Layton Lionisation Excessive

[Guest Peeves]

I think it has exceeded good taste. He was basically a good politician and a great leader by some, but when all is said and done, he was after all just a politician.

Morn his passing certainly, but lets have some perspective, he doesn't deserve the excessive accolades being heaped on him.

It's becoming vulgar

Just saying.

[CPCFTW]

Completely agreed.

[Tilter]

I think it has exceeded good taste. He was basically a good politician and a great leader by some, but when all is said and done, he was after all just a politician.

Morn his passing certainly, but lets have some perspective, he doesn't deserve the excessive accolades being heaped on him.

It's becoming vulgar

Just saying.

And an NDP at that---- doesn't say much for his taste

A good man but he also had his faults -- his & his wife's choice of housing while Toronto Councilman for example.

Edited August 26, 2011 by Tilter

[Moonbox]

I'm having a lot of trouble understanding his martyrdom.

[mentalfloss]

In other news, conservatives continually worried about a dead guy tell everyone else to "let it go already."

Edited August 26, 2011 by mentalfloss

[fellowtraveller]

I'm not sure of the process, will his deathbed letter have to be translated to Latin or Italian or both to be included in the application for sainthood?

[capricorn]

It's becoming vulgar

You'd think a state funeral would be to pay tribute to the person's life and accomplishments. But it's no longer about Jack the person, it's about the NDP.

Here's a blatant example. Although the Broadbent Institute is not yet in existence, the NDP is accepting donations to the Institute through it's website in memory of their fallen leader. Donors are issued a tax receipt which will translate into a tax credit equivalent to a political contribution. Therefore, taxpayers are on the hook for whatever tax credits are redeemed at tax time. Another concern I have is that the personal information collected by the NDP in processing the donations will doubtless find its way into the NDP database to be used for future fundraising. NDP officials tell us this is not illegal and likely it is not but the whole thing stinks.

The system set up by the New Democratic Party to honour former leader Jack Layton’s wish for donations for the fledgling Broadbent Institute will provide donors with much higher tax deductions than they would get if they were to contribute directly to the institute, iPolitics has learned.

By flowing the donations through the party, most donors will get tax deductions several times higher than they would have gotten if they were to donate directly to a non-profit corporation or a charity.

---

The institute is so new that it has not yet completed the process for incorporation and has not yet decided whether to seek charitable status. If it did, which would allow it to issue tax receipts, that could take a while.

A short term arrangement to flow donations through the party was the quickest solution the NDP could find, said Lavigne.

The system the NDP set up risks reducing the amount of money supporters can donate directly to the Broadbent Institute without exceeding the $1,100 limit under the elections law. If donors want a tax receipt, it also limits donations to the $1,100 limit the party can receive from an individual each year.

For donors, especially modest ones, the improvised arrangement is a windfall.

http://ipolitics.ca/2011/08/25/flowing-broadbent-institute-cash-through-ndp-provides-big-tax-breaks/

[guyser]

A good man but he also had his faults -- his & his wife's choice of housing while Toronto Councilman for example.

Is it a fault since they paid extra to offset the CMHC mortgage subsidy?

Jack was no saint, but for people to show thier lack of class now is pretty bad. Worse are the dippers who have posted they wish it was Harper.(not on MLW though)

[Michael Hardner]

I guess this is just a comment on the behavior of the public, and the zeitgeist. What I take from this is that it's acceptable to comment on such things, which I can surely use in future arguments.

[Sir Bandelot]

I guess this is just a comment on the behavior of the public, and the zeitgeist. What I take from this is that it's acceptable to comment on such things, which I can surely use in future arguments.

Do you have anyone specifically in mind?

[Shakeyhands]

A good man but he also had his faults -- his & his wife's choice of housing while Toronto Councilman for example.

What was wrong with their housing choice?

[punked]

He meant A LOT to 30% of Canada, and quite a bit to many more. Just because you fall in the other percentage doesn't mean he should not be honored like he meant a lot to Millions of Canadians. Anything that brings that many people together is good for Canada so sit back and ride it out.

[punked]

What was wrong with their housing choice?

Nothing is wrong only idiots don't know he paid in full for his house, because they don't understand how alternative housing works. I can't believe there are still Canadians who have bought into that lie.

[Moonlight Graham]

I think it has exceeded good taste. He was basically a good politician and a great leader by some, but when all is said and done, he was after all just a politician.

Morn his passing certainly, but lets have some perspective, he doesn't deserve the excessive accolades being heaped on him.

It's becoming vulgar

Just saying.

Agreed as well. Why didn't everyone love this guy so much why he was actually alive? All of a sudden my Facebook page is flooded with friends giving all these Layton tributes.

He wasn't a saint. Underneath the rhetoric he generally meant well i think, but he was far from a saint, and well far away from being an honest politician. He was a lying kiss-ass sellout like all the rest. It's tragic and sad that he died, but c'mon.

[PIK]

Everybody like jack, because he could say whatever he wanted,knowing he woukld never come thru. Jack never had to deliever bad news,like PM's have to do. He believe in a utopia that we all would love to have but will never get.And being a con myself ,I was shocked to hear that he died, let him have his day and it will all be over soon. But some of the remarks from the left about hoping it was harper and such, did put a little dark cloud over it. dippers need to ,loosen up and realize harper is not a devil , or even close ,he is trying hard himself to do the right things. All this agenda talk and son of satan talk about harper needs to end, because all the doomsday stuff never or will happen. Maybe the silver lining in all this is that we all get along better.

[Moonlight Graham]

You'd think a state funeral would be to pay tribute to the person's life and accomplishments. But it's no longer about Jack the person, it's about the NDP.

"The system set up by the New Democratic Party to honour former leader Jack Layton’s wish for donations for the fledgling Broadbent Institute will provide donors with much higher tax deductions than they would get if they were to contribute directly to the institute, iPolitics has learned."

That's just sick, and in really bad taste. C'mon Jack, do you have to make it political even in death? In your final letter, and in where you wish people to donate? Also, where does it even say Layton's wish was for donations to the "Broadbent Institute"?

Here's an idea, how about you suggest people donate to the cancer cause of their choice instead? A non-partisan and more tasteful alternative i'd say.

edit: It says in memoriam donations should be make to the Broadbent Institute on Jack's website. When you click on the donate link it says:

Jack Layton was a courageous and inspiring leader to all Canadians and to our movement -- we need to carry on his legacy and his fight to make this country a better place. In lieu of flowers, Jack Layton's family has asked that donations be made to the Broadbent Institute in memoriam.

His family? Or Jack?

Edited August 26, 2011 by Moonlight Graham

[Guest Peeves]

You'd think a state funeral would be to pay tribute to the person's life and accomplishments. But it's no longer about Jack the person, it's about the NDP.

Here's a blatant example. Although the Broadbent Institute is not yet in existence, the NDP is accepting donations to the Institute through it's website in memory of their fallen leader. Donors are issued a tax receipt which will translate into a tax credit equivalent to a political contribution. Therefore, taxpayers are on the hook for whatever tax credits are redeemed at tax time. Another concern I have is that the personal information collected by the NDP in processing the donations will doubtless find its way into the NDP database to be used for future fundraising. NDP officials tell us this is not illegal and likely it is not but the whole thing stinks.

http://ipolitics.ca/2011/08/25/flowing-broadbent-institute-cash-through-ndp-provides-big-tax-breaks/

Yeh, heard about that, it's disturbing. Actually it has become exploiting.

[punked]

You'd think a state funeral would be to pay tribute to the person's life and accomplishments. But it's no longer about Jack the person, it's about the NDP.

Here's a blatant example. Although the Broadbent Institute is not yet in existence, the NDP is accepting donations to the Institute through it's website in memory of their fallen leader. Donors are issued a tax receipt which will translate into a tax credit equivalent to a political contribution. Therefore, taxpayers are on the hook for whatever tax credits are redeemed at tax time. Another concern I have is that the personal information collected by the NDP in processing the donations will doubtless find its way into the NDP database to be used for future fundraising. NDP officials tell us this is not illegal and likely it is not but the whole thing stinks.

http://ipolitics.ca/2011/08/25/flowing-broadbent-institute-cash-through-ndp-provides-big-tax-breaks/

I fail to see your point. So Jack wanted people to donate to an Institute he promised to set up 3 years ago? I am shocked in this death Jack would wish to see that all the promises he made are fulfilled. No wait I am not that was just the type of man Jack was, a promise keeper. I can see how Harper followers would take issue with Jack even in his death keeping promises considering Harper can't even do it in his life but seriously?

[Guest Peeves]

He meant A LOT to 30% of Canada, and quite a bit to many more. Just because you fall in the other percentage doesn't mean he should not be honored like he meant a lot to Millions of Canadians. Anything that brings that many people together is good for Canada so sit back and ride it out.

I have no problem with paying the respect due, but, he is a politician that up til a few months ago was nothing much in the political arena or scheme of things Canadian.

Give him his due. Exploitation by the party is over doing it.

As for millions that he meant a lot to, millions(? doubtful) may be sorry he's dead, but crying for a politician you never knew or even have much background knowledge about is pretty much hypocrisy.

Personally I felt it unfair that at the moment in time that he reached his zenith politically,it has been taken from him.

Personally I recall that he and his wife, socialists and defenders of the poor, have an annual income nearing a half million $

Those that 'really knew him speak highly of him so I accept that judgement, but he was not worthy of all Dianaistic furor.

Bury him and get on with it.

[punked]

I have no problem with paying the respect due, but, he is a politician that up til a few months ago was nothing much in the political arena or scheme of things Canadian.

Give him his due. Exploitation by the party is over doing it.

As for millions that he meant a lot to, millions(? doubtful) may be sorry he's dead, but crying for a politician you never knew or even have much background knowledge about is pretty much hypocrisy.

Personally I felt it unfair that at the moment in time that he reached his zenith politically,it has been taken from him.

Personally I recall that he and his wife, socialists and defenders of the poor, have an annual income nearing a half million $

Those that 'really knew him speak highly of him so I accept that judgement, but he was not worthy of all Dianaistic furor.

Bury him and get on with it.

Yah you got a lot of issue which aren't issues with the man. Seriously you don't like it cover you ears because a large number of Canadians want this and it is only right that we celebrate life when it does do much to bring the country together.

[Boges]

I almost guarantee had Stephen Harper died and he had in his will that all money donated in his memory should go to the Fraser Institute, people would say it's in bad taste.

[punked]

I almost guarantee had Stephen Harper died and he had in his will that all money donated in his memory should go to the Fraser Institute, people would say it's in bad taste.

Did Stephen promise to set up the Fraser Institute right before his death and preach about how good it could be? There is the difference.

[Guest Peeves]

Yah you got a lot of issue which aren't issues with the man. Seriously you don't like it cover you ears because a large number of Canadians want this and it is only right that we celebrate life when it does do much to bring the country together.

I'm puzzled by your claim that ? Jack? , or his death? has/is bringing the country together.

I dispute that claim. It is bringing mourners together, many of whom are probably totally ignorant of Jack's c.v. or the NDP's policies beyond the socialist aspect.

Someone crying outside city hall at 2 a.m. or indeed,crying at all when they didn't know him, aren't family, to me at least is weird if not macabre.

But, if you deem him worthy of the accolades by the hoi polloi to the extent of present exploitation ad nauseum (IMO) , you are certainly entitled.

[punked]

I'm puzzled by your claim that ? Jack? , or his death? has/is bringing the country together.

I dispute that claim. It is bringing mourners together, many of whom are probably totally ignorant of Jack's c.v. or the NDP's policies beyond the socialist aspect.

Someone crying outside city hall at 2 a.m. or indeed,crying at all when they didn't know him, aren't family, to me at least is weird if not macabre.

But, if you deem him worthy of the accolades by the hoi polloi to the extent of present exploitation ad nauseum (IMO) , you are certainly entitled.

No one cares what you think of them. You might not approve of the millions who felt close to Jack that does not mean they have no right to morn and want to see him honored.

Fact is he is on every newspaper because his story is selling newspapers, meaning ALOT of people out there care. You don't have to turn the Chanel if you want but Millions of Canadians do care and when that many people feel strongly about something in Canada, Canada should listen.

[Boges]

Did Stephen promise to set up the Fraser Institute right before his death and preach about how good it could be? There is the difference.

So you would think it's in bad taste.

So only partisan think tanks that the dead person founded is acceptable.