Who do you trust?

[cybercoma]

Is it? Why? The Conservatives have to run the governmental functions of the country. That doesn't mean that they always need to do what the majority wants. Representative government has never been so.

I never said they always have to do what the majority wants. They do have to govern for everyone and do what is best for all Canadians, not just their base.

[olpfan1]

In their defence, some of those things (copyright, internet monitoring) would probably be implemented by any government, and were in fact scheduled to be implemented by the Liberals.

Private prisons?

Yes, and the liberal government would be wrong too, I am not a liberal and I have no loyalty to any party, all I want is a government that doesn't over reach its boundaries

Private Prisons what?

Edited March 8, 2012 by olpfan1

[Smallc]

I never said they always have to do what the majority wants. They do have to govern for everyone and do what is best for all Canadians, not just their base.

And what's best for all Canadians is a matter of opinion. We all see things differently in that regard. I'm sure that the Conservatives, overall, think they're doing what's best for all Canadians.

[Smallc]

Yes, and the liberal government would be wrong too, I am not a liberal and I have no loyalty to any party, all I want is a government that doesn't over reach its boundaries

My point was that those things aren't signature projects, but legal changes necessitated by the global nature of crime, and international pressure from our allies.

Private Prisons what?

That's what I want to know.

[olpfan1]

I'm sure that the Conservatives, overall, think they're doing what's best for all Canadians.

The road to hell is paved with good intentions, putting non violent Canadians in prison which will give them records just for growing pot is ridiculous, it's going to screw their lives up, they'll have a harder time getting a good job because of the record, it will lead to more crime, US states like Texas are telling Harper mandatory sentences against Marijuana do not work..people from all over the world are telling Harper it does not work

and yet he's doing this anyway

He doesn't believe this is the best thing for Canadians, it's an insult to anyone's intelligence to believe that crap

[Smallc]

He doesn't believe this is the best thing for Canadians, it's an insult to anyone's intelligence to believe that crap

Like I said, not everyone thinks like you. You need to learn to try to see beyond your own narrow focus.

As for people being sent to jail for drug crimes....even though I don't agree with the new law regarding marijuana....if you don't want to go to jail for growing pot, then don't grow pot.

[cybercoma]

These are not necessary legal changes they way the Conservatives have written them. Also, when I say what's "best" for Canadians, without a doubt ignoring what criminologists, climate experts, and other specialists are saying, while doing pretty much the exact opposite of their recommendations is not best for anyone. There's a Conservative way to approach the environment and crime, just to name two areas they're particularly clueless on, that doesn't completely ignore reality.

[olpfan1]

Like I said, not everyone thinks like you. You need to learn to try to see beyond your own narrow focus.

As for people being sent to jail for drug crimes....even though I don't agree with the new law regarding marijuana....if you don't want to go to jail for growing pot, then don't grow pot.

I will tell the lady across the street who has lung cancer if she doesn't want to go to prison for 6 months that she shouldn't be growing pot

[Smallc]

There's a Conservative way to approach the environment and crime, just to name two areas they're particularly clueless on, that doesn't completely ignore reality.

Maybe. We don't really know what effect the laws will have in Canada, because they've never been tried before. Beyond that, if they didn't believe they were the right thing, they wouldn't be doing them. Yes, it does go against the evidence in other countries, but I doubt they find that convincing, since this isn't other countries. I doubt it will work, but, then again, I'm a social liberal.

[Smallc]

I will tell the lady across the street who has lung cancer if she doesn't want to go to prison for 6 months that she shouldn't be growing pot

She shouldn't be. If she really needs it, she can get it legally. Even though I don't agree with current or future drug laws in this country, I don't agree with the recreational use of drugs or alcohol. It has a bad affect on society in general.

[olpfan1]

She shouldn't be. If she really needs it, she can get it legally. Even though I don't agree with current or future drug laws in this country, I don't agree with the recreational use of drugs or alcohol. It has a bad affect on society in general.

Actually her card expired and it can't be renewed because health canada is in the middle of trying to revamp the medical marijuana industry, instead of letting people grow their own they're going to have to buy it from a company they're going to get to make the marijuana .. this is still ongoing, it could be a year or two before she's legally allowed to smoke marijuana

[Smallc]

Proof?

[olpfan1]

Yes, it does go against the evidence in other countries, but I doubt they find that convincing, since this isn't other countries.

That is a curious statement because their lawyer in the Right to die case that is in the courts are arguing other countries are trying to limit assisted suicide cases and they point to studies that show a slippery slope (even though there isn't any and the studies were by groups against assisted suicide)

Now you're saying "since this isn't other countries" yet they use other countries as examples in other cases

[Smallc]

Now you're saying "since this isn't other countries" yet they use other countries as examples in other cases

When do I do that? Also, I didn't say that I agree with the position that it will be different because this is a different country (though it is possible), I'm saying that is most likely the rationale.

[bjre]

No one can be trusted.

Even myself.

Sometimes, I may suspect if I made a mistake yesterday.

[Jack Weber]

I "generally distrust" ALL politicians....

[olpfan1]

Proof?

http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/2011/06/17/tories-medical-marijuana-outlaw_n_878871.html

THE CANADIAN PRESS -- The federal government is poised to tighten the rules on medical marijuana so that only licensed private operators are allowed to grow it, The Canadian Press has learned.

Sources say Health Minister Leona Aglukkaq wants to take individuals and Health Canada out of the business of growing pot.

Instead, she wants to tender licenses to the private sector to produce marijuana in a way that is similar to how conventional drugs are produced -- by companies, under tightly regulated conditions.

[capricorn]

Isn't killing the Liberal party at the top of that list?

Now there's one Harper initiative most Canadians applaud.

[Smallc]

http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/2011/06/17/tories-medical-marijuana-outlaw_n_878871.html

That didn't really prove what you said at all.

[Smallc]

Now there's one Harper initiative most Canadians applaud.

I sincerely doubt that. I'm pretty confident the Liberal Party of Canada will one day come back from the dead.

[capricorn]

No one can be trusted.

Even myself.

Sometimes, I may suspect if I made a mistake yesterday.

Yes, living in China can do that to a person.

[cybercoma]

Maybe. We don't really know what effect the laws will have in Canada, because they've never been tried before. Beyond that, if they didn't believe they were the right thing, they wouldn't be doing them. Yes, it does go against the evidence in other countries, but I doubt they find that convincing, since this isn't other countries. I doubt it will work, but, then again, I'm a social liberal.

Maybe you honestly believe this, but I'm not sure if you actually believe they think they're doing the right thing for all Canadians. Crime has been falling in this country. It's the lowest it has been in 40 years and most people don't buy the "unreported crime" line. Major crimes, like assaults and murders, do not go unreported. It's petty property crimes that do. Granted, it's anecdotal, but people I know in the criminal justice system in Ottawa claim this is meant only to move towards creating a profitable system for the privatization of prisons. In that case, the new laws really do make sense. I can also believe that the Conservatives would want to privatize prisons, as that would fit with their ideology. Although I'm opposed to it, I can see them doing this and not be that miffed about it. However, changing our laws in order to fill up these prisons faster, thus filling the pockets of those that run these prisons... that's unacceptable. Certainly this is the right thing to do for those who are going to make money here, but it's absolutely not the right thing to do for all Canadians or even Canadians generally.

[Smallc]

Maybe you honestly believe this, but I'm not sure if you actually believe they think they're doing the right thing for all Canadians.

I honestly do believe they think they're doing what's best. I have enough Conservatives and conservatives in my family to know that.

[capricorn]

I sincerely doubt that.

Really? Do I have to supply you with the declining number of Liberal seats over the last number of elections resulting in the party relegated to third place in the House? I would conclude from this that a very large segment of the population put the Liberals in the penalty box and for good reason.

I'm pretty confident the Liberal Party of Canada will one day come back from the dead.

Me too.

[Smallc]

I would conclude from this that a very large segment of the population put the Liberals in the penalty box and for good reason.

Oh definitely, but being in the penalty box is very different than being sold and moved to Phoenix.