Democracy Gone Astray

Democracy, being a human construct, needs to be thought of as directionality rather than an object. As such, to understand it requires not so much a description of existing structures and/or other related phenomena but a declaration of intentionality.
This blog aims at creating labeled lists of published infringements of such intentionality, of points in time where democracy strays from its intended directionality. In addition to outright infringements, this blog also collects important contemporary information and/or discussions that impact our socio-political landscape.

All the posts here were published in the electronic media – main-stream as well as fringe, and maintain links to the original texts.

[NOTE: Due to changes I haven't caught on time in the blogging software, all of the 'Original Article' links were nullified between September 11, 2012 and December 11, 2012. My apologies.]

Friday, March 30, 2012

‘Concerned citizens’ interrupt Flaherty’s budget speech

A group of about 16 protesters who say they are concerned about cuts to programs and services were escorted from the House of Commons after they interrupted Finance Minister Jim Flaherty’s budget speech.

Wearing identical tee shirts, they stood in the visitor’s gallery and shouted “Where are we in the budget?” as Mr. Flaherty delivered his annual financial plan on Thursday afternoon.

They were taken by security guards to the basement of the Centre Block then released about a half hour later without being charged.

“We’re just a bunch of concerned citizens who really wanted to highlight how bad this budget is,” said Jo Wood, 73, who spoke for the group as they left the building.

“The pretext is that we are running out of money and have to go in to all this austerity when actually we feel that things like prisons and military jets and so on are being heavily funded,” said Ms. Wood who said she and her cohorts were not affiliated with any political party or organization.

“So we think it’s a matter of priorities and we think they’ve got the wrong priorities for the average Canadian,” she said.

The protesters, who ranged in age from young to old, organized their disruption before the details of the budget were made public. But Ms. Wood said the government had forecasted the measures that would be in it.

Her group believes there are alternatives to cutting jobs, she said, adding that she would like to see more help for education, social services, child care and health care.

“We were pleased that we were able to get our budget message out,” she said. “We were pleased to be able to speak for ordinary people and we hope they will join us in protesting in the future.”

The protesters have also create a website NotOurBudget.ca, which contains short videos or statements about what kind of budget they want.

Original Article
Source: Globe
Author: gloria galloway 

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