Crisis in Canada

[Evil_Maniac From Mars]

Dion may be going sooner than expected.

[CountArach]

Dion may be going sooner than expected.

This is why claims of it being an unelected Prime Minister are false - things like this ensure that all Prime Ministers are unelected. It is similar to a Prime Minister stepping down during his term and handing over to the Deputy Prime Minister.

[Kralizec]

Prime ministers are technicly not elected, but in parliamentary systems its convention (sometimes expicitly required) that the leader of the largest faction in parliament gets the position.

In the Netherlands, where coalitions are the norm and minority governments rare, there's been only one instance of the largest party ending in opposition.

Oh yeah, party subsidies = bad.

[lars573]

This is why claims of it being an unelected Prime Minister are false - things like this ensure that all Prime Ministers are unelected. It is similar to a Prime Minister stepping down during his term and handing over to the Deputy Prime Minister.

But political party leaders are elected. By the party membership rather than the electorate. And in theory the PM is elected by the parliment. The parties just so happen to vote for their leader.


And Canada follows the British tradtion on deputy PM's (a near pointless honourific). We haven't had one since Harper took office.

[CountArach]

But political party leaders are elected. By the party membership rather than the electorate. And in theory the PM is elected by the parliment. The parties just so happen to vote for their leader.

Really? That doesn't happen with any of our important parties down here.

And Canada follows the British tradtion on deputy PM's (a near pointless honourific). We haven't had one since Harper took office.

Ah, I was under the impression that you did have one - Australia still does.

[lars573]

Really? That doesn't happen with any of our important parties down here.

Yeah. The last federal Liberal leadership convention was televised live. They are big political shows here. All card holding members of the party vote for their new leader in 2 or 3 rounds of voting. Although as leader Dion could step down today and appoint an interim leader from the hopefulls for leadership until the convention in May.

Ah, I was under the impression that you did have one - Australia still does.

Here it's just a title given to a cabinet minister. Who can then lead cabinet meetings if the PM is out of the country. I read up on yours and it's an actual cabinet post.

[JR-]

Public Funding for campaigns is what ensures that those who vote for a third party can have their voice heard - without this public financing there would be no way for these minor parties to get their message out.

i personally believe that public funding of parties breeds an unconscious contempt for the will of the electorate, and would much rather see politicians actually fight for my money on the basis of their ideas and attitude.

[lars573]

Our public funding scheme isn't as bad as it's been made out to be. Your party gets a few dollars for every vote you get. And there is a minimum % thresshold of the popular vote you to get too to qualify. 2% or 3% I think. While it does benefit the large parties more than the smaller ones, obviously. Since it's been implemented the NDP and Greens have been able to get their message out better and have done pregressively better in elections. I think it's a good system.

[CountArach]

i personally believe that public funding of parties breeds an unconscious contempt for the will of the electorate, and would much rather see politicians actually fight for my money on the basis of their ideas and attitude.

I would rather my governments were not slaves to big business.

[Evil_Maniac From Mars]

I would rather my governments were not slaves to big business.

In Canada, big businesses and unions aren't allowed to...and so on.

By the by, he's gone.

[LittleGrizzly]

I would rather my governments were not slaves to big business.

seconded!

political donations are nothing more than bribery imo, the most capable of this bribery are the very rich, this leaves politicians responsible for voters and political donators, if campaigns are publically financied then they only have one master, the public as it should be.... not that i want huge amounts spent on campaigning anyway

Honestoly we shouold have olearned oour olesson forom cash for honoours scandal, it was obvious to me as a teenager that poolitical donations is a logically flawed system and i cannot for the life of me understand people who support it....

[CountArach]

Problem with you "o" key LG?

[Goofball]

There's plenty of ways for groups to get their message out - the taxpayers shouldn't have to finance the aspirations of politicians. It is only a way for parties that can't find support among people to get money.

And this whole thing is just a power grab - the coalition groups' excuse that they think the budget doesn't deal with the economic situation enough is a load of lies. They saw an opportunity and filled the air with hysterics about the budget.

CR

CR, sometimes you're my favorite guy in the org. Very well said...

[Xiahou]

I don't know the specific circumstances but the fact is that the left-wing parties are more likely to rely ont eh working class, who haven't got the money to donate to political parties and campaigns.

Tell that to Obama. He raised 3/4 of a billion dollars during a recession.

If people like what youre selling, they'll donate.

[CountArach]

Tell that to Obama. He raised 3/4 of a billion dollars during a recession.

Obama is not left-wing.

[Evil_Maniac From Mars]

Obama is not left-wing.

Obama is at least centre-left.

[CountArach]

Obama is at least centre-left.

At the very most. I would say he is still closer to the centre, but I think a case can be made for centre-left. The point is that he is not one who speaks for the working class - he is something more of a petit bourgeoisie type.

[Strike For The South]

Edit: I shouldn't pick a fight just to pick one

Edit 2: NO FIGHTS