With parliament once
again back in session I am again fighting depression, its not that
the attack on our democracy increases any more during these time but
that it receives greater attention and is far more obvious. We have
seen the statements by Minister Oliver and by PM Harper regarding the
need to 'streamline' environmental hearings and how those that oppose
multinational projects that threaten our lands and forests, rivers
and oceans are 'radicals' and 'enemies' of Canada' which shows us
exactly how much respect this regime has for due process. We have
seen them declare that Canada will not participate in future efforts
to curb world environmental change without so much as a debate in
parliament, we have seen the move to 'harmonize' our regulations and
border security with the U.S. Again with out any consultation with
either the citizens or their representatives in the House of Commons.
But these things are about specific major projects and if these
things are not deemed important enough to debate in the house then
what of lesser matters?
With the house back in
session but a few days we see exactly where things are going, on day
one 'time allocation' was used to restrict debate after just two
hours. Many committee hearings have already been declared 'in
camera' so that all details of same will be withheld from public
scrutiny. The PM announces changes to Canadians pension plans, not in
the house but overseas, changes that effect the most vulnerable in
our society but leave the rich and powerful unaffected. A
manufacturing plant which received millions in 'incentives' and was
the backdrop for one of King Harpers photo op announcements packs up
shop and lays off 100s and the silence from Ottawa is deafening. We
could all add to the list but can do little about it, hence the
depression.
It seems I am not alone
in my lack of optimism regarding our collective future under this
regime, Lorne over at Politics
and its Discontents it would seem has similar
feelings.....
“I have to admit
that nowadays I am feeling the pessimism of old strongly reemerging,
not to the point of giving up my blog and whatever value it might
serve in the fight against the extremists who now control the
Canadian government, but to the point where I realize that the battle
is lost without the willingness of Canadians, no matter how hard
their daily struggles might be, to educate themselves about the
issues and keep current with as many facets as possible of the
neoliberal agenda being relentlessly advanced by those who pretend to
represent us. “
And there is the rub
“pretend to represent us” ..... Exactly!
1 comment:
Oh it just makes me sick. I totally get Lorne's point - I had to step back for almost 3 years because of the same frustration - but then I was just becomming one of the people I was frustratred with! It's a huge inner battle - to know or not to know? To care or not to care? Sometimes, knowing and caring jeopardizes our well-being. But I think, perhaps, that not knowing and not caring jeopardizes it even more.
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