and ordained female clergy."

You can tell sometimes that he is just waiting to explode. Instead he goes back and starts throwing chairs, hitting walls and swearing like a trooper.

I guess he has quite a potty mouth.

"He just can't help himself." So says one of Stephen Harper's long-time acquaintances, wryly noting the Prime Minister has few friends. No less a political sage than former Progressive Conservative prime minister Brian Mulroney has privately told at least two of his vast network of friends that he is disappointed in the man who was briefly his protegé.

In interviews with federal associates of Harper, past and present, a picture emerges of a bright and driven man who does not take dissenting counsel especially well and is prone to profane outbursts. "The people around him, the stable, has generally been bred for obedience, so that's what you get," says a confrere. Another insider agrees "there's no question the Prime Minister rules by fear," which is not always productive.

But inside and outside the party, Harper was being blamed for precipitating the storm. "It's not that he's never made mistakes before. He actually has made a number of them, but ... there's always been handy staff to blame it on," says a Tory. He has displayed that almost adolescent blend of petulance and stubbornness before in his political life.

These are not the qualities of a leader, but a fanatic.

[Progressive Tory]

In Mr. Harper's mind, faith has less to do with a particular religion and more to do with morals, he said.

Harper's faith is in the Almighty Dollar, and those Evangelical bucks are pure gold. Nothing like a little fear of burning in hell to loosen the purse strings.

Do you really think George Bush is a Christian? He is an evil man, and Harper is showing more Bush traits daily.

[MontyBurns]

I guess we will continue to see Harper attack the courts and civil service until he appoints all Tory ideologues to the job.

The Liberals wouldn't do this though I'm sure.

[DrGreenthumb]

What's wrong with being tough on crime? You don't believe we should be getting tough on gang violence? The majority of Canadians think we should.

The majority of Canadians would be much happier if we were SMART on crime. In other words do things that actually help reduce violence and victimization in society. MandaTory sentences do nothing of the sort. More than half of Canadians would rather see the cannabis laws liberalized, not made even more ridiculously harsh.

Most Canadians will be quite upset when our jail cells are being taken up by people who grew a few plants, and violent and sex offenders are let out early to make room for someone who sold a few grams of pot.

When our courts are even more backlogged than they are now because there is no more motivation for pot growers/sellers to plead guilty in hopes of a lesser sentence, and real criminals are getting 2 for 1 time for pre-trial custody, most Canadians will be pissed off. I will make sure I am there to remind everyone that it is steven Harper and the conservatives fault.

Anyone who thinks that the Conservatives idea of "tough on crime" will work is mentally challenged. When the violence and crime Increases in direct proportion to the increase in prohibition it will be entirely the fault of the Harper Conservatives and those that support them.

[Progressive Tory]

The majority of Canadians would be much happier if we were SMART on crime. In other words do things that actually help reduce violence and victimization in society. MandaTory sentences do nothing of the sort. More than half of Canadians would rather see the cannabis laws liberalized, not made even more ridiculously harsh.

Anyone who thinks that the Conservatives idea of "tough on crime" will work is mentally challenged. When the violence and crime Increases in direct proportion to the increase in prohibition it will be entirely the fault of the Harper Conservatives and those that support them.

People engaged in criminal activity care nothing about the sentences. The Conservatives are pandering to the private groups hoping to build 'for profit' prisons. They care nothing about rehabilitation, only 'punishment'.

We may see our cannibas laws change though. Apparently, Obama is looking at making it legal in the U.S. and taxing it. Hopefully, we'll get a dose of the smarts here too and do the same. Release all 'pot' prisioners if their crimes were not violent. Tax it like we do alcohol and cigarettes. Free up police to go after actual criminals. Those measures alone will help ease the economic crisis. It's a no-brainer. Even Stockwell Day should be able to compute this... hmmm... maybe not.

[Wild Bill]

You can tell sometimes that he is just waiting to explode. Instead he goes back and starts throwing chairs, hitting walls and swearing like a trooper.

I guess he has quite a potty mouth.

"He just can't help himself." So says one of Stephen Harper's long-time acquaintances, wryly noting the Prime Minister has few friends. No less a political sage than former Progressive Conservative prime minister Brian Mulroney has privately told at least two of his vast network of friends that he is disappointed in the man who was briefly his protegé.

In interviews with federal associates of Harper, past and present, a picture emerges of a bright and driven man who does not take dissenting counsel especially well and is prone to profane outbursts. "The people around him, the stable, has generally been bred for obedience, so that's what you get," says a confrere. Another insider agrees "there's no question the Prime Minister rules by fear," which is not always productive.

But inside and outside the party, Harper was being blamed for precipitating the storm. "It's not that he's never made mistakes before. He actually has made a number of them, but ... there's always been handy staff to blame it on," says a Tory. He has displayed that almost adolescent blend of petulance and stubbornness before in his political life.

These are not the qualities of a leader, but a fanatic.

Hey, it worked well for Chretien for a looonnng time!

Can't argue with copying a success story!

[Progressive Tory]

Hey, it worked well for Chretien for a looonnng time! Can't argue with copying a success story!

Hmmm. So you're admitting that he's aspiring to be a Liberal?

I have no problem with his potty mouth, but his Evangelical buddies may not feel the same way. He holds himself up to be so pure and all that.

[MontyBurns]

People engaged in criminal activity care nothing about the sentences.

The victims and their families do. The victims want tough justice.

[MontyBurns]

We may see our cannibas laws change though.

Maybe after marijuana is legalized we can set up a public drug program so dope will be free to everybody.

[DrGreenthumb]

Maybe after marijuana is legalized we can set up a public drug program so dope will be free to everybody.

After it is legalized it will be "free" to anyone with access to sunlight, soil, water and a seed.

Also the police and justice system will have the time and resources to deal with actual criminals. If growing cannabis plants is a crime I suggest you get an arrest warrant out for God right away, nobody has grown as much pot as God has. Hell he invented pot growing. You better get tough on God right away. As we speak God is growing pot all over the world. You gonna get out your whip?

[Alta4ever]

After it is legalized it will be "free" to anyone with access to sunlight, soil, water and a seed.

Also the police and justice system will have the time and resources to deal with actual criminals. If growing cannabis plants is a crime I suggest you get an arrest warrant out for God right away, nobody has grown as much pot as God has. Hell he invented pot growing. You better get tough on God right away. As we speak God is growing pot all over the world. You gonna get out your whip?

I doubt you will be able to grow your own if it is ever legalized, it will prbably follow the same rules of tabacco.

[DrGreenthumb]

I doubt you will be able to grow your own if it is ever legalized, it will prbably follow the same rules of tabacco.

You can grow your own tobacco, you just can't sell it. You know anyone who grows their own tobacco? I know hundreds of tobacco smokers, and none of them grow it. They buy it at the gas station contributing about 8 of the 10 dollar price tag into government coffers as taxes. What a concept, let the users pay the government when they do something unhealthy. Instead of spending billions trying to hunt down tobacco farmers and smokers, we make them pay us to compensate for any costs they bring to society through taxes. They have the freedom make their own lifestyle choices, and we get compensated for any costs they create.

Still wondering if you plan on arresting God anytime soon? God is also a huge trafficker, In the first book of the Bible he gave mankind "ALL THE SEED BEARING PLANTS AND HERBS TO USE"

[normanchateau]

You can tell sometimes that he is just waiting to explode. Instead he goes back and starts throwing chairs, hitting walls and swearing like a trooper.

I guess he has quite a potty mouth.

"He just can't help himself." So says one of Stephen Harper's long-time acquaintances, wryly noting the Prime Minister has few friends. No less a political sage than former Progressive Conservative prime minister Brian Mulroney has privately told at least two of his vast network of friends that he is disappointed in the man who was briefly his protegé.

In interviews with federal associates of Harper, past and present, a picture emerges of a bright and driven man who does not take dissenting counsel especially well and is prone to profane outbursts. "The people around him, the stable, has generally been bred for obedience, so that's what you get," says a confrere. Another insider agrees "there's no question the Prime Minister rules by fear," which is not always productive.

But inside and outside the party, Harper was being blamed for precipitating the storm. "It's not that he's never made mistakes before. He actually has made a number of them, but ... there's always been handy staff to blame it on," says a Tory. He has displayed that almost adolescent blend of petulance and stubbornness before in his political life.

These are not the qualities of a leader, but a fanatic.

You've touched on one of the reasons why Preston Manning fired Harper as Finance critic. It wasn't merely because of Harper's incompetence that Manning fired him and that Harper quit Reform and headed off to the anti-national health plan, National Citizens Coalition.

[Progressive Tory]

The victims and their families do. The victims want tough justice.

Yes the victims want tough justice, and so do I. However, it will do little to prevent crime, because the criminals plan on not getting caught.

We are all potential victims until we look at the broad picture.

[Progressive Tory]

Maybe after marijuana is legalized we can set up a public drug program so dope will be free to everybody.

I'm a Red Tory, not an idiot. They have to pay for their vice like they do alcohol and tobacco. We should make the streets even safer by legalizing prostitution. Right now we are only propping up the pimps.

[Progressive Tory]

I doubt you will be able to grow your own if it is ever legalized, it will prbably follow the same rules of tabacco.

I don't know about tobacco, but you can make your own alcohol, so long as you don't try to sell it. Wine and beer making has become a popular hobby.

[eyeball]

I don't know about tobacco, but you can make your own alcohol, so long as you don't try to sell it. Wine and beer making has become a popular hobby.

I know people who make beer within two blocks of a school.

Oh the humanity.

[Progressive Tory]

I know people who make beer within two blocks of a school. Oh the humanity.

Don't tell anyone, but I attended a dinner once and they served homemade wine with the meal. I spent the whole evening looking over my shoulder for narcs. There were children sleeping upstairs. Shocking!

[eyeball]

That's nothing. I know people who give their kids wine, sometimes even in church. And the church is right across the street from the school!

Have you got any shark bite scars you'd like to compare?

Edited March 16, 2009 by eyeball

[Progressive Tory]

That's nothing. I know people who give their kids wine, sometimes even in church. And the church is right across the street from the school!

Have you got any shark bite scars you'd like to compare?

Shark bites? No. Do you bites from your brother count? I still have the scar.

[WIP]

What's wrong with being tough on crime?

Tough on crime has been an empty slogan for my entire adult life. If it wasn't for the fact that the general population is aging, crime rates would be higher than ever. Fighting crime should be about using ALL strategies that reduce crime, not just the ones that make good bumper sticker slogans for election time.

You don't believe we should be getting tough on gang violence? The majority of Canadians think we should.

And let's take a look at the reasons why gang violence is getting worse. A good start would be an increasingly profitable illegal drug business. And why is it so profitable? Because believers in the absolute God-given values that Stephen Harper spoke about in his latest pre-campaign speech will not accept decriminalizing or legalizing drugs that are being used by more and more people every year.

It's a simple matter of supply and demand - just like in the days of Prohibition, if there is a demand for an illegal product, somebody is going to go into the business of supplying the market. "Tough on crime" policies of increasing charges for possession and destroying drugs during drug raids, increases the price for the addicts.....and how does that reduce gang violence again?

[WIP]

Maybe after marijuana is legalized we can set up a public drug program so dope will be free to everybody.

Now, wouldn't that help reduce drug gang profits?

[DrGreenthumb]

I'm a Red Tory, not an idiot. They have to pay for their vice like they do alcohol and tobacco. We should make the streets even safer by legalizing prostitution. Right now we are only propping up the pimps.

The rate of tax should be related to the potential future cost to the system, so the taxes on cannabis needn't be nearly as high as those on alcohol or tobacco. If we use potential cost to health care system as a basis to decide how much tax a substance gets, and not the substance's potential to be seen as sinful by bible thumping goofs, then the taxes on double cheeseburgers, and supersize fries should be considerable higher than those on pot.

[Visionseeker]

What's wrong with being tough on crime? You don't believe we should be getting tough on gang violence? The majority of Canadians think we should.

I believe in getting tough on crime:

- decriminalize drugs

- establish state control over distribution

- tax, tax, and tax

Deny criminals their income source and prevent a good chuck of all the secondary crime the illicit drug trade produces. That's pretty tough I'll say.