The silver lining...

[fajrdrako]

I was talking to the bookkeeper at work this morning; she was grumping about what her recent car repairs cost. "I know I ought to count my blessings," she said, making me think of the 'thanksgiving' stuff on LJ yesterday. "But sometimes..."

"Sometimes the silver lining looks a little thin," I said.

"Like tissue paper," she said. "And look at our government, gone to shit."

Yeah. Personally I hope we get a forced election and vote that man Harper out of here fast.

Comments

[iclysdale.livejournal.com]

I have to say that a Lib/Bloc/NDP coalition (http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20081127.wfiscalpolitics1127/BNStory/Front/home) sounds a whole lot better than an election, right now.

And with a financial crisis to deal with, there's even a remote possibility that they could stop squabbling for two years or so and run a government as a coalition.

That's what *I* want for Christmas.

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

I have to say that a Lib/Bloc/NDP coalition sounds a whole lot better than an election, right now.

Very true. What are the odds?

there's even a remote possibility that they could stop squabbling for two years or so and run a government as a coalition.

Wonderful thought.

That's what *I* want for Christmas

Me too. Is Santa Claus listening?

[dewline.livejournal.com]

If he is, there are limits to even his miracles. This may be one of them.

Nothing wrong with hoping, though.

[teenygozer.livejournal.com]

I have a good number of Canadians on my flist, and they all seem to think along the same lines you do. Now that I think of it, not a single person on my flist voted McCain, either, once he'd picked the crazy lady as his running mate. It's as if fandom votes as a block!

[duncanmac.livejournal.com]

Definitely. Another election may *not* be what Canada needs, but we need Harper and his partisanship out *now*.

I'm actually feeling divided about the proposal to cancel funding for political parties. Timing is everything. If it had been done at a different time, I would be in favor -- why should we be paying subsidies to the parties in general? Right now, it *stinks* of partisanship, and find it a very poor choice for saving money in the middle of the current economic mess.

When will Flaherty come up with better solutions for the average jobless person? It's pretty obvious what has been specified is Not Good Enough.

[auriaephiala.livejournal.com]

When I first heard Wednesday night about this proposed cutting off of federal funding for parties, I was flabbergasted. It's so ... petty, so stupid, so anti-democratic, so totally not understanding what are the actual priorities for fixing the current economic situation.

Luckily, it seems to have blown up in Harper's face Real Good.

See, for example:
http://blog.macleans.ca/2008/11/28/i-think-its-safe-to-say-that-has-already-happened-minister/
http://blog.macleans.ca/2008/11/28/the-day-just-got-shorter-or-longer-like-anyone-knows-anything-at-this-point/

I am crossing my fingers that we get a new coalition government. But even getting Harper and Flaherty to back down on the civil servants striking and a bunch of the other questionable measures would be an improvement.

(Though I do hope they don't bail out GM, Ford and Chrysler (or Magna). That would be a waste of money.)

[duncanmac.livejournal.com]

I'd agree on that last bit. Flaherty should be reading recent history. The U.S. federal government bailed out Chrysler in 1979. Where did the money wind up going? To Germany, when Daimler bought them out.

I *still* support the cancellation in principle, though the Reformists really should have considered that people are Not Stupid and can see crass partisanship when it's as plain as the nose on one's face. Humph.

[xinef.livejournal.com]

I agree re the coalition.

[duncanmac.livejournal.com]

I'd agree to a coalition too ... but, given what I know of the Liberals and the NDP, it will *not* last long.

[obelix]

As of this afternoon it looks as if we will have a coalition government. All 3 parties (Liberal, NDP and Bloc) have announced that they have negotiated a viable government with Stéphane Dion as Prime Minister and probably Jack Layton as Deputy Prime Minister!

Excuse me as I do a little dance of JOY!

At this point the only thing that can save Harper is if he completely backs down from his budget (Not just the funding but the whole budget) and apologizes publicly to the other parties, this is how angry the 3 other parties are.

Looks like Santa may be listening after all!

[duncanmac.livejournal.com]

One of the "Daily Gems" I saw today may be rather relevant
(http://community.livejournal.com/daily_gems/1083799.html)

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

As of this afternoon it looks as if we will have a coalition government.

Oh what good news!

that they have negotiated a viable government with Stéphane Dion as Prime Minister and probably Jack Layton as Deputy Prime Minister!

Works for me. Yay!

Excuse me as I do a little dance of JOY!

[Joins you]

this is how angry the 3 other parties are.

Can't blaim them.

Looks like Santa may be listening after all!

*hugs the elves*

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

Speak the truth, and wear heavy armour.

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

However it goes, it will deflect the Conservatives.

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

I have a good number of Canadians on my flist, and they all seem to think along the same lines you do.

Have you read Lois McMaster Bujold's Shards of Honour? There's an ongoing joke in that, that everyone the protagonist meets points out that they didn't vote for the President. Seems to be like that here - I don't see a lot of people who admit to voting Conservative - but someone must have, since the Conservatives got into power.

not a single person on my flist voted McCain, either, once he'd picked the crazy lady as his running mate. It's as if fandom votes as a block!

Uh-huh. There's a certain like-mindedness here. I'm tempted to say something rude like "because we're all literate here". Let's just all pretend I didn't think that, okay?

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

Another election may *not* be what Canada needs, but we need Harper and his partisanship out *now*.

Exactly! He was bad enough before he had a majority government. Now he takes it a license to go haywire.

why should we be paying subsidies to the parties in general?

Because it's democratic, and prevents the creation of an oligarchy made up of (and backed by) exclusively the people with money. Rule by, of, and for the rich.

Right now, it *stinks* of partisanship

Well, of course it does.

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

When I first heard Wednesday night about this proposed cutting off of federal funding for parties, I was flabbergasted.

Yeah. I found myself wondering, "Did I hear right? Did he actually say that?"

... petty, so stupid, so anti-democratic, so totally not understanding what are the actual priorities for fixing the current economic situation.

Well. Yes. Steven Harper, true to form. (See why I don't talk about politics much? It brings out the irritable bitch in me.)

Luckily, it seems to have blown up in Harper's face Real Good.

And he was asking for it.

I am crossing my fingers that we get a new coalition government.

Yes! I am praying to the gods of Political Theory.

Igetting Harper and Flaherty to back down on the civil servants striking and a bunch of the other questionable measures would be an improvement.

Definitely.

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

The U.S. federal government bailed out Chrysler in 1979. Where did the money wind up going? To Germany, when Daimler bought them out.

I bet that did wonders for the American economy.

people are Not Stupid and can see crass partisanship when it's as plain as the nose on one's face

A lot of people are stupid, but to miss this one you'd have to be stupid, blind, deaf and not listening.

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

We shall see...

Elves and reindeer, do your bit!

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

Fingers crossed...!

[obelix]

Harper postponed opposition day to next Friday hoping that he can boister the troops to write in to stop the non confidence motion. I don't think it's going to happen, I think he may be in for a surprise, I know I'm writing to my member of parliament and to the leaders of the opposition and even the Governor General to state how thrilled I would be with having a coalition and I hope that a lot of people do the same.

Harper went too far and as the political commentators were saying he's running scared :-)

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

Yes he is, and I intend to write letters, too.

[dewline.livejournal.com]

I noticed that characterisation of the Coalition-to-be as a "coup d'état" (http://blog.macleans.ca/2008/11/28/gosh-this-could-be-interesting-the-pm-speaks/). Amusing, considering the breakdown of the popular vote among those of us who actually voted in the election.

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

Journalists like to use extreme words.

Though I kind of like the notion of a coup against Harper.

[walkingowl.livejournal.com]

I'm taking a brief trip in my little time machine (pocket sized, you know) (which usually just means that things I'm sure I put in my pocket, where the devil could they have gone, will not turn up until a few days in the future!)... um, to say: yep, you can do it, because the energy is already flowing that direction, thanks to several million fed-up Americans. Yay, Canada!

And I wish I could be online daily... wish I could chat as much as I want... what you write is so fun, and so interesting. Sigh. With you in spirit. Energy is everything. Lacking only a good Creme Brulee. Heh. xo

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

(which usually just means that things I'm sure I put in my pocket, where the devil could they have gone, will not turn up until a few days in the future!)...

Hee - we all have one of those.

yep, you can do it, because the energy is already flowing that direction, thanks to several million fed-up Americans.

Time machine or none, it feels as if a lot has heppened, politically speaking, since this post of mine. So now we don't even have a parliament until January - and Harper is still nominally in office, backpedalling like mad and begging for acceptance.

I'm sorry you can't post more, too, because I always enjoy hearing your comments. And I've been too busy to post all I want, too. (Not to mention having a few stories I want to finish soon.)

[walkingowl.livejournal.com]

Backpedaling? You want to hear about backpedaling, think of acting-prez Bush right now! He has made no public appearances or statements, basically, since the week before the election! He's hiding! He actually apologized for the economy being bad, and said that he hopes that the average American can look ahead to better times! He refused to shake the hands of certain other state leaders at a recent summit meeting, last week I think -- there he was, walking in past the receiving line, and he kept a sour look on his face and his hands at his sides as the state leader ahead of him, and the one behind him, both shook hands with each other state leader in the receiving line. What a dick-head! You're in the office, act the part!

Harper amazes me. He's like a little cardboard cut-out of a Prime Minister. And the wind just picked up. Over he goes! Does he truly not have a clue?

I have not had much chance to post since our union computer lost its ability to get online (who knows why). I used to be able to post on LJ that way, but could not sign into my e-mail. Now, I have to rely on my laptop's battery and an after-work stop in a certain cafe's parking lot [g]. Thank you... feels good to know I can write coherently and interstingly.

Right now, I am in the computer lab on campus. It's supper time, so few are here (but the food court smells great). I am going to find some Pennsylvania Dutch hex sign designs so I can start to work on the plexiglas "stained glass" project for my sister, blocking the draft from her skylight. I also got the idea of measuring three other windows on the windy side of their house, and making something pretty for those, too. Would help them feel at home! I love do do art, and have had so little chance.

Y'know, intermittent communication actually works better for those of us with hypersensitive perceptual abilities and the accompanying processing delays... and I did mean to make that plural, as -- I imagine you can easily extrapolate -- I don't function under just one processing delay, but under many ongoing ones. One or more for each incident or element of experience.

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

I don't really know what makes Harper tick but it doesn't seem to be a good thing for the country. Could be worse, I suppose.