Assets & Liabilities for June 2009

A monthly look at the Democratic balance sheet…..

Asset: President Obama for his statement
“[There is one] single standard for all who hold power:
* you must maintain your power through consent, not coercion;
* you must respect the rights of minorities,
* and participate with a spirit of tolerance and compromise;
* you must place the interests of your people ... above your party.
Without these ingredients, elections alone do not make true democracy.”
Barack Hussein Obama, June 4, 2009


Liability: The Government of Canada in appealing a federal court order to seek the repatriation of Omar Khadr and its statement that…

“….there is no principle in international law compelling officials to provide diplomatic protection or consular service to nationals abroad, let alone seek their return to Canada.”


Asset: Manitoba's longest-serving Conservative MP Inky Mark for his statement upon announcing that he will not run again in the next election.

"There is no check and balance. The tone of the country is based on the leadership of the political parties. The way the leaders operate sets the mood of the politics in Parliament. And until we establish some checks and balances in the system so that people actually do have a say in the House, there really [are] free votes and that people can really represent the people who send them to Ottawa, nothing will...

Liability: All MPs who were involved in the secret deal to change the rules on reporting benefits received from political parties…

“Members of Parliament have exempted the cash and benefits they receive from political parties and riding associations from restrictions and public disclosure under the House of Commons conflict-of-interest code. The move was unanimously approved without a vote in the Commons after committee hearings conducted entirely in secret.”

Asset: James Travers of the Star for his remarks about our access to information in his series of articles on democracy in Canada.

“Quill pens are still the rage here. Putting official Ottawa online would free information logjams and provide the openness party leaders promise and forget the second they arrive here. Of course that would spike systemic secrecy and, holy smokes, give politicians awkward moments. It's so easy a fix you can only speculate why it hasn't happened. “


A bit thin again this month as I have been busy with other things so feel free to add to the list. As always your contributions and opinions are welcome. Support Democracy - Recommend this Post at Progressive Bloggers