IntenseDebate - R. Mowat

13 years ago @ The Sheaf - Memoirs of an inmate · 0 replies · +1 points

It'd be great to hear more about Mr. Cardinal in the future.

13 years ago @ Macleans.ca - No country for good men · 14 replies · +16 points

But I think I disagree with Andrew's thesis here - which I read to be that Canada can't have (or doesn't deserve) wise leadership. Instead, I think we need a kind of intellectualism that is paired with toughness.

Think Trudeau: he was a smarty-pants, but also a SOB.

We all saw Ignatieff as a smarty-pants, but I couldn't detect the tough-as-nails quality that Trudeau had. Now we'll never find out if he had it.

On the other hand, we've all seen Harper's SOB routine. Is it possible, with his majority finally gained, that we'll see something of the hither-to-rumoured intelligence of our Prime Minister?

13 years ago @ Macleans.ca - No country for good men · 15 replies · +24 points

Like Andrew, I was hopeful about the possible impact Mr. Ignatieff could have. In those early years, I devoured pieces like Andrew's National Post piece, trying to determine whether or not Ignatieff was "the real thing." But in the end he underwhelmed: whether the fault was Ignatieff's or his advisors seems to matter little. Seeing this (formerly) esteemed intellectual peddle the "Liberal Family Pack" like so much fried chicken, seemed a fitting finale to a leadership tenure spent mired in parliament's inside baseball.

13 years ago @ The Sheaf - Quebec extends an oliv... · 0 replies · +1 points

Nice take on the situation.

But don't be too disappointed if the electoral map in Saskatchewan isn't orange next Tuesday. Last time around, the Conservatives received 53% of the popular vote, with their candidates winning 10 of 13 ridings outright with more than 50%. So even adding together the NDP and Liberal votes, there's really only 3 seats in play.

And maybe only one: Saskatoon-Rosetown-Biggar. Here the race is expected to be close, with the NDP coming second to the Conservatives by less than 300 votes in 2008. This time the Conservative candidate is an incumbent, which usually bolsters a candidate's performance. And there are very few Liberal votes left for the NDP to steal (Liberals only got 4.4% here in 2008). But there may be 1,000 Green Party votes out there at play.

14 years ago @ http://www.themarknews... - Why Harper Silenced Si... · 0 replies · +1 points

You make a compelling case for why Canadians should doubt the actions of the Conservative government. They seem a bad lot.

The federal funding for Sisters in Spirit project has expired (as such temporary federal funding, like in this case, is wont to do), but perhaps its for the best. Wouldn't NWAC be compromised in accepting funding from such a dubious and duplicitous government?

Yes. You've got me doubting their motives so much now that I don't think I'd be in favour of any decision of theirs - especially funding the Sisters in Spirit project. It would clearly be some sort of disinformation campaign, using our scarce tax dollars to boot! The nerve.

14 years ago @ http://www.themarknews... - Harper Owes Answers on... · 0 replies · +1 points

"motivated by hate" - is that a throwaway phrase or an argument that can be substantiated?

14 years ago @ http://www.themarknews... - If Mackay Goes, A Woma... · 0 replies · +1 points

It's a good idea Kate. Are there any specific MPs who you think could be in the running?

14 years ago @ http://www.themarknews... - First Past The Post Is... · 0 replies · +2 points

RE: low turnout - I agree.

So even if we want to pursue PR down the road, I think we should start by adopting some system of Mandatory Voting first.

14 years ago @ http://www.themarknews... - First Past The Post Is... · 2 replies · +2 points

Wayne wrote:

"The problem with our current version of representative democracy is precisely that most of us, and by "most" I mean "more than half", are "represented" by people we voted against. MPs, MPPs, MLAs and MNAs in Canada are elected, on average, with about 40% of the votes in their riding. Which of their constituents re they supposed to answer to? The 40% who voted for them, or the 60% who voted against them? "

How big is this problem? Not that big, actually.

In the 2008 federal election:
- 118 MPs were elected with more than 50% of the vote in their riding.
- 149 MPs were elected with 40-50%
- 41 MPs were elected with less than 40%

The *average* MP was elected with 49.45% of the vote. Not the 40% Wayne asserts. The *median* level is 47.5%.

At the constituency level there is much more political consensus than is normally acknowledged.

14 years ago @ http://www.themarknews... - Cell Phone in Charlie ... · 0 replies · +2 points

And obviously not a cell phone. There was no cell network or towers to handle cell phone calls in 1928. She might as well be holding a laser pointer or a symbiotic ear-mushroom.

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