tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28022930.post6918928591284151985..comments2023-08-20T05:15:36.808-04:00Comments on A Shrewdness of Apes: Four thoughts on the electionPeter Loewenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16601327720649697797noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28022930.post-17207701648903298562008-09-09T16:23:00.000-04:002008-09-09T16:23:00.000-04:00Hi Ross, A few retorts for argument's sake. First,...Hi Ross, <BR/><BR/>A few retorts for argument's sake. <BR/><BR/>First, the government can argue that it's achieved all it can and that now is the time for an election; that is, the five priorities have been met and not it's time to seek out a new mandate. And even if they are elected to a minority, they will be doing so with the support of the electorate to enact their legislation. <BR/><BR/>As for Dion, I think his problems are as much of his own making as they are the media's. That's not to say that the media are being fair, but it is to say that he has failed at making them treat him fairly. <BR/><BR/>As for the GST and the tax code, agreed.Peter Loewenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16601327720649697797noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28022930.post-82691184763726866892008-09-08T21:48:00.000-04:002008-09-08T21:48:00.000-04:00I just hate being lied to. Either parliament was ...I just hate being lied to. Either parliament was not working (even though it was on recess) or the Harper Conservatives were able to make remarkable progress on their five priorities - not both. While on this topic, either the election can be reasonably expected to return a majority government or why are we bothering? If the Conservatives get back with a similar margin, why could we expect parliament to function any better?<BR/><BR/>Either the government should not be allowed to take advantage by calling an election at a time favourable to them, by legislation, or they should be free to - not both.<BR/><BR/>If May should not be included in the leaders' debate, let us understand the criteria being applied (e.g., number of seats, percent of the popular vote). Why Harper thinks he can say that the Greens are Liberals because they are not running against each other in two ridings is beyond me.<BR/><BR/>I feel quit sympathetic towards Dion and wonder how reporting can be considered fair when we are regularly told how weak and unpopular he is. I do think that the Liberals would have been smarter than to use "tax" to describe the Green shift. Tax is a pejorative no matter how you dress it up. I wonder if the Liberals can play on the depth and strength of their team compared to the bunch that Harper has under wraps and doesn't even trust to answer questions.<BR/><BR/>And speaking of taxes, I am still annoyed that the Conservatives, who are supposed to be in favour of tax simplicity and regressiveness, are the ones who lowered the GST and tacked on bothersome credits for soccer, gymnastics and bus passes. Harper seems to be benefiting from Chretien's playbook more and more. Maybe that is how you get elected in Canada.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com