Isn't this democracy?

[Chimera]

Globe and Mail Article

Ottawa — The federal Liberals orchestrated a surprise end run on the Tories last night that assured passage of the 2005 budget, averting a confidence vote next week that threatened to bring down the government.

The move came after a day of cloak-and-dagger machinations between the Liberals, the Bloc Québécois and the New Democrats that left the startled Conservatives unable to muster the troops needed to defeat the bill. Killing the budget bill also would have defeated the government.

Conservative Party Leader Stephen Harper said the events demonstrate that the NDP, the Bloc and the Liberals are working in concert.

"The Liberals, the NDP and the Bloc are now in a coalition, and I guess we've seen this coming for some days," Mr. Harper said.

In a democracy, is it not the idea to compromise to come to a solution? Should the parties not be trying to work together to come to an agreement?

"So I guess what it should remind Canadians is that when push comes to shove, the Liberals will make a deal with anybody. It doesn't matter if it's with socialists, or the separatists or any bunch of crooks they can find."

The Liberals, Bloc and NDP agreed formally at around 7:30 p.m. yesterday to support an obscure House rule that allowed the Commons to vote on limiting debate on the budget amendment bill -- known as C-48 -- to one hour. The limiting motion passed overwhelmingly, with only 75 MPs, almost all Tories, opposed.

Yet this is the same group of seperatists that the Conservatives were working with to topple the government last month.

So is this democracy in action, or sneaky underhanded Liberal antics to pass the budget while some conservatives are not present?

[The Terrible Sweal]

In a democracy, is it not the idea to compromise to come to a solution?

No, a democracy is a competition designed to select the best choices.

  Should the parties not be trying to work together to come to an agreement?

A majority of the MPs came together and reached an agreement.

"So I guess what it should remind Canadians is that when push comes to shove, the Liberals will make a deal with anybody. It doesn't matter if it's with socialists, or the separatists or any bunch of crooks they can find."

Stephen Harper said that, as I recall. To me it is one of the most outrageously scurrilous comments I've ever heard from any Canadian politician.

So is this democracy in action, or sneaky underhanded Liberal antics to pass the budget while some conservatives are not present?

Both.

[Riverwind]

In a democracy, is it not the idea to compromise to come to a solution?  Should the parties not be trying to work together to come to an agreement?

Three out of the four parties agreed on this course of action. Sounds like compromise and co-operation to me.

Yet this is the same group of seperatists that the Conservatives were working with to topple the government last month. 

So is this democracy in action, or sneaky underhanded Liberal antics to pass the budget while some conservatives are not present?

About as democratic as conservatives that tried to call a vote on a committe report a confidence matter.