Things that make you go hmmm...

[profundis]

So. Canucks. How's tricks with your new P.M.? Heard a lot from you guys in the last few years about Bush, but not so much from you about Harper, strangely enough. Did you get him swept under the rug yet or is it too unseemly to talk about? Our "we're leaving if the vote doesn't go our way" people need somewhere to go and it was sounding a bit dodgy if you guys were gonna be any better off than us.

Comments

[bitterlawngnome.livejournal.com]

There are times when one or the other party ends up with a majority, even a very large one, and then our politics become similar to US politics.

Of course the thing Mikey is ignoring is that while Canadian politics have no affect in the US, US politics has a dramatic effect on our lives.

[bitterlawngnome.livejournal.com]

The US is our largest trading partner so anything that affects the US economy effects ours. Any change in border regulations, shipping regulations, health & safety regulations, etc. The US is a constant military threat, so appeasement is a major part of Canadian policy. Every time you guys have a repressive government, we get many of your dissatisfied liberals. Also we share geography - so for instance if your gov decided to allow pollution of the Great Lakes not much we could do about it.

Lots of others.

[profundis.livejournal.com]

Don't presume. I'm not ignoring anything, I'm asking for a little tit-for-tat. "You guys" (in the most general sense possible) have had plenty to say on the subject of our politics - and quite frankly said down the length of a few noses - so I'm calling "you" out.

I find it telling that "we guys" seem to have nothing to say on the subject of your politics (likely good old American "if it don't affect us directly we'd rather be watching football" mentality) and that "you guys" seemed to shut right up when your own govt took a conservative turn.

But as you say, hopefully that's a temporary condition.

[bitterlawngnome.livejournal.com]

Ah so you're trying to pick a fight. OK, you win.

[profundis.livejournal.com]

Why jump to conclusions? I'm not fighting, I'm just challenging you (not you in specific) to step up and tell your tale. Here's your big chance to educate me (and those reading) on the particulars of your system (which so far sounds pretty fascinating and I'd heard precious little about). Since I've heard so much about the current U.S. administation, I'd love to see how you guys deal with an unwanted Head Honcho of your own.

Flamebait? You got it.

[nfotxn.livejournal.com]

That's a really fucked up way to figure out how Canadian politics work. Can't you just wikipedia that shit? Seriously, you're not fooling anyone. You're trying to prove that we're somehow hypocritical of American politics because we care about them so much.

As for how we're dealing with Steven Harper? We don't have to. A Prime Minister is not a President as the power given to the President in the USA is more evenly distributed through various elected and non-elected federal officials. What really matters presently in Canada given the minority government is the configuration of quarem in the house. So basically if Harper says anything and takes it to the house to be passed he'll get murdered because the liberal/green/ndp/whatever parties will make an alliance and vote it down. This means conservative leanings or not the New Conservative government has very little actual power. Since the primaries in the USA our governments have actually taken on much similar configurations relative to their fundamental differences.

Re: Flamebait? You got it.

[profundis.livejournal.com]

Yup, you got me, I wasn't merely interested in the intricacies of the Canadian political system (interesting though the topic has been). I was wondering what happened to all that hue and cry I'd been hearing for at least 2 years from up there once you had your own elections. I did hear a brief "oh crap" at the time, but not much of anything since, and yeah...I do think it's at least a little convenient if not hypocritical. But as you outlined, perhaps Harper and his party are not really that big of a deal. Actually I think Bill said a few things that answered my question on a deeper level than I was even asking for, though I can't say that the answer gives me any jollies. SO there ya go.

Re: Flamebait? You got it.

[nfotxn.livejournal.com]

Yeah ok, just let it be known that I think this approach is bullshit and if you pull it again, well feel free. But I will be ignoring you, got it? Respect attracts respect and you're not showing us ANY.

Re: Flamebait? You got it.

[profundis.livejournal.com]

I'm sorry my approach offended you so Brodie, but I feel like you're overstating a bit - not that its something to brag about but I wasn't remotely expressing myself as negatively as I could, because it wasn't warranted, wasn't the point, and because I didn't want to.

You and I have rarely agreed on anything of a political nature and I don't expect us to now. Not singling you out - but I don't recall a great deal of respect in the various discussions (sometimes rants) of our political woes here, though to be fair that certainly wasn't limited to Canadians. I've gotten a lot of "we just do it all better" vibe and seen some "we fail to mention what we don't do better" in posts and comment threads from pundits on your side of the border, and I don't think *that's* fair - so I was asking for a little "put up or shut up"

From the answers given thus far it seems that people there are either a) not that into it b) not that worried about it) or C) feel they have more at stake in our political process than your own - which seems unfortunate if true, but may be unavoidable if so.

reading isn't as much fun as baiting on Livejournal.

[profundis.livejournal.com]

Or as being snarky in return. Thanks for the links, though...they may prove useful. You are totally correct about LJ being a limited selection on the topic (but hey, its not a news site so I guess that's par for the course).