We social conservatives are a naive bunch.
First there was Stephen Harper. We thought he was pro-life. So we voted for him. Then he became leader of the party and he did nothing. And we said, well wait until he gets elected as prime minister. And he did with a minority government and he did nothing. And we said, well wait until he gets a majority. Then he got a second larger minority government and he did nothing. Then we said, well let's wait until he gets a majority. And he did. And he did nothing.
Suckers.
Next we had Patrick Brown who we thought was a social conservative. So we voted for him. He was against the sex education curriculum and abortion. Then he got elected. And now he's "changed his mind".
Suckers.
Notice the pattern here? Politicians who get elected because they court social conservatives, and we vote for them. Then once they get elected they turn their backs on us. I guess they think we are really stupid and that well, "hey if they don't vote for me who else will they vote for, the Liberals haha?" So we don't know what to do and we vote for them.
Suckers.
Well not this time.
In Ottawa Vanier we will be voting for a new MPP after Madeleine Meilleur decided to leave. I was going to vote for Andre Marin. In fact I have his sign in front of my house. After all, who else could I vote for--the Liberal candidate and get another Madeleine Meilleur who had no idea why her government decided to hide abortion information and probably still doesn't? I don't think so.
So I decided to vote for Elizabeth de Viel Castel, an actual social conservative who is against Kathleen Wynne's sex ed curriculum and abortion.
Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me. Let's not get fooled again.
Showing posts with label election. Show all posts
Showing posts with label election. Show all posts
Friday, November 4, 2016
Tuesday, April 5, 2011
The Making of a Myth (or how the result of the election will "prove" Canadians don't want to debate abortion)
The result of this election will "prove" that Canadians don't want to reopen the abortion debate. Here's how:
As we get closer to election date, the opposition (as they do in every election) will smear the Conservatives with Mr. Harper's supposed "scary hidden agenda" to recriminalize abortion and send women back to the dark ages and back-alley butchers, despite Mr. Harper's repeated promises not to reopen the abortion debate (Peter Mansbridge interview and Charles Lewis article)
If Mr. Harper doesn't win his majority, he will blame it on the opposition's fear-mongering about abortion, thus "proving" Canadians don't want to debate abortion and are happy with the status quo (limitless and completely funded by the Canadian taxpayer).
The irony is, of course, that Mr. Harper could lose his chance at a majority precisely because he adamently refuses to allow a debate on abortion (i.e. enough social conservatives may just decide to stay home and not vote).
If Mr. Harper wins a majority, he will say this "proves" that he was right to promise not to reopen the abortion debate, because such assurances have attracted more "liberal minded" people to vote for him (taking for granted the social conservative vote because who else are they going to vote for, right?).
In reality, there will be no way to know whether Mr. Harper's promise not to reopen the abortion debate and/or the opposition's fear-mongering will have had anything to do with the final outcome of the election without knowing the reasons why people voted the way they did, or didn't vote. But that's not going to stop anyone who doesn't want an abortion debate from using the election results to "prove" in perfect post-hoc fashion that Canadians don't want an abortion debate.
To sum up: If Mr. Harper wins his majority, the story will be that it was because he effectively quashed any fears he'd reopen the abortion debate.
If Mr. Harper loses, the story will be that it was because the opposition was effective at scaring Canadians into believing he would ban abortion.
Either way, the mythology that Canadians don't want to reopen the abortion debate (and by extension that it's political suicide for any politician to try to) is strengthened and perpetuated.
As we get closer to election date, the opposition (as they do in every election) will smear the Conservatives with Mr. Harper's supposed "scary hidden agenda" to recriminalize abortion and send women back to the dark ages and back-alley butchers, despite Mr. Harper's repeated promises not to reopen the abortion debate (Peter Mansbridge interview and Charles Lewis article)
If Mr. Harper doesn't win his majority, he will blame it on the opposition's fear-mongering about abortion, thus "proving" Canadians don't want to debate abortion and are happy with the status quo (limitless and completely funded by the Canadian taxpayer).
The irony is, of course, that Mr. Harper could lose his chance at a majority precisely because he adamently refuses to allow a debate on abortion (i.e. enough social conservatives may just decide to stay home and not vote).
If Mr. Harper wins a majority, he will say this "proves" that he was right to promise not to reopen the abortion debate, because such assurances have attracted more "liberal minded" people to vote for him (taking for granted the social conservative vote because who else are they going to vote for, right?).
In reality, there will be no way to know whether Mr. Harper's promise not to reopen the abortion debate and/or the opposition's fear-mongering will have had anything to do with the final outcome of the election without knowing the reasons why people voted the way they did, or didn't vote. But that's not going to stop anyone who doesn't want an abortion debate from using the election results to "prove" in perfect post-hoc fashion that Canadians don't want an abortion debate.
To sum up: If Mr. Harper wins his majority, the story will be that it was because he effectively quashed any fears he'd reopen the abortion debate.
If Mr. Harper loses, the story will be that it was because the opposition was effective at scaring Canadians into believing he would ban abortion.
Either way, the mythology that Canadians don't want to reopen the abortion debate (and by extension that it's political suicide for any politician to try to) is strengthened and perpetuated.
Monday, March 28, 2011
Money for nothing
The Conservatives have already started fundraising as of March 26 (pretty quick off the mark I must say).
But you know, I read their email letter (see below) looking for something about, you know, protection for the unborn. Did I find anything? Nope, nothing.
There was also no mention of even a glimmer of hope, that the Conservatives might actually tolerate any abortion debate any time soon. And there was definitely nothing about their dismal voting record on Roxanne's Law, a law that would have provided some legal protection to a woman who was being coerced into having an abortion she didn't want to have.
How could anybody not be against forced abortion? I have no idea, but 178 MPs actually voted against Roxanne's law.
A suggestion would be for all you folks out there, who received this election funds solicitation, to reply with a Dear Stephen letter:
Dear Mr. Harper,
Sure I'd love to help you out, but honestly I just can't do it. You see, you voted against the first bill in the House of Commons to be debated on in twenty years on the subject matter of abortion. Remember Roxanne's Law? The one that you and some Conservative MPs, who I thought were pro-life, voted against?
Perhaps if you came out with a public statement telling Canadians you've had a change of heart and will allow some proper abortion debate in Canada, then hey, I might even find a few dollars to contribute to your campaign.
But until then, well, I think I need to hang on to my money. Let me know if you change your mind.
Sincerely,
Jane and John Q public.
Here is the email the Conservatives sent out:
"I’m sure you have already heard that yesterday, the Ignatieff-led Coalition with the NDP and Bloc Quebecois united to force Canadians into an unnecessary and unwanted election.
By forcing an unnecessary election in this time of fragile economic recovery – Canada’s fourth in seven years – Michael Ignatieff and his coalition partners are irresponsibly and recklessly putting at risk Canadians’ jobs, our economy and stable government.
The budget our Prime Minister tabled this week – the next phase of Canada’s Economic Action Plan – is critically important to complete our economic recovery. It is Stephen Harper’s low-tax plan for jobs and growth. It’s a balanced plan to strengthen the financial security of Canadian families, and protect and create jobs. The Coalition’s actions today make clear they don’t care about any of the practical initiatives in the budget. Or the fact that without it, Canada’s economic recovery will be put in jeopardy just as we enter the home stretch.
Simply put, in forcing this unnecessary election the Ignatieff-led Coalition has recklessly placed their own political ambitions ahead of Canadians’ financial security. Their self-interest ahead of Canada’s stability.
This campaign is a clear choice between principled leadership and a political opportunist; between a stable government and a reckless coalition. And between a low tax plan for jobs and growth and a high tax agenda that will stall our recovery, kill jobs and set families back.
The next five weeks will be a challenge as we face the Ignatieff-led Coalition. We need to fight back and train volunteers in every one of Canada’s 308 ridings. We also need to reach out to Canadians across our country through advertising. We will also need help in getting out our vote on Election Day.
All these campaign priorities cost money, which is why I am sending you this email today.
With your support, we are looking to elect a stable national government so we can complete the economic recovery and keep taxes low. A re-elected Harper Government will work to assure a strong economy, a secure country and the safety of Canadians through steady, responsible, and practical government.
We are asking all of our loyal supporters if they can contribute $200 or $100 so we can give this campaign a running start. Please, make a contribution of $200 or $100 right now by following this link and using our secure, online donation page .
Sincerely,
Dan Hilton
Executive Director, Conservative Party of Canada"
But you know, I read their email letter (see below) looking for something about, you know, protection for the unborn. Did I find anything? Nope, nothing.
There was also no mention of even a glimmer of hope, that the Conservatives might actually tolerate any abortion debate any time soon. And there was definitely nothing about their dismal voting record on Roxanne's Law, a law that would have provided some legal protection to a woman who was being coerced into having an abortion she didn't want to have.
How could anybody not be against forced abortion? I have no idea, but 178 MPs actually voted against Roxanne's law.
A suggestion would be for all you folks out there, who received this election funds solicitation, to reply with a Dear Stephen letter:
Dear Mr. Harper,
Sure I'd love to help you out, but honestly I just can't do it. You see, you voted against the first bill in the House of Commons to be debated on in twenty years on the subject matter of abortion. Remember Roxanne's Law? The one that you and some Conservative MPs, who I thought were pro-life, voted against?
Perhaps if you came out with a public statement telling Canadians you've had a change of heart and will allow some proper abortion debate in Canada, then hey, I might even find a few dollars to contribute to your campaign.
But until then, well, I think I need to hang on to my money. Let me know if you change your mind.
Sincerely,
Jane and John Q public.
Here is the email the Conservatives sent out:
"I’m sure you have already heard that yesterday, the Ignatieff-led Coalition with the NDP and Bloc Quebecois united to force Canadians into an unnecessary and unwanted election.
By forcing an unnecessary election in this time of fragile economic recovery – Canada’s fourth in seven years – Michael Ignatieff and his coalition partners are irresponsibly and recklessly putting at risk Canadians’ jobs, our economy and stable government.
The budget our Prime Minister tabled this week – the next phase of Canada’s Economic Action Plan – is critically important to complete our economic recovery. It is Stephen Harper’s low-tax plan for jobs and growth. It’s a balanced plan to strengthen the financial security of Canadian families, and protect and create jobs. The Coalition’s actions today make clear they don’t care about any of the practical initiatives in the budget. Or the fact that without it, Canada’s economic recovery will be put in jeopardy just as we enter the home stretch.
Simply put, in forcing this unnecessary election the Ignatieff-led Coalition has recklessly placed their own political ambitions ahead of Canadians’ financial security. Their self-interest ahead of Canada’s stability.
This campaign is a clear choice between principled leadership and a political opportunist; between a stable government and a reckless coalition. And between a low tax plan for jobs and growth and a high tax agenda that will stall our recovery, kill jobs and set families back.
The next five weeks will be a challenge as we face the Ignatieff-led Coalition. We need to fight back and train volunteers in every one of Canada’s 308 ridings. We also need to reach out to Canadians across our country through advertising. We will also need help in getting out our vote on Election Day.
All these campaign priorities cost money, which is why I am sending you this email today.
With your support, we are looking to elect a stable national government so we can complete the economic recovery and keep taxes low. A re-elected Harper Government will work to assure a strong economy, a secure country and the safety of Canadians through steady, responsible, and practical government.
We are asking all of our loyal supporters if they can contribute $200 or $100 so we can give this campaign a running start. Please, make a contribution of $200 or $100 right now by following this link and using our secure, online donation page .
Sincerely,
Dan Hilton
Executive Director, Conservative Party of Canada"
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