I weep for Canada

[Bragi]

It is really depressing to watch Harper, inch by inch, day-by-day, transform Canada into something that truly reflects his right-wing Republican values.

We now have "citizenship guide" that promotes the false historical notion that Canada is a country forged in war. (My ancestors came to Canada to flee war. What about you?)

What holds us together isn't our common attachment to one another, our valued social safety net, our generous universal health care system, our commitment to peace, etc.

Nope. It's our military, and uniforms and salutes, that's what we're all about.

Meanwhile, the political forces of the centre and left, who reflect the true values of this country, sit on their hands playing procedural games in Parliament while doing nothing to stop Harper.

I weep for my country.

[glarius]

1. I couldn't agree more!

I know that the Liberals have had weak leaders (Martin, Dion) who are partly to blame for Harper being in power, but I put most of the blame on that hypocritical, sanctimonious phony Layton for Harper's success!
His only goal, as far as I'm concerned is to gain more power for himself.

"I weep for Canada
It is really depressing to watch Harper, inch by inch, day-by-day, transform Canada into something that truly reflects his right-wing Republican values."....This statement really struck me where it counts. This is what I have been saying to my family and friends from the beginning of Harper's "reign"! He has gained almost complete control by stealth. Why aren't the people aware of how his "God bless Canada" act presently, is the exact opposite of what he was saying a very few years ago. He was going before right-wing groups in the U.S.A and calling us a failed socialist system (words to that effect) and when Chretien kept us out of Iraq he, as leader of the opposition, went on Fox TV and apologized for us not being there. WAKE UP CANADA!

[ralph m]

2. This thread is why I decided to register at Democratic Underground

Bragi, I wonder if many Americans were aware that the ground was shifting under their feet in the late 70's when big business Republicans realized that they did not have to make any economic concessions to the middle class, but instead just make appeals to religion and national pride to keep their allegiance!

No doubt media plays a role in the shifting Canadian values. Every afternoon, when I turn on the local radio, I hear conservative windbag Charles Adler proclaiming the "myth" of global warming and that Canadians are becoming more and more conservative. Yeah, that would explain why we now have a Prime Minister who prefers to copy George Bush's posing in front of troops, instead of the traditional posing as peace maker, that Canadian leaders used to aspire towards, even if dishonestly sometimes! If I move down the A.M. dial, the other talk station offers more or less the same. Both stations keep playing propaganda commercials from "Friends of Science," an oil company funded group intended to create confusion about climate change, and make it more and more difficult for any government to take action.

Considering that Hamilton is an NDP stronghold that has never elected P.C.'s or any type of conservative candidates, is there a reason why private radio stations -- which we are so often told, are just trying to gain the largest audience -- ignore most of the available listeners in the city, to focus on the concerns of wealthier suburbanites that surround the city? On that pile, I could ask why are the Aspers so willing to piss away their millions on the National Post and CanWest? Obviously these guys are willing to lose money as long as they think the propaganda value makes it worthwhile.

Yeah, we're becoming more conservative all right! But it's largely because some with wealth and power are following the American conservative example, and are devoting some of their wealth towards buying media influence to instill fear and hostility; and use religion and flag-waving to keep them supporting conservative economic policies, even if it's against their own interests.

As much as I hate the two party duopoly style of government that the Americans have had for many decades, I think we in Canada have no choice now other than force the Liberals, NDP and the Greens into some sort of coalition to stop the Republicanization of Canada that Stephen Harper has successfully begun.

[CatWoman]

3. Welcome to DU, Ralph

:hi:

[ralph m]

4. Thank You

Thanks for the warm welcome.....love your cats by the way. I've got one, and he gets along with our dog fairly well.

[Bragi]

5. Agree on all fronts, and welcome to DU

One other thing on the media front is that CBC no longer provides any counter-weight to the ongoing right-wing narrative peddeled by our media. CBC hasn't actually become right wing, but it has become incedibly tame due to intimidation by conservatives.

Ironically, if you look at where breaking news critical of the government comes from, it is more the Globe and Mail that now serves that function, at least to some degree. (e.g., It is Globe, not CBC, that is now doing the heavy lifting on the Afghan detainee torture story.)

- B

[ralph m]

7. What happened to the CBC?

I've noticed the same thing in recent years. The CBC has become bland and boring, something like many Americans noticed with PBS -- they are now so dependent on certain big money trust funds that they have very little to say on Wall Street bankers and health insurance companies -- back in the old days, they would have had investigative special reports crawling all over them!

When Brian Mulroney was Prime Minister, the PC's were calling the CBC the 'unofficial opposition.' Times sure have changed.

[fudge stripe cookays]

6. I'm with ya, Bragi.

My MIL and FIL listen to this CHED bullshit out here. It goes on first thing in the morning when they wake up, and stays on until mid-morning. I really hate this crap. I've had to start putting my Zune on with earphones since reprehensor won't let me say anything to them about it.

But sad as it makes me to say it, it's nice to know that America doesn't have a total lock on assholes.