Well.
Apparently I'm not the only one who is offended at Marissa's arrogance, in dismissing the little "hamlets" of this Country as being too insignificant for Toronto and Montreal to worry about.
One of my favorite comments was from UsualSuspect who wrote:
Of course she is right. Two wolves and a sheep deciding about dinner IS democracy.
Its a strange thing. While we here in Next Year Country champion the ideals of democracy most, we also tend to have the lowest expectations of government.
It's a prairie thing.
A good year is one where the elephant forgets you are there and leaves you be and one good year in three is enough to rise again in the Spring.
Next year will be better...
Is our lot in Western Canada really that pathetic? Is the best we can hope for that Ontario and Quebec won't "rape us too much"?
Think about THIS for a moment.
As we have pointed out to us, over and over, our resource revenue is a non-renewable resource. Oil, natural gas, coal - are finite resources. At some point, they will either run out, or society will find alternatives where they are not required.
In the meanwhile, we make hay while the sun shines. And a massive part of that harvest gets funnelled out to Quebec and Ontario. Beyond the obvious example of equalization payments, government resources like VIA rail and others are concentrated in southern Ontario and Quebec, and general government benefits are typically doled out on a per capita basis - which means that the taxes that Ottawa collects go primarily to Ontario and Quebec.
Now consider that Quebec doesn't want to belong.
They have elected as their MP's, overwhelmingly, the Bloc Quebecois for some time. They have held a referendum to separate and had their goals foiled by a thin margin.
And this is while their citizens are being fed a steady diet of transfer payments, the pigs at the trough have been very well fed indeed.. and still they clamor to leave.
What do you think is going to happen when the resources start to run dry?
Do you anticipate for a moment that la belle Province is going to consider returning the favor?
Consider their recent response to Newfoundland's effort to expand it's export of hydro electric energy. While Newfoundland had struggled for generations financially, when they have the good fortune to be able to generate some wealth from their resources, not only are they not supported by Quebec - in fact, the Quebec government actively tries to prevent their profit. What Danny Williams has so subtly referred to as "hydro robbery".
The writing is on the wall, my friends.
If we're going to leave, best we do so while our wallets are full. Because the alternative is a future of serfdom to the lords of the manor in the duchy of Torontistan.
10 comments:
The Separatist earned 65% of the seats in QC with 38.1% of the votes.
The Liberals and Democrats have been pandering to Quebec with blocking the Democratic Reform that would add seats to BC, AB and Ontario.
This is another reason why both the Democrats and Liberals need to lose at least 20 MPs in the next general election.
The Bloc should become the figurehead for the coalition as everything is done to keep them onside.
Danny Williams got a taste of the Quebec idea of a united Canada courtesy of Jean Charest and his interest in being the only energy game in town.
Also the Liberals and Democrats are working very hard to protect the political party subsidy that benefits the Bloc.
Strange bedfellows those three make!
Sweet Marissa does forget one thing though - the whole of the GTA and Montreal and Vancouver are NOT all left wing. There are many conservatives there and they must be very frustrated seeing their votes belittled and meaning nothing.
So yes, the population might be larger, but I would challenge Marissa's claim that they have more sway because they vote left.
Since they are always throwing up the rep by pop - lets have a look at those stats. What were the voting percentages of Conservative votes compared to Coalition votes.
I am hoping someone has this information at their fingertips as I do not have the time to look it up.
Food for thought anyway and maybe something dear Marissa can think a bit about.
This country has been rigged to Toronto’s benefit for a long, long time.
A huge part of our economy has been funneled into Toronto by government fiat. They supposedly had to keep those evil Americans away from Canada. This sort of thing is still happening to this day, with Bookstores being one example, Of course if they complied with setting up their Canadian Headquarters in Toronto, well then that was okay.
And that the sad tale of how Toronto has become bigger and bigger by strangling us into supporting them.
There’s another way that Toronto and Montreal have rigged Canada to their self centered benefit.
First, you have to remember that the Provincial governments own all the land and its natural resources.
Then you go to one of those government protected bookstores that have their headquarters in Toronto and buy a overpriced Atlas of Canada. Next, you compare the square miles that each province has as part of its territory. You can figure out the rest yourself.
Wait a minute!
I was incorrect when I wrote “the Provincial governments own all the land and its natural resources.”
That is only true for Ontario and Quebec. When it suits their self centered-ness, Ontario and Quebec get to help themselves to everything from coast to coast to coast.
Like I said “rigged”!
Thoughts: http://hystericalmarissa.blogspot.com/2010/09/toronto-privilege.html
You know what? I'm sorry I wrote that "hamlet" comment. It went against what I try to accomplish as a human being, which is: to not wield my privilege against others. To do so dismisses legitimate grievances and erases people's experiences.
It's the type of thing that you do when you espouse social Darwinism, presume to tell someone else what the significance of his family history ought to be, and claim that "we're all black."
So, to be clear, I'm sorry that I breached my own integrity. But I am gratified and entertained by how offended you are.
It doesn't feel very good when someone with privilege tries to explain away and justify your disadvantage, does it?
Hopefully the next time you're about to wield your privilege, you'll think twice.
Freedom of expression on this Blogging Tory Website? Yes
Marissa's site? No
Blogging is a personal opinion? Thanks for the enlightenment Marrissa.
Marissa you tried to impose your opinion in understanding how 'political representation works' , it failed miserably.
You felt it was important to introduce the population as justification from the GTA imposition of wasteful gun registry created by Liberals in 1995.
Smoke and Mirrors
I decided to point out your logic was faulty as only 50% of eligible voters cast a ballot in 2008 and Atlantic Canada is over represented in seats for population.
We don't measure cats, dog or children.(Using your population theory to extend it to everyone!)
You conveniently ignore the fact BC, Alberta and Ontario have been missing seats and political representation in the sum of 23 seats.
You 'pardoned' the actions of two political leaders based in Toronto that whipped or persuaded their rural MPs to vote to keep after they were on record 2x not supporting it.
It is inconsistent or dishonest to call the vote by any definition a representation of democracy or political will of the eligible voters if MPs were NOT allowed a free vote.
Conclusive proof you have failed?
Censorship on your blogs because ideas, facts that prove you, your logic wrong is dangerous and must not be allowed.
Case closed. Your blog list is filled with the disease called group think and their parrots. Best of luck in the echo chamber.
Marissa..
I'm not even pissed at you.
You simply had the guts to articulate honestly what the general feeling is in the metro areas of Ontario and Quebec.
And it doesn't take a genius to see the obvious and ongoing pillaging of the "territories", being everywhere else.
And as for your ham-fisted effort to sort of explain it, or seek to offer up moral equivalences from this web site - why not just own your feelings honestly.
We don't matter and you do.
And, if that's how democracy works, why is it that I should give have a damn about aboriginal people or visible minorities? Isn't it just about "every man for themselves"?
But that's not how I roll.
I've pressed for improved effort to reduce the difficulties encountered by aboriginal communities in our Province, not because their vote really "matters" but because it's the right thing to do, and it benefits the larger society as a whole.
But, I'm not helping them by putting a big sign on their back that says "victim" or by legislating discrimination by creating arbitary definitions of what an "indian" is and isn't.
So, pardon me if I don't buy into the faux effort at being all "sensitive" and all.
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