http://youtu.be/pEsCPi-BOXA
The PMO has all the power in Canada.
Its his show and his show alone.
And on that point there is no debate!!
The house of commons is nothing more than a bad show, to make the people feel like they have a democracy. When the truth is we have an elected dictator.
http://www.hrsolidarity.net/mainfile.php/2000vol10no09/708/
Elected dictatorships are those where dictatorships cleverly masquerade as democracies. In elected dictatorships, regular elections are held, a docile and subservient press is maintained that purveys lies and fear to intimidate the voters to support the ruling elite. The ability to pull off this masquerade of pretending to be democratic makes elected dictatorships difficult to eliminate.
http://www.canadafreepress.com/index.php/article/23458
Canadians are so fed up with smarmy politicians talking out of both sides of their mouths, ... Canada is in dire need of politicians who believe in government of, for and by the people, but we won’t get it so long as we allow our leaders to wield dictatorial powers
http://www.montrealgazette.com/news/Parliament+become+irrelevant+under+Harper/5815682/story.html#ixzz1fsmFygYD
A better comparison to the Canadian situation might be Russia, where Vladimir Putin is able to act without concern for the formal role of institutions, although in Canada there are a series of extra-governmental actors
And we have watchdogs - the auditor general, the parliamentary budget officer and the like - but according to a count by Queen's University Professor Ned Franks, Harper has fired or forced out 10 watchdogs, which tends to cow the others.
The only way this near absolute power held by the PMO can be countered is by the Provinces taking a very strong stand, which may include exercising their sovereignty.
This is the power the Provinces have. It is a very important power which can be used.
Wednesday, December 7, 2011
Wednesday, October 5, 2011
Americans made two mistakes which squandered their advantage in Afghanistan.
Americans made two mistakes which squandered their advantage.
"People welcomed the Americans [because] they saw them as their liberators. There was no room for the Taliban to stage a comeback immediately."
"I think the Pakistani military... tolerated the Taliban and also helped them”
Hasan Askari Rizvi Defence analyst
By 2006, however, the Taliban had infiltrated large parts of the south - especially the provinces of Zabul, Kandahar and Helmand.
By 2008, they were spreading out north towards Kabul.
Brig Shah says the Americans made two mistakes which squandered their advantage.
"They focused on military objectives instead of stabilisation and development. And they soon went to fight a war of choice in Iraq, abandoning the war of necessity that had brought them to Afghanistan."
The lack of reconstruction, and rampant corruption among government officials at a time when millions of refugees were returning from Iran and Pakistan, led to widespread disenchantment and fuelled insurgency, he says.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-south-asia-15132461>
Dick Cheney foolish defends the use of torture.
Terrorism feeds on misery, corruption and HATRED!
With reduced corruption the Afghan government would have been able to win many hearts and minds of the Afghan people and police itself. Reducing the world terrorism threat.
The decision to use torture and support the corruption of justice required to make torture possible has been a strategic blunder. Rebellion against the corruption within the Afghan Government gives the extremist terrorist more than enough support. We have wasted untold billions. We have wasted what was probably our only chance to bring lasting peace to Afghanistan and reduce the threat of terrorist who feed on the misery, corruption and hatred.
Torture is corruption of justice. The hatred created by torturing for information is beyond our comprehension.
Through the misery, corruption and hatred created through torture, Dick Cheney is a danger to all.
"People welcomed the Americans [because] they saw them as their liberators. There was no room for the Taliban to stage a comeback immediately."
"I think the Pakistani military... tolerated the Taliban and also helped them”
Hasan Askari Rizvi Defence analyst
By 2006, however, the Taliban had infiltrated large parts of the south - especially the provinces of Zabul, Kandahar and Helmand.
By 2008, they were spreading out north towards Kabul.
Brig Shah says the Americans made two mistakes which squandered their advantage.
"They focused on military objectives instead of stabilisation and development. And they soon went to fight a war of choice in Iraq, abandoning the war of necessity that had brought them to Afghanistan."
The lack of reconstruction, and rampant corruption among government officials at a time when millions of refugees were returning from Iran and Pakistan, led to widespread disenchantment and fuelled insurgency, he says.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-south-asia-15132461>
Dick Cheney foolish defends the use of torture.
Terrorism feeds on misery, corruption and HATRED!
With reduced corruption the Afghan government would have been able to win many hearts and minds of the Afghan people and police itself. Reducing the world terrorism threat.
The decision to use torture and support the corruption of justice required to make torture possible has been a strategic blunder. Rebellion against the corruption within the Afghan Government gives the extremist terrorist more than enough support. We have wasted untold billions. We have wasted what was probably our only chance to bring lasting peace to Afghanistan and reduce the threat of terrorist who feed on the misery, corruption and hatred.
Torture is corruption of justice. The hatred created by torturing for information is beyond our comprehension.
Through the misery, corruption and hatred created through torture, Dick Cheney is a danger to all.
Thursday, May 26, 2011
In Canada pre-election campaign advertisement spending is unregulated.
I bring to your attention the well documented findings of
Corruption and democracy: Political finances - conflicts of interest - lobbying - justice (2008)
Author(s) :
Alexander Seger, Drago Kos, Alvis Vilks, Ömer Faruk Gençkaya, Manuel Villoria Mendieta, Alan Doig, Siim Kallas, Rogier Chorus, William Dinan, David Miller, Pim Albers, Nihal Jayawickrama
ISBN 978-92-871-6355-4
In Canada pre-election campaign advertisement spending is unregulated. The removal of public political financing will only lead to greater political favoritism and corruption of the public trust.
The effects of unregulated political financing is summarized on page 34. I also highly recommend reading the whole document.
At the same time, unregulated political finances carry considerable risks
- they exacerbate political inequality. The principle of "one person, one vote" is compromised by unequal influence bought through contributions. Financial contributions create an uneven playing field where big money (often coming from the corporate sector) has an undue advantage. Interested money may override equal voting rights and equal access to decision makers and elected office;
- political money may buy access to office and access to decision makers. Those in a position to contribute have a greater chance to be heard by political decision makers. And those able to finance political parties and electoral "pre-election" campaigns have bigger chance to secure places on election lists of established by political parties;
- elections may represent less a competition of political positions and ideas and more the ability of political parties and candidates to raise funds, leading to an arms or propaganda race disconnected from political debate;
- political parties and politicians risk being co-opted to represent and pursue particular interests rather than the common public interest. They are more accountable to those who pay than to their constituency. This risk is particularly great if parties rely on a small number of donors only. Parties relying on private funding may have a weaker connection to their voters and are less connected to party members. Party leaders may transform contributions into political capital to secure control over their party;
- unregulated political finances are not transparent. It is thus impossible for voters to determine whose interests politicians are representing, and to hold them accountable.
Corruption and democracy: Political finances - conflicts of interest - lobbying - justice (2008)
Author(s) :
Alexander Seger, Drago Kos, Alvis Vilks, Ömer Faruk Gençkaya, Manuel Villoria Mendieta, Alan Doig, Siim Kallas, Rogier Chorus, William Dinan, David Miller, Pim Albers, Nihal Jayawickrama
ISBN 978-92-871-6355-4
In Canada pre-election campaign advertisement spending is unregulated. The removal of public political financing will only lead to greater political favoritism and corruption of the public trust.
The effects of unregulated political financing is summarized on page 34. I also highly recommend reading the whole document.
At the same time, unregulated political finances carry considerable risks
- they exacerbate political inequality. The principle of "one person, one vote" is compromised by unequal influence bought through contributions. Financial contributions create an uneven playing field where big money (often coming from the corporate sector) has an undue advantage. Interested money may override equal voting rights and equal access to decision makers and elected office;
- political money may buy access to office and access to decision makers. Those in a position to contribute have a greater chance to be heard by political decision makers. And those able to finance political parties and electoral "pre-election" campaigns have bigger chance to secure places on election lists of established by political parties;
- elections may represent less a competition of political positions and ideas and more the ability of political parties and candidates to raise funds, leading to an arms or propaganda race disconnected from political debate;
- political parties and politicians risk being co-opted to represent and pursue particular interests rather than the common public interest. They are more accountable to those who pay than to their constituency. This risk is particularly great if parties rely on a small number of donors only. Parties relying on private funding may have a weaker connection to their voters and are less connected to party members. Party leaders may transform contributions into political capital to secure control over their party;
- unregulated political finances are not transparent. It is thus impossible for voters to determine whose interests politicians are representing, and to hold them accountable.
Saturday, January 15, 2011
Public Party Financing and Democracy
It is time people read a few books on the subject before they mouth off. Stephen Harper is hoping people have forgotten how to read or cannot remember why Public Party Financing was introduced.
Lets start with this book
Corruption and democracy: Political finances - conflicts of interest - lobbying - justice (2008)
Author(s)
Alexander Seger, Drago Kos, Alvis Vilks, Ömer Faruk Gençkaya, Manuel Villoria Mendieta, Alan Doig, Siim Kallas, Rogier Chorus, William Dinan, David Miller, Pim Albers, Nihal Jayawickrama
ISBN 978-92-871-6355-4
Format : 16 x 24 cm
No. of pages : 220
Price : € 28 / US$ 42
This title is available in PDF.
ISBN : 978-92-871-6355-4PDF
Weight : 1364 Ko
Price : € 19 / US$ 29
Synopsis
Political corruption is an important challenge that democracies in Europe are confronted with. It contributes to the decline of citizens’ trust and confidence in democracy and weakens democratic principles and processes. Key areas of concern include:
- Political finances
- Conflicts of interest
- Lobbying
- Undue influence on the justice system.
This book contains contributions on each of these topics. They identity risks that corruption poses to the future of democracy in Europe, and they propose a wide range of measures for action which are not only aimed at preventing political corruption and enhancing transparency and accountability but also at rebuilding confidence in democracy.
http://books.google.com/books?id=yjmC0OvU0AIC&pg=PA65&lpg=PA65&dq=public+party+financing+democracy&source=bl&ots=nyTLZykQBQ&sig=jBM9Cbs-bn-7LlZNUtri8mKl7_c&hl=en&ei=QIAxTZOSKpD6sAPmxMmEBg&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=8&ved=0CE0Q6AEwBzgK#v=onepage&q=public%20party%20financing%20democracy&f=false
You can find this authoritative book on the Corruption and democracy: Political finances
http://book.coe.int/EN/ficheouvrage.php?PAGEID=36&lang=EN&produit_aliasid=2294
or borrow this book from a library
...
http://www.worldcat.org/title/corruption-and-democracy-political-finances-conflicts-of-interest-lobbying-justice/oclc/225866717&referer=brief_results
select find library
type in your city name
Lets start with this book
Corruption and democracy: Political finances - conflicts of interest - lobbying - justice (2008)
Author(s)
Alexander Seger, Drago Kos, Alvis Vilks, Ömer Faruk Gençkaya, Manuel Villoria Mendieta, Alan Doig, Siim Kallas, Rogier Chorus, William Dinan, David Miller, Pim Albers, Nihal Jayawickrama
ISBN 978-92-871-6355-4
Format : 16 x 24 cm
No. of pages : 220
Price : € 28 / US$ 42
This title is available in PDF.
ISBN : 978-92-871-6355-4PDF
Weight : 1364 Ko
Price : € 19 / US$ 29
Synopsis
Political corruption is an important challenge that democracies in Europe are confronted with. It contributes to the decline of citizens’ trust and confidence in democracy and weakens democratic principles and processes. Key areas of concern include:
- Political finances
- Conflicts of interest
- Lobbying
- Undue influence on the justice system.
This book contains contributions on each of these topics. They identity risks that corruption poses to the future of democracy in Europe, and they propose a wide range of measures for action which are not only aimed at preventing political corruption and enhancing transparency and accountability but also at rebuilding confidence in democracy.
http://books.google.com/books?id=yjmC0OvU0AIC&pg=PA65&lpg=PA65&dq=public+party+financing+democracy&source=bl&ots=nyTLZykQBQ&sig=jBM9Cbs-bn-7LlZNUtri8mKl7_c&hl=en&ei=QIAxTZOSKpD6sAPmxMmEBg&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=8&ved=0CE0Q6AEwBzgK#v=onepage&q=public%20party%20financing%20democracy&f=false
You can find this authoritative book on the Corruption and democracy: Political finances
http://book.coe.int/EN/ficheouvrage.php?PAGEID=36&lang=EN&produit_aliasid=2294
or borrow this book from a library
...
http://www.worldcat.org/title/corruption-and-democracy-political-finances-conflicts-of-interest-lobbying-justice/oclc/225866717&referer=brief_results
select find library
type in your city name
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