Whatever happened to that Democratic Deficit?

[Argus]

LIke so much else, the promise of hope evaporated once Martin seized the reins of power. In fact, things got worse. It used to be that MPs were nobodies, as Chretien gathered almost all power to himself and to his unelected, unknown minions in the PMO. Under Martin, even cabinet ministeres became nobodies.

"Repairing broken structures will take years and more than one party or leader. What's more distressing is that this Prime Minister identified the problem, took a hard look at the fixes and did next to nothing."

Toronto Star on MPs power

[Leafless]

This of course does not say much for the mentality of the Canadian voter to have accepted and still accept twisted dictatorial type style government.

Any other country you would have a revolution.

Maybe Canadians simply don't know what is really expected from government and don't know that democratically implemented policies should be the order of the day.

[FTA Lawyer]

This of course does not say much for the mentality of the Canadian voter to have accepted and still accept twisted dictatorial type style government.

Any other country you would have a revolution.

Maybe Canadians simply don't know what is really expected from government and don't know that democratically implemented policies should be the order of the day.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Let me stir the pot a bit...

Please, no one take the following comments as a suggestion...but do we have the problems in government that we do because of a lack of a history of violence to our unscrupulous political leaders?

I mean, would leaders be so quick to set up secret programs to divert public money for improper purposes if in the past the odd assassination (or even attempt) had occurred?

Is it a function of what appears to be the "Canadian identity" that we are just too damn nice?

Just putting a thought out there for the board to mull over.

FTA

[The Honest Politician]

This of course does not say much for the mentality of the Canadian voter to have accepted and still accept twisted dictatorial type style government.

Any other country you would have a revolution.

Maybe Canadians simply don't know what is really expected from government and don't know that democratically implemented policies should be the order of the day.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Let me stir the pot a bit...

Please, no one take the following comments as a suggestion...but do we have the problems in government that we do because of a lack of a history of violence to our unscrupulous political leaders?

I mean, would leaders be so quick to set up secret programs to divert public money for improper purposes if in the past the odd assassination (or even attempt) had occurred?

Is it a function of what appears to be the "Canadian identity" that we are just too damn nice?

Just putting a thought out there for the board to mull over.

FTA

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I guess that is one way to look at The FLQ crisis.

[Argus]

This of course does not say much for the mentality of the Canadian voter to have accepted and still accept twisted dictatorial type style government.

Any other country you would have a revolution.

Maybe Canadians simply don't know what is really expected from government and don't know that democratically implemented policies should be the order of the day.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Let me stir the pot a bit...

Please, no one take the following comments as a suggestion...but do we have the problems in government that we do because of a lack of a history of violence to our unscrupulous political leaders?

I mean, would leaders be so quick to set up secret programs to divert public money for improper purposes if in the past the odd assassination (or even attempt) had occurred?

Is it a function of what appears to be the "Canadian identity" that we are just too damn nice?

Just putting a thought out there for the board to mull over.

FTA

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Don't think so. The US has its own corruption, and a history of assasinations. In fact, much of the world is rife with corruption, even in countries where the government is often overthrown and executed for their corruption. No, I think the problem is a lack of public oversight. We just don't know what the hell they are doing, so they know they can get away with it. Again, Martin promised a new opennes, but once in power his government turned out to be even more secretive than Chretien's. We need to give the AG's offie a lot more power and let her look into any public spending program she wants, as often as she wants, and issue public reports.

[FTA Lawyer]

This of course does not say much for the mentality of the Canadian voter to have accepted and still accept twisted dictatorial type style government.

Any other country you would have a revolution.

Maybe Canadians simply don't know what is really expected from government and don't know that democratically implemented policies should be the order of the day.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Let me stir the pot a bit...

Please, no one take the following comments as a suggestion...but do we have the problems in government that we do because of a lack of a history of violence to our unscrupulous political leaders?

I mean, would leaders be so quick to set up secret programs to divert public money for improper purposes if in the past the odd assassination (or even attempt) had occurred?

Is it a function of what appears to be the "Canadian identity" that we are just too damn nice?

Just putting a thought out there for the board to mull over.

FTA

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Don't think so. The US has its own corruption, and a history of assasinations. In fact, much of the world is rife with corruption, even in countries where the government is often overthrown and executed for their corruption. No, I think the problem is a lack of public oversight. We just don't know what the hell they are doing, so they know they can get away with it. Again, Martin promised a new opennes, but once in power his government turned out to be even more secretive than Chretien's. We need to give the AG's offie a lot more power and let her look into any public spending program she wants, as often as she wants, and issue public reports.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Can't argue with that.

FTA