Democracy dismissed by Prime Minister

A copy of this post has been forwarded to the Prime Minister.

It's strike two against Justin Trudeau. The Prime Minister's idea of transparency does not include democracy 

The issue is the end-of-life law (euphemistically called dying with dignity). The Conservative and New Democratic Parties will allow their members a free vote when the proposed legislation comes before Parliament. 

At that time, Trudeau will deny the right of freedom of expression to the very people who sustain him in office, the Liberal Members of Parliament. 

Strike one in Trudeau's dismissal of democracy occurred last year when, during the election campaign, he vetted would-be Liberal candidates as to their opinion on abortion. Pro-life candidates were summarily dismissed, despite the fact that at least three polls indicated they represented a significant number. About 30 per cent of Canadians favour some control over access to abortion. 

The PM refuses to believe that democracy includes the right of contrary opinion. 

Canadians await strike three.

The deficit fetish

Letter to the Toronto Star, unpublished.

Re Trudeau touts red ink as road to prosperity, Aug. 28 (2015):

In reaction to Justin Trudeau's plan to revive the economy, Thomas Mulcair asked, "Why do you feel the need to be an even greater deficit hawk than the prime minister?"  Mr. Mulcair has forgotten his mentor, Tommy Douglas.

When asked how he would finance his war on social wrongs, such as poverty, Douglas referred to 1939. In the  Great Depression, Canada got into the Second World War. There were means to fight a war then and there are means to fight a war now, Douglas contended.

With deficit financing and borrowing from Canadians themselves through war bonds, Canada fought the war and emerged a world power To replace our decaying infrastructure, deficit financing is a proper decision.

As for Stephen Harper, he has left the stage on this issue, last seen wandering tearfully around an oil patch.

Democracy not for Everyone

Unpublished letter to the Toronto Star:

The clamour about Justin Trudeau's comment of Chinese success is misplaced (Rookie mistakes still hamper Trudeau's chances, Nov. 14). The complaint is based on the belief that democracy is the best form of government for all people everywhere and at all times.

Does anyone believe that, if China were a democracy, so many millions of its citizens would have been pulled out of poverty, and so quickly? To achieve such success in so short a time, those in charge had to be ruthless. (Thomas Hobbes would agree.) China is the envy of Western democracies because it is a tyranny, a tyranny with which those same defenders of democracy are most anxious to do business.

The noise extends to Trudeau’s admiration for Cuba’s American-inflicted struggling to get out of its economic and political past. Complainers object to the torture perpetrated on that island. Yes there is torture, but it is done by the American military in Guantanamo naval base. Does that mean one cannot express admiration for the United States?